Normally when you think of exercises, you envision activities that involve working out your body. However, there are also exercises for your brain that can help you improve your ability to focus and concentrate -- two vital tools for performing well in society. Focusing exercises make it easier for you to stay on point and harder for you to get distracted by the world of multi-tasking.
Single Thought
To increase your focus, you can perform an exercise that requires you to think only one thought at a time. It sounds simple, but it's very challenging and may take some practice. According to Ego Development, come up with something to think about. Make it simple like an object. Set a timer and begin thinking about this object. Try to think about it for as long as you can with no interruption. If your mind deviates from this thought, gently remind yourself to focus once more and start over.
Single Word
Another exercise to increase your focus is to think about one word. This is a form of meditation and can help you to relax as you improve your concentration. Lie on a bed and close your eyes. Breathe slowly and repeat the word in your head over and over again. Try not to let your mind wander and set a timer to keep track of your progress. Start with just five minutes, but try to increase the duration of your focus for as long as you can.
Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles are another exercise you can do to increase your ability to focus. These puzzles help your mind focus in on one activity. And because the puzzle is engaging, you'll likely find it easier to stay on task for a greater length of time. In addition to boosting your concentration, doing crossword puzzles can also prevent dementia, according to "The Washington Post."
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation can help increase your focus as well. The goal of yoga is to synch your body and mind through performing a variety of poses and deep breathing. A few poses you may wish to use to improve your focus include the tree pose, child's pose and corpse pose. Meditation can be performed in any quiet space and involves clearing the mind while focusing on steady, regular breathing. You can also perform focused meditation sessions where you focus your thoughts on one thing like a mantra or an object.
Member Comments