Category: productivity

Posted in goal setting, life hacks, lifelong learning, personal growth, productivity, Setting goals and intentions

Monday Matters: 7 ways to be a lifelong learner (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on by Laura

Today, I’m sharing the second and final part of my mini-series on lifelong learning. In Part 1, I considered the character traits of lifelong learners and discussed the benefits of being a lifelong learner. In Part 2, I’m going to be identifying different habits to adopt for continual learning and also sharing a range of ways to be a lifelong learner. I hope you find both of my posts useful and they help you think about the value of continued learning, your preferred learning styles, plus little tweaks you could make to your daily life and schedule so that learning is both a priority and a joy.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

1. Consider your learning styles

We all have preferred methods of learning and, as adults we can develop our understanding of the different styles, decide which of them work best for us personally, and then use our knowledge to tailor our learning experiences appropriately. Here are some of the most common types of learner:

  • auditory – learns by listening e.g. through music, lectures, podcasts, and talks
  • visual – prefers to use visual aids such as pictures, photographs, videos, charts and diagrams, they may also draw their own illustrations to help them remember key information
  • kinesthetic – learns by doing and often described as ‘hands on’ learners, likes to use different senses to take in the information
  • reading / writing – learns through seeking out written information in books and magazine articles, prefers to write things down in words rather than using pictures or graphs, also likes to underline key points, colour code information or write notes in the margin when given a handout
  • logical / analytical – learns by processing data and solving problems, often looks for patterns to connect different aspects of the information in order to make sense of what is being presented
  • naturalistic – learns through investigating the natural environment, particularly enjoys outdoor and environmental learning opportunities. Enjoys carrying out field studies, watching wildlife documentaries, keeping nature journals with own sketches, photographs, observations etc. and finding out more about different environmental issues such as climate change
  • interpersonal – this type of learner functions best when they engage in group activities like quizzing one another, becoming involved in discussions or brainstorms and forming study groups
  • intrapersonal – this type of learner prefers a solitary learning style and finds self study particularly effective

You may find that from the list above, you prefer several of the different learning styles and this can help you to explore particular approaches to learning. However, it’s also important to recognise that some types of learning are more pertinent to particular topics of study or aspects of learning than others. For example, if you want to learn how to play a musical instrument, auditory, visual and kinesthetic (hands on) activities may be more helpful than reading or writing about the skills involved.

2. Identify your passions and interests

As an adult, you have lots of choice in terms of what you’d like to learn about and the skills you’d like to develop. You’re also free to explore and follow your passions and interests in any way you choose or even decide that you’re not as interested in something as you thought you were! Here’s some ideas for identifying specific passions and interests:

  • reflect on your past experiences and activities you’ve particularly enjoyed – does anything stand out in your memory that you’d like to become involved in or try again?
  • think about your particular set of skills and abilities – are there any particular ways in which you’d like to put them to good use?
  • consider your core values – this will help you establish what matters to you in life and then you can create learning experiences which reflect this. There are lots of resources online with lists of core personal values but you might find this article particularly helpful as it adds a little detail to each item on the list
  • consider favourite topics of conversation with friends and family members or what you like to teach others about
  • try out new things and discover what sparks your curiosity and interest
  • write a list of things you’d like to get better at e.g. cooking, gardening, playing guitar, drawing, singing, applying make up – give yourself plenty of time to see what comes up!

3. Read every single day

Developing a habit of reading each and every day is a great way of learning new things. To make it stick, try habit stacking by pairing it with an existing habit of yours. So, for example, part of my morning routine is breakfast, filling in my journal and reading a book or article of my choice for 5, 10 or 20 minutes depending on the time I have available. I also always read a novel on my Kindle each night as soon as I get into bed.

Any form of reading is an opportunity to learn, but varying your reading material is the best way to gain new knowledge and different perspectives. In a month, you might read several novels (choosing different genre such as crime thriller, romance, historical fiction and fantasy), a collection of love poetry, an article in a magazine which is full of self care ideas, a few blog posts on topics that interest you such as a particular creative pursuit or easy vegetables to grow in your garden, the definition of a previously unfamiliar word in a dictionary, a newspaper article about an environmental issue and a few chapters from a non-fiction book about creating a well-organised home.

4. Set realistic and meaningful goals

A great way of setting learning goals and pursuing them is to use the SMART framework. Taking time to identify the specifics and draw up small and achievable steps is crucial if you want to make meaningful progress and enjoy the outcomes of your learning.

