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8 minutes readContent
- What is focus and concentration?
- Why can’t you concentrate?
- 15 tips to increase focus and concentration
What is focus and concentration?
Concentration is described as “the ability to direct one’s attention following one’s will.” It requires your mind to be able to focus on something specific by removing any distractions.
Focus and concentration go hand-in-hand. When you focus on something, you direct your attention to it, even if it’s just for a few seconds. Concentration is when you keep your mind and attention focused on a task until it’s finished. While you can focus on a task, you need to concentrate to see it through.
Why can’t you concentrate?
We all struggle to concentrate from time to time, and often there’s a specific reason behind it. Your everyday habits will impact your ability to concentrate, but occasionally, there may be a deeper reason behind your lack of focus.
Anxiety is one of the main reasons people struggle to concentrate. If you’re worrying, your brain won’t be able to focus if you’re feeling scared or anxious, leading to indecisiveness. Stress causes a similar reaction in your brain, making it harder for you to think straight or maintain attention.
Other reasons can often be fixed with a change in your routine. Hunger, especially if your blood sugar dips, can make it difficult to focus. You need to fuel your brain with the right food to boost your focus and avoid multitasking, as constantly jumping from one task to the next can lead to mistakes and reduce your focus.
Hunger, especially if your blood sugar dips, can make it difficult to focus.
Photo by bublikhaus on Freepik
15 tips to increase focus and concentration
Are you getting distracted at work? Struggling to respond to work emails as your social media notifications keep digging? Here are 15 tips you can incorporate into your daily work routine to increase your focus and concentration.
1. Eliminate distractions
There are distractions everywhere you look – and often they’re sitting right in front of you. Your phone is one of the worst distractions when trying to be productive. It’s important to find ways to eliminate distractions as much as possible. Turn your social media notifications off and find a place, even if it’s a café or co-working space, where you can be productive.
2. Don’t multitask
When you’ve got a full to-do list of meetings, pricing quotes, and itineraries to work through, it’s easy to think that multitasking is the best way to be productive. Research has shown that our brains aren’t equipped for multitasking.
3. Practice mindfulness
“Mindfulness” has become one of the buzzwords for personal development, but it’s about more than just improving your overall well-being. Daily meditation is a great way to help your mind focus and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, you can use breathing exercises to refocus your mind.
Daily meditation is a great way to help your mind focus and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Photo by Marea Wellness on Unsplash
4. Get enough sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is the secret to improving your concentration and productivity. Even a few days of disturbed sleep can start to negatively impact your ability to focus. If you’re struggling to sleep long-term, it can lead to health problems that may further impact your day.
5. Take a break
Taking a short break gives your brain a chance to relax, stopping you from feeling overwhelmed. After several hours of work, your brain will naturally start to wander from the task you’re working on.
6. Live in the moment
As a travel agent, you’re always thinking at least one step ahead or reflecting on an experience with a client. It’s difficult to stay on task if your mind is wandering to thoughts of the past or if you’re getting anxious about the future. Deciding to live in the moment is one of the best ways to improve your daily routine. Let go of the past and take each day one at a time.
7. Exercise regularly
Regular exercise is the best way to keep your brain sharp. Research on a group of adults over 45 found that regular exercise helped maintain cognitive function. Although experts recommend over 2 hours of exercise per week, you can start small and gradually increase your weekly exercise routine. Whether you’re running, doing pilates, or going on a daily walk, exercising will boost your mood and act as a natural stress reliever for your mind.
Regular exercise is the best way to keep your brain sharp.
Photo by Doyo Hermann on Unsplash
8. Watch your nutrition
Instead, change your diet to include food that doubles as “brain fuel,” including berries, eggs, fatty fish, and leafy green vegetables. Your water intake is just as important! Keep a refillable water bottle on your desk and aim to drink 2 litres of water every day.
9. Train your brain
Start small when training your brain to focus better. Don’t dive into the deep end by trying to spend several hours on one task. Start small and gradually increase the time you spend working. Begin by working for one hour before taking a 5 to 10-minute break and starting again. As your concentration improves, you can take fewer but longer breaks.
10. Spend time outside
Spending all day in front of your computer screen can start to drain your energy. Getting outside is a great way to de-stress your body, giving you a more relaxed environment to spend a few minutes away from your screens. Spending time in nature is proven to positively impact your mental and physical health, whether you’re taking a break from work or spending some alone time at the end of the day.
11. Do daily mental exercises
Does your brain need an extra boost? Try training it by using games that can enhance your concentration, such as playing chess, doing a daily crossword puzzle, or engaging in memory games. A 2015 study found that spending just 15 minutes a day training your brain can drastically boost your concentration and problem-solving skills. Think of it as a workout for your mind!
12. Establish a daily routine
Having a routine is the best way to be productive. Whether you’re a part-time travel agent or building your business, establish a daily routine scheduled around your optimal times of productivity. Everyone is different, and it can take some trial and error to find a routine that works for you. If you’re more productive in the morning, schedule your most important tasks and arrange client phone calls or shorter tasks, like follow-up emails, for the afternoon.
13. Bring nature inside
If you work in a city or don’t have a nature area nearby, you can bring the outside indoors by taking care of plants or establishing your own garden. Reconnecting with nature helps to rejuvenate your mind and offers something relaxing for you to do during your breaks. If you’re working with international clients or find that you spend all day indoors, having a sun lamp at your desk can mimic natural light and boost your mood.
14. Listen to music
It’s normal to struggle in silence. Listening to music can improve your cognitive function and help you relax, making it easier to get through your to-do list. While your everyday Spotify playlist might be a little distracting, you can try listening to instrumental or classical music instead. Keep your music at a background volume, especially if you’re taking client calls or virtual meetings throughout the day.
Listening to music can improve your cognitive function and help you relax, making it easier to get through your to-do list.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
15. Try timeboxing
One of our favorite productivity hacks for travel agents is to try timeboxing. This tip involves blocking off time in your schedule to do specific tasks in an environment that’s free of distractions. This hack is the perfect way to do those things you’ve been putting off, whether it’s doing your accounting or updating your website.
Improve your focus and concentration to grow your travel agency
Growing your travel agency or attracting new clients requires the right daily work routine. Improving your focus and concentration will help you achieve more every day, whether it’s researching new travel locations or going the extra mile for your clients. The 15 tips above will help you curate a routine that optimizes your workday without adding to your stress levels.
Looking for more advice tailored for travel agents? Explore the RateHawk blog and our expert guides on everything from growing your Instagram page to a 7-day itinerary for the French Riviera.
Cover image: Photo by Luke Thorn on Unsplash
