Start Your Day With Better Focus
By Paul Rothbart
Getting a new day started is not always the easiest thing to do. Often it takes some time and a considerable amount of coffee just to be able to complete a sentence. It's nice to get off to an early start when beginning a day of work or other chores, but to be at your best, you need to be focused. Even after becoming fully awake your concentration may not yet be in high gear. Here are some tips to start your day with sharper focus.
Express Gratitude
Before even beginning your daily tasks, take some time to be grateful for the positives in your life. They can be big or small. Just the fact that you do have a job is a reason for gratitude. Recite what you are grateful for aloud or write it down. It will have a greater impact that way. This is a good way to start the day as well as reduce stress in general.
Begin With an Achievable Goal
Look at your to-do list and choose one thing that you can accomplish immediately. It could be as simple as catching up on your work emails or organizing your calendar. Being able to check off a task can give you a little taste of success right off the bat and reduce your anxiety for the rest of the day. A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Take that first step.
Meditate
Though not for everyone, many people find 5-10 minutes of meditation each morning very helpful to clear the mind and improve focus. There are many different ways to meditate. A Google search can turn them up. Another good way to learn meditation is to use one of the many apps that help guide you through the process. Even just deep breathing with your eyes closed and clearing your mind of all thoughts can be very effective. Focusing on a mantra helps with this. Even just keeping track of your inhales and exhales works for some.
Remain Present
It is far too easy to mentally jump ahead to that important phone call or big meeting in the afternoon. Doing that can create a ton of anxiety. Focus on where you are and what you are doing in the present. Try to experience all of your senses deeply. The flavor of your coffee, the sounds around you, even the breeze through the window of your car as you drive to work. By focusing on the present, you can reduce stress and make your day easier to manage.
Having clear focus first thing in the morning can be difficult to achieve. By following these tips, you may find it easier to focus and start your day off on the right foot.
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