5. Manage your time effectively

If you want to make learning a priority, you need to dedicate time to it on a regular basis and ensure it becomes a key part of your routine. Good time management is such an important skill to develop (and might be something you want to learn about first before pursuing your passions and interests). Key ways to manage your time well so you can create opportunities for learning include:

  • keeping yourself organised – make sure your calendar is up-to-date so you know your commitments and when you might be able to carve out some time for learning
  • maintain a tidy environment where everything has its place – so you don’t spend precious minutes or hours looking for things you need but can’t find
  • prioritising – making decisions about the best use of your time today, deciding what’s important for you in your life right now and making those things a priority (don’t forget to add time for breaks too)
  • scheduling – try ‘time blocking’ by first adding in regular tasks and activities such as eating meals, sleeping, going to work etc. and then fitting in other priorities around these
  • avoiding time and energy drainers such as scrolling social media, excessively checking your email, phone notifications (especially sounds and pop ups which draw your attention straight away), negativity whether that’s from people, watching the news or doomscrolling
  • set short term goals for learning that help you take steps towards your long term goals and regularly evaluate your progress to check you’re heading in the right direction

If you want to know more about making time for your current priorities and developing time management skills, I highly recommend ‘Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day’ by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.

6. Make use of free online resources

Follow a small number of podcasts, blogs and vlogs on a topic of your choice, hosted by people you find interesting to hear from and schedule some time each week to check in with them and explore new content or older uploads that you might have missed. Also look for online tutorials for beginners (there’s loads to choose from on YouTube or within blogs) or introductory courses so you can give things a go before committing to them financially. Alternatively, to develop your knowledge of a subject in general, you might like to join a group (for example on Facebook) where you can follow interesting topics of conversation, start a thread to discover different opinions or ask a question of someone with a higher level of expertise in the field.

7. Don’t forget to rest

Although making time for learning is important if you want to explore your passions and interests, equally valuable is taking regular breaks for rest and relaxation. This might mean meditating, listening to a favourite album or piece of music, spending time in nature or engaging in creative activities such as drawing, painting or papercrafting. Ensuring you get adequate, quality sleep is also essential for good cognition so be sure to make this a priority too.

Final words…

I hope today’s blog post has given you a few new ideas on how to be a lifelong learner. Ultimately, you are looking to cultivate a growth mind set where you are always looking for opportunities to learn, aren’t frightened to try new and challenging things, seek out new perspectives as a way to see the world in a different way, view mistakes, failures and setbacks as learning opportunities, find value in constructive criticism and believe that, with effort, you are more than capable of developing both your knowledge and abilities in order to reach your full potential.

I wish you well on your various learning journeys and remember every day is a new opportunity to be who you want to be,

Posted in life hacks, lifestyle, productivity, self care, Setting goals and intentions

Monday Matters: 7 benefits of a clutter free and well-organised home environment plus some tips for getting started with decluttering

Posted on by Laura
Photo from a selection on Canva Pro

One of my current goals, which has been ongoing for quite a while now, is to declutter, tidy and organise my craft room / office, in a way which makes it a pleasant and distraction free environment and consequently a productive place to work and get creative. It’s an enormous job because a) I have soooo much stuff and b) it’s packed into what, in house buying terms, would be described as the box room / box bedroom. I did get started with the process, but then, I found other easier and more preferable projects and activities to do, and now, even the thought of ‘it’ is overwhelming and enough to put me off.

My knowledge and experience of tackling large projects tells me that taking it one tiny step at a time and making a list of tasks to work from (and tick off) would be helpful but I’m sure any of you who have ‘lots of stuff’ can relate and sympathise with me when I explain that pretty much anything and everything else is getting prioritised instead. To give myself the idiomatic ‘kick up the backside’, the idea of writing this blog post was born, to hopefully be a good reminder of the main benefits of a clutter-free and organised space even though I’m pretty sure you can guess a few of them. This might also help with the absorbing of information and fingers crossed with taking action. Clutter-free, super-organised readers can read and then polish their halos plus maybe leave a tip or two in the comments to help me and others. If today’s post has motivated you or helped you feel less alone in having a less than immaculate home environment I would love it if you dropped a comment below to generally make me and others feel better.

