Do you ever feel like your thoughts have minds of their own despite your attempts to stay focused? Most everyone probably knows the frustration of struggling to concentrate while feeling like your mind is encased in fog.
Scattered thinking can be caused by a variety of factors, but one of the most common is lazy mental habits. The brain is like a muscle, and it needs to be exercised in order to remain sharp and clear. If you don’t strengthen your ability to think clearly on a regular basis, you will have a more difficult time concentrating.
There are plenty of good ways to strengthen your mental focus, and many of them are even fun to do. Puzzles and games are helpful, including crossword puzzles and number games, or memory games where you need to memorize a series of objects and recite them back in the same order.
Another major cause of scattered thinking is focusing too much on our past and future. When we focus on our past, we tend to ruminate because we can’t do anything to change what has already happened. When we think too much about our future, we tend to get anxious because there are so many variables that can affect it that we cannot control.
One of the simplest and most effective exercises that can improve your focus involves holding an image in your mind, such as a red ball, and keeping your focus upon it for as long as you can. You may be surprised by how quickly your thoughts begin to wander, which will usually be within a minute or two, or even just a few seconds.
When this happens, immediately think about the ball again and hold your focus on it for as long as you can. This is what helps us become more mindful and focused on the present. If you keep doing this daily for 15 minutes, you will notice over time that your ability to stay focused for longer periods will continue to improve.
Another good practice is to focus on a sound in your environment, such as the hum of a fan, or a white noise machine. Sit quietly and give your full attention to that sound for as long as you can. Again, your ability to stay focused on it should improve the more you practice.
Just as your muscles need rest and recovery time, so does your mind. An effective way to do this is by allowing yourself time to daydream each day. Turn off all distractions including televisions, computers, and phones. Set a timer for 15 minutes and think about some interesting ideas.
Imagine something fun happening or see yourself creating an exciting new invention. Ponder the wonders of the universe or think about a subject that has always interested you. Allow your thoughts to wander wherever they want, as long as it’s not on any distressing subjects. This is your time to be inspired by new ideas and awaken your creative vision, so keep your focus positive as much as possible.
Simple practices like these will improve your ability to concentrate and recall important information. But even more so, they will help you to think outside of the limitations of your physical day-to-day reality. As a result, you will likely find that you are increasingly becoming more open to creative inspiration and new possibilities that could benefit you, and even the entire world, in so many ways.
