4 Ways To Regain Your Attention

Daily Distractions: If it’s hard to concentrate long enough to read a few pages of a book or your mind keeps drifting off-task, you’re not alone. Feeling a little frazzled is the new normal. The good news: there are science backed ways to rebuild focus. 

The Benefits: Developing better attentional control helps you steer your mind back to where it’s supposed to be when distractions inevitably crop up. It’s a key tenet of mindfulness meditation: it’s not about never having a distracting thought, but learning how to return your attention when you do.

How to Do It: The term “attentional control” can sound abstract, so here are some concrete practices to try:

– Turn off notifications — Phones are major attention thieves, so start there. For deep work or reading, silence alerts and put your phone out of sight. (We like this tool to block notifications.)
– Prioritize sleep —  It’s hard to concentrate when you’re exhausted, so get those Zs. 
– Take walks outside — Time in nature can improve cognitive function and mood. 
– Meditate — Even a few minutes of guided meditation can nudge attention in the right direction.