Without further ado, here are, what I consider to be the main benefits of a clutter free and well-organised space whether it’s your whole home, a room within your house or just a small area, such as your pantry or the junk drawer. I hope you find the following useful and that, fingers crossed, it gives you the incentive to take that first baby step and then keep going.

Reduced stress and anxiety

Being in an environment full of clutter causes sensory overload, heightened stress levels and feelings of shame and embarrassment (especially if you have visitors). The opposite is true of a clutter free and well-organised home. You’ll find yourself calmer, more relaxed and in control. You’ll likely feel a sense of pride when you look at your environment and what you’ve achieved and are able to maintain, and, you’ll also be much happier showing visitors in – even those who are unexpected! Plus you won’t be needing to apologise for the mess anymore or spend frantic hours trying to hide clutter in random, out of sight places.

Boosts productivity and creativity

A neat and tidy work environment means fewer distractions and plenty of space in which to work. This generally leads to better concentration levels, deeper focus and improved productivity. It also helps to free your mind of mental clutter and provides the space for innovative thoughts and letting your creative juices flow.

So much easier to find things

When you have fewer possessions and every item has a specific home, it makes it much easier to find something when you need it saving you a lot of time and energy. On the other hand, if you’re house is in disarray, it can become extremely frustrating and time consuming to locate the item you need. Often, when I’m struggling to find something, I get myself so worked up that I end up in tears. Aldo, searching places that the item might be reminds me of how much stuff I actually have (and creates feelings of guilt) and brings to mind how, in the past, I’ve bought things to try to make myself feel better when I’ve been depressed.

Rids your home of allergens

As someone who is asthmatic and has a dust allergy, this one is a huge plus for me. Keeping a tidy and uncluttered home makes it much quicker and easier to clean and remove dust, moulds and mildew. Plus, less stuff in general helps with airflow and ventilation. This is good news for anyone with respiratory conditions or other allergies which many people have.

Improved sleep

A neat, tidy and clutter free bedroom creates a sanctuary in which to seek comfort and relaxation ready for a restful night’s sleep. It also provides a peaceful and calming space in which to enjoy a slow start to your morning routine, rather than being immediately overwhelmed by stuff as soon as you open your eyes.

More time for hobbies and socialising with family and friends

A clutter-free and organised home environment is so much quicker and easier to clean and keep tidy. Less time on household chores leaves you with more time to engage in your favourite hobbies and more opportunites to socialise with family and friends. It also means that you can happily invite people round to enjoy your home with you.

Better relationships with those you share your home with

When researching today’s blog post, I came across a range of articles and studies which discussed how mess and clutter can affect relationships and even completely destroy them. This can be due to the clutterer struggling with psychological issues as a result of their stuff, leading to feelings such as stress, anxiety, overwhelm, shame, depression and low self worth. Or, the clutter can cause conflict between individuals living in the home creating feelings of anger, resentment and frustration as well as being a source of arguments and ill feeling.

On the other hand, a tidy and clutter free home environment creates a harmonious and happy house, where all occupants can relax and feel comfortable. A well-organised home also reflects personal qualities such as a sense of control, high self worth, confidence, purposefulness, self love, resourcefulness and resilience, which, together with teamwork and authentic conversation with regard to belongings can result in a much more amicable and loving relationship with your partner or housemates.

