Let's face it, staying focused at work or in school is a battle that many of us lose. Long projects can wear down on your psyche and the human brain was simply not made to concentrate and think for 8+ hours straight. In fact, some studies show that we only have about 4 hours of creative thinking in us per day. Nevertheless, it's important to maximize your creative output and there are steps we can all take to help improve focus and mental clarity.
So what can be done to stay focused and fend off the after lunch urge to take a nap?
1. Eating carbs plays an important role.
Eat a healthy breakfast and try to stay away from the fast food biscuits and fried potatoes. At lunch opt for the salad instead of the cheeseburger and fries. Eating carbs raises your blood sugar and the body starts to produce insulin. The production of insulin to facilitate the carb breakdown can make a person very sleepy and unfocused. Remember the old saying, "you are what you eat". If you eat sweets and complex carbs, you will feel it.
2. Get your vitamins!
The brain lives and thrives on vitamin intake, especially Omega 3 and Amino Acids (like L-theanine in tea). Your body requires vitamins to stay moving. Along with taking a multivitamin, people should have daily doses of vitamin B12 and Iron to help to stay focused and alert. Magnesium fights fatigue and helps with getting a good night's rest. When possible, get your vitamins through healthy foods, rather than supplements.
3. Take a walk after lunch!
It may sound a little crazy to exert energy to increase energy, but a walk around the block helps increase blood flow, which helps your body in a plethora of ways, including increasing mental focus. Think about it, a walk when you first wake up around the house is what wakes you up in the morning. Sometimes sitting behind the computer for hours can make you feel tired and brain dead. Get up to help get your focus back!
4. Drink plenty of water!
Staying hydrated is important to a person’s overall health and cognitive functioning. The body is mostly made up of water. Think about it like this: A car requires oil for the engine to run properly. If you put cola in a car, it wouldn't run. If people try to replace water with cola they can’t run properly either. Give your body the water it needs and you will quickly see and feel a difference.
5. Get a good night's sleep.
Getting a good night's sleep will help with cognitive function as well as energy levels the next day. If your mind does not shut down and get adequate REM (deep) sleep each night, it can make you feel as if you are brain dead the next day. Your mood will reflect the lack of sleep as well. A bad mood can lead to poor productivity and thinking. You should devote 7 to 9 hours to sleep per night. Even getting six solid hours is better than just a few.
6. Drink some Zest Tea!
Zest Tea offers caffeine without the jittery crash that you get from coffee. The amino acids in Zest help moderate the caffeine intake and produce a steady and prolonged alertness. The essential amino acids also help the mind stay alert and on task. Remember to supplement your tea drinking with additional water to keep hydrated.
People often associate being tired and not focused with being lazy. The truth is, your body and mind could just need a little help to get going again. Follow these six helpful tips to fight off that cognitive and physical crash every day.
