Still Struggling to Focus? Your Daily Habits Could Be Holding You Back.

As we approach the end of the year, it’s easy to feel like you’re running out of steam to achieve your resolution. Your focus seems to be wavering, you’re constantly distracted (who wouldn’t be with all the viral stories and exciting things happening this year!), and the days seem to be slipping away.

How can you bring your focus back to how it was at the start of the year? Well, we say – take a good look at your daily habits! Did you know that many of them – which you might consider routine – could be the very thing preventing you from hitting your productivity stride. Whether it’s how you start your day or what you do to recharge, these small habits might be quietly working against you.

But hey, we still got time to work it out! Let’s dive into the everyday habits that are killing your focus and how you can make simple adjustments to end the year strong.

#1 Constantly Checking Social Media
We get it – there’s so much happening on IG, X, and TikTok! But when was the last time you felt energised or recharged after spending a considerable amount of time on your social media? We’re willing to bet hard. Because each time you check your phone, it pulls you away from what you were doing. Which means, your focus has wavered and shifted from one task to another. This constant switching disrupts your focus and makes it harder to get back into productivity mode.

Break the Habit: Set boundaries for when you check social media, especially when you are at home, to not disrupt the flow of your focus. Maybe you can do it during lunch or after a focused block of work. Most importantly, avoid using social media as a distraction from doing the actual work – because you’re likely to really be distracted and find that you can’t finish your task at the end of your workday!

#2 Too Much Planning, Not Enough Action
Love to plan out your day? Are you the type with lists and lists and lists and lists? Sure, planning is key but you know what can be better? Doing whatever you planned. For some people, all the planning can be a form of procrastination. You may be the type to constantly tweak your calendar or make the perfect to-do list instead of getting started. What this could mean is that you’re actually avoiding doing things that need your attention right now! Which means, no focus!

Break the Habit: Action breeds momentum. Once you’ve planned, jump right into the first task and focus on it. You may not get the results you want at first but at least you’re doing!

#3 Relying on Music/Background Noise to Focus
“Oh I always work with the TV on in the background. It helps me focus.” Now, how true is this? Sure, some people swear by music or some noise for concentration but for many, it can be a distraction. Imagine having something really exciting happening on the TV – you’ll probably drop everything and watch it. Before you know it, you’ve been sucked in for at least 30 minutes!

Break the Habit: Try working in complete silence! You’d be amazed at how much your focus changes when you’re working in total peace.

#4 Too Many Morning Routines
Sure, a structured morning can work in your favour when it comes to building better focus. But what if your morning routines are taking up too much time? Things like meditation, journaling, or extensive workouts may seem productive, but if you’re spending too much time on them, you can feel drained before the real work begins. Imagine going for two gym classes before work – your energy level will be low!

Break the Habit: We’re not asking that you stop all morning rituals and just go to work. Instead, be intentional about your routines. Spend an hour or less on things that you know truly prepares you for the day ahead. You don’t have to give your morning routines too much thought or effort; it should just be the thing that jumpstarts your day!

#5 Coffee Breaks All the Time
Caffeine is supposed to up your focus, right? Not really, if you’re relying on it too much. While a cup can provide a temporary boost, relying on coffee to get through the day can lead to energy crashes and poor focus. Plus, all that effort to make your cuppa or go out to the nearest shop for a piccolo latte is merely taking your focus away from work. Imagine if you’re doing this at least three times a day!

Break the Habit: Try to limit your caffeine intake to the morning. Avoid it later in the day to keep your focus sharp. If you really need a boost of concentration, aim for water or herbal tea. Hydration is often more effective at keeping your focus sharp, so plain old H2O works as well!

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.