Tips for getting started with decluttering

  1. Make a commitment – before you start, you need to be prepared to put in the required time and energy for decluttering. Creating a clutter free and organised home doesn’t happen overnight, it takes a huge commitment which is why it’s good to consider the benefits discussed above. Tidying and decluttering needs to be a priority in your life and something you put your heart and soul into. The tip below should really help to get clear in your mind about what the benefits are for you personally.
  2. Think about and visualise your overall goal – imagine what your tidy home would look like and how it would feel to be there. Visualise yourself walking through your house when you’ve met your goal. Consider exactly how you would spend your time at home. Sketch or write about the improvements you’ve made and ask yourself why it feel the way it now does – a key to manifesting a clutter free and organised home is to imagine you already have exactly what you desire.
  3. Start small – set tiny goals such as tackling one box, one drawer, one shelf, a single pile of papers. Work on one room at a time and make a note of places to work on which will really make a difference – so for example your desk space in your office or craft room, the main counter in your kitchen or the coffee table in your living room.
  4. Allocate an amount of time to the job – you might decide you have 5 or 10 minutes, an hour or a whole afternoon (starting small is good if you’re feeling overwhelmed) . Set a timer and turn on do not disturb mode on your phone.
  5. Take before and after photographs – want a visual reminder of how much progress you’ve made? Take a quick snap on your phone of what the area looked like before and what it looks like at the end of your allocated amount of time. Repeat before and after each decluttering and tidying session.
  6. Get support from an expert Once you’ve got started with the process and have seen some of the impact you can have, you might want to get help from a professional declutterer or a celebrity who has created a home you admire. So, for example Marie Kondo has developed the Spark Joy method for tidying where you work on categories of items in your home in the order suggested, whilst Stacey Solomon has her TV series ‘Sort Your Life Out’ plus her ‘Tap to Tidy’ book full of advice and tips. You don’t need to actually invite Kondo or Stacey Solomon to your home – just make use of their skillset.
  7. Enlist help from family or others in your social circle – if you find decluttering overwhelming, you might want to enlist the help of a family member or friend, even if they’re just there to help you gather things together, make decisions about where to store things or to offer moral support. And if they can’t be there physically, use them as an accountability partner asking them to regularly check in to see how you’re getting on and what progress has been made.
  8. Donate, sell or recycle what you can. This will help you reduce waste (and feel good about your impact on the environment), make a little extra cash or help someone in need (just because it doesn’t spark joy for you, doesn’t mean it won’t for others).
  9. Find a specific home for each and every item – the key to keeping your home neat and tidy is to have a specific storage location for every single item. That way, you’ll know exactly where to put it when you’ve finished with it or where to display the object in your home. Try to keep most things out of sight in drawers, cupboards and boxes as this will make it easy to clean surfaces.
  10. Don’t strive for perfection As you embark on your decluttering journey, be kind to yourself and celebrate small achievements and elements of progress along the way, rather than expecting everything to be perfect before moving on to the next task. Decluttering is a process and can take a lot of time (often much longer than you think), so little and often is the way to go. Also, slightly lowering your expectations can help you to feel like you’re getting there.

I hope you’ve found today’s blog post useful and have picked up a few tips as you’ve read. I’m sure you can see how beneficial a clutter free and well-organised home is for your mental and physical health and how it can make for a happier living space overall.

Additionally, I’m thinking about doing another piece at some point in the future that focuses specifically on decluttering and organising craft supplies, as this, for me, is the area that needs most work. Let me know in the comments if you would find this helpful too.

Happy decluttering, tidying and organising,

Posted in goal setting, life hacks, productivity, self care, Setting goals and intentions

Embrace Your Journey: Living Your Best Life and Achieving Your Goals – Guest post by Linda Chase

Posted on by Laura
Image: Pexels

Today, I’m sharing a second great blog post written by Linda Chase of Able Hire, this time discussing strategies to help you cultivate your best life and meet with success as you make your way towards your hopes and dreams for the future. I’m sure you’ll like the content as much as I did and will pick up some useful tips as you read. Enjoy!

As we navigate through life, we are constantly exploring ways to enhance our journey. The journey to live our best life and achieve our dreams is a continuous process that requires commitment, resilience, and a balanced approach. Here, Keeping it Creative presents eight key strategies you can incorporate right now to help you lead a fulfilled life and accomplish your aspirations.

Build your confidence through fashion

Confidence is a fundamental ingredient for success, and one way to boost it is through your personal style. Fashion can be an expression of your personality, serving as a confidence booster. Dressing in a way that makes you feel good about yourself can have a significant impact on your self-assuredness.

Cultivate resilience

Life is full of challenges, but the way we perceive and respond to these difficulties greatly impacts our growth. Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and self-improvement. Develop coping strategies, like mindfulness or journaling, to overcome setbacks and bounce back stronger than before.

Embrace Self-Care

In our pursuit of goals, we often neglect our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Make self-care a priority. Incorporate regular exercise into your schedule, practice mindfulness, and cultivate healthy eating habits. Pursue things that make you happy! If you love art, check out the fun options on Keeping it Creative. These small actions can significantly improve your overall well-being and productivity.

Foster Positive Energy

It’s important to surround yourself with positivity as much as possible wherever you are. If your family, roommates, or coworkers seem stuck in a negative mindset, take time to talk through what is going on and make it right. Then, you can cleanse the space with naturopathic cleaning remedies to reset the energy. You can even smudge with sage if you desire. It is hard to be at your best when you are surrounded by negativity, so take control of the energy around you!

Develop a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset – the belief that you can learn, improve, and evolve – is crucial for personal development. See failures not as dead-ends but as stepping stones towards success. In fact, anxiety and stress can be positive motivators to get out of our comfort zone and do something amazing! Regularly seek out opportunities for growth and learning, and embrace change as a necessary part of the journey.

Stay Curious

Curiosity acts as a catalyst for creativity and innovation, driving us towards our objectives. By committing to daily learning, be it through reading a new book, enrolling in an online course, or delving into a fresh hobby, we stimulate our minds. This practice of maintaining an active and engaged mind is a testament to the power of curiosity in fueling our personal and professional growth.

Network with Like-Minded Individuals

Surround yourself with people who share your values and aspirations. Build a network of supportive, motivating individuals who inspire you to keep moving forward. Exchanging ideas, collaborating on projects, and supporting each other’s journeys can significantly contribute to your overall success.

Keep a Clean Home

The condition of your living environment is a reflection of your mental well-being, and an organised, clean space can positively influence your mood, enhancing productivity and promoting tranquility. Concurrently, setting clear, manageable objectives offers essential direction and focus in your life’s journey. Regularly taking time to declutter and re-organise your physical space is as crucial as periodically reviewing and adjusting your goals for maintaining motivation. Both practices ensure you’re on the right path towards achieving a harmonious mental state and accomplishing your aspirations. Get the most out of your cleaning efforts by taking advantage of resources like Cleaner Digs.

Foster Meaningful Connections

Cherishing our connections with loved ones greatly enhances our overall happiness. It’s essential to prioritise time for gatherings, providing opportunities to fortify bonds and create lasting memories. Embrace technology with a free invitation maker, which simplifies the process of planning both impromptu and scheduled events. You can create invitations by modifying templates and adding your own text.

Search for Joy and Meaning

Living your best life and achieving your goals is a journey of resilience, self-care, growth, curiosity, and supportive networks. By incorporating these eight key strategies into your life, you’re setting yourself up for success. Remember, it’s not about the destination, but the journey, and every step you take towards betterment is a step closer to living your best life and achieving your dreams.

So there you have it, eight wonderful strategies for living your best life and embracing your journey towards your goals. I particularly enjoyed learning more about the effect your physical environment can have on your mental wellbeing. As some of my readers will know, I’m currently in the process of decluttering my craft room and my goal is to have a neat and well-organised space which is a joy to work and craft in. I’ve realised that I would benefit from re-prioritising this aspiration as Linda has reminded me that it’s key to boosting my mood, being more productive and feeling in control.

Both Linda and I would love to hear your thoughts on today’s guest post, especially which points resonated with you the most, so feel free to drop a comment below.

Posted in depression, mental health, productivity, Selling on Etsy, social media, wellbeing, wellness

Monday Matters: The Hidden Costs of Staying Informed: How the News Negatively Impacts Your Stress and Anxiety levels plus other aspects of your Mental and Physical Health

Posted on by Laura

Last month, I met up with a few of my close friends for lunch and a good catch up. We had a lovely afternoon and there was so much to talk about. We reminisced about old times when we all worked together, talked about our recent holidays and plans for future breaks, shared what we’d been up to over the summer (and how fast the months were flying by) and commented on how children are so different from when we were young. As is often the case when the conversation is flowing, we spent some time chatting about current affairs local and national news. Sitting there listening and very occasionally contributing to the discussion, I realised that I knew much less about most of the topics than anyone else in our group. They seemed to know every detail about a particularly harrowing subject and had formed lots of opinions about all that they had read and heard. When I returned home, I mentioned this to my husband and considered why I was much less informed. I came to the conclusion that the main reason is that I firmly believe that over-consumption of news, particularly of the negative kind, seriously impacts my mental health and so I tend to avoid watching and reading too much. Today, I’d like to share what I have learnt from my online reading on this interesting and thought-provoking topic and present some strategies for avoiding ‘doomscrolling’ and managing your news consumption in general.

The concept of ‘doomscrolling’ and issues with easy access to news media

The term ‘doomscrolling’ came into regular use during the Coronavirus pandemic and is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading and consuming large quantities of negative news online. This, coupled with 24 hour news channels on the TV, sensationalist headlines being so easily accessible and the negativity bias of media outlets can mean that the news is seriously harming your health and wellbeing. Some of the detrimental effects include:

  • increased anxiety levels
  • difficulty concentrating, completing tasks or relaxing
  • worsening symptoms of depression
  • elevated stress levels and trouble sleeping
  • obsessive worry and fear
  • gut and stomach problems
  • muscle tension and pain
  • poor productivity levels
  • feelings of helplessness or paranoia

So, why do people involve themselves in ‘doomscrolling’ and excessive negative news consumption?

According to my research there are several main reasons why people engage in this kind of behaviour:

  • having a natural negativity bias that makes them pay more attention to bad news than good news
  • wanting to feel in control and prepared for potential threats in a world that seems chaotic and uncertain
  • being addicted to the dopamine rush that comes from getting new information, even if it is negative
  • because they wrongly believe that they are keeping themselves safe by doing so

What strategies can I try to prevent ‘doomscrolling’ and over consumption of negative news media?

  • Limit your time Set a time limit for your news consumption and stick to it
  • Make use of mobile apps and your phone settings Use apps or tools that block or limit your access to social media or news sites
  • Look for the good news Seek out positive or uplifting stories that balance out the negative ones
  • Consider better alternatives Choose to engage in activities that make you happy, such as hobbies, exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones
  • Seek help or support Talk to a therapist or a trusted friend if you feel overwhelmed by the news or your emotions

Final words…

I hope you’ve found today’s post thought provoking and useful. Remember, staying informed is important in terms of feeling involved, knowledgeable and connected to others and is a valuable way to learn and grow. However, taking care of yourself is of equal importance so make sure you control your news consumption rather than letting it control you!

Wishing you good health and wellness,

Posted in life hacks, productivity

Monday Matters: Nine super easy ways to improve your concentration and focus when working

Posted on by Laura

Last week, I caught up with a lot of pages in my creative traveller’s notebook journal. I’d had photos and bits and pieces printed for a while and wanted to get them stuck in with typed and handwritten sections of memory keeping and decorative stickers. I’m impressed with how much I got done and for today’s Monday Matters, I’ve decided to share some simple ways in which I ensure I stay focused on the task in hand, concentrate well and improve my productivity levels. So, here’s some tips for better concentration which you can apply today:

Keep hydrated

Throughout the day, I make sure I always have a large bottle of water or squash on my desk to sip from. Keeping myself hydrated helps to prevent headaches, lethargy and decreased alertness – all of which can negatively affect mental performance and workflow. Having a large drink container means I only need to refill during longer breaks and I don’t get thirsty in the middle of tasks.

Eat a healthy diet

We all know that too many junk foods (those which lack nutrients, vitamins and minerals and are high in salt, sugar and fat), are bad for your general health but did you know that they can play havoc with your energy and concentration levels too?

According to my research, the best types of food for improved concentration are:

  • foods high in omega -3 (I’m trying to snack on chopped walnuts whilst working but I really don’t like them! haha)
  • foods high in antioxidants e.g. berries, tomatoes and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are particularly good and help improve brain function
  • foods which provide a dopamine boost such as bananas, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, nuts, seeds and chickpeas are great for increased motivation, better mood and improved attention levels
  • a moderate amount of caffeine, for example from green tea, a small amount of dark chocolate or one or two cups of coffee per day (maximum) can increase mental alertness
  • foods high in Vitamins B6 and B12 which improve cognitive function – I get my B6 and B12 from fortified oat and soya milk, wholegrain cereal, eggs, nuts and seeds but none vegetarian sources include lean meat and oily fish.
  • foods high in fibre such as veggies, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans which all help to keep blood sugar levels stable preventing spikes and dips in energy

Get some exercise

Exercise is a great stress buster, mood improver and mindful activity, all of which can help with concentration. After a good workout (following the initial tiredness), our mind feels sharper and our cognition improves too. I do yoga, Pilates, Legs, Bums and Tums and Zumba each week but I also make sure I fit in a walk each day, preferably in nature as I find it really calming. I also take mini exercise breaks between working sessions which might involve dancing to a favourite upbeat tune, doing some basic stretches or completing a five minute low impact fat burning exercise such as high knees, modified jumping jacks and oblique crunches.

Work to improve your sleep

At the moment, I generally enjoy a really good night’s sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start my day. However, in the past, I’ve really struggled with insomnia and know the effect that tiredness can have on both the body and mind. Sorting your sleep out takes commitment but is vital if you want to stay alert and productive during the day. A good place to start is to ensure you find a restful and relaxing activity to do just before bed. However, if you’re really struggling with poor sleep this in depth post should help too.

Take regular breaks

I’ve shared before how I use The Pomodoro Technique to help me take regular breaks during my working day. Taking a short break enables you to rest and recharge ready to continue your task or start a new one. Just make sure that what you do during your break isn’t something just as taxing and mental exhausting as your work related task. Here’s a few ideas:

  • stretch your legs
  • grab a refreshing drink
  • re-fuel with a healthy snack
  • do a mini meditation
  • close your eyes and listen to a favourite piece of music (I prefer classical)
  • tend to your houseplants
  • declutter your workspace
  • read a few pages of a book or magazine
  • close your eyes and do some deep breathing
  • go outside and explore your environment using your senses
  • do some doodling
  • find a new recipe to try (extra points if it’s a healthy one!)

Identify your priorities for the day

Each evening, I like to sit down with my bullet journal and evaluate my day. I then take five minutes to decide what my priorities should be for tomorrow. This could be particular tasks such as shop orders or preparation for a session at the university, but equally, might be wellbeing activities such as enjoying a brisk walk after breakfast or spending some time tending to the garden to get me motivated to do some focused work.

Eliminate distractions

Modern life and technology provide constant sources of distraction which can seriously affect our concentration levels and work rate. However, most of these things are completely within our control and we can choose to do something about them. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

  • turn off your email notifications
  • choose a time (after lunch) to check and deal with emails
  • put your phone in another room
  • leave your laptop turned off and adopt pen and paper methods for a while
  • create a work plan for the next day in the early evening
  • remember your priorities for the day – work on them first and exclusively at the beginning of your working day
  • adopt a social media ban habit between set hours of the day
  • tidy your desk up each evening and between task so you have a tidy environment to work in

Slow down

It might seem counter-intuitive, but slowing down can really help you focus better and get more done. My favourite way to do this is through my morning routine, where I get up early, have a leisurely and mindful breakfast whilst curled up on the settee and then fill in my Five Minute Journal. After that, I do some quiet reading, usually of some kind of self-help type of book but sometimes I choose a beautifully descriptive memoir that I’m currently reading called Twelve Moons. Other ways of intentionally slowing down include:

  • leaving gaps in your plan for the day to do something relaxing such as sitting out in the garden and feeling the sun or a gentle breeze on your face, working on a puzzle such as a wordsearch or jigsaw, or reading a magazine.
  • making time for a hobby or a special interest each day, for example, you might read, paint, draw or learn how to play a musical instrument
  • eating at the dining table and be really mindful of what your eating and how it smells and tastes (leave your phone in another room)
  • having ‘tech free’ time each day – no phone, laptop, tablet, TV or radio. Enjoy the break and use the time to think or journal about how things are going for you right now
  • practicing gratitude – this could be as part of your morning routine or something to do before bed

Remember multi-tasking is a myth

It’s a modern belief that being able to multi-task (doing two or more tasks at once) is a desirable quality that leads to better results through an increase in productivity. However, various studies by psychologists have found that our brains are not capable of working on multiple tasks at the same time and what we actually do is quickly switch our attention and focus from one task to another. The negative effects of this include higher stress levels, lack of focus, mental blocks which hamper progress, fatigue, poor problem solving skills and mistakes. The better option, is to select one task at a time, eliminate distractions and cultivate ‘deep work’ which science professor Cal Newport defines as peak concentration that lets you learn hard things and create quality work quickly.

Final words…

I hope you’ve found today’s tips useful and they’ve given you some ideas for simple changes you could make to your working day to aid your concentration and focus. Some of the points may resonate with you more than others and I would suggest you give one or two of these a try first. You should also know, that even though I have good awareness of strategies for aiding productivity, I do have days where I break my own rules and consequently get much less done. However, if I feel like I haven’t achieved a great deal, I will usually sit down in the evening to reflect on why and make plans to do better tomorrow. And, even more importantly, I’ll remember to be kind and self-compassionate by not berating myself for the lack of progress with my to-do list.

What’s your best strategy for improving your focus and concentration? How does it help? Let me know in the comments.