5-Minute Solutions to Refocus
Sometimes, life can be a bit hectic and out of control. You might need to take a step back and refocus yourself before taking on anything else. Here are some ways that I have found to be effective for just taking five minutes and refocusing yourself.
- Walk Outside – There is something about the outdoors that can really change your mood from “ho hum” to “yay-fun!” When I’m feeling particularly out of whack, one way I can always take a minute to refocus is by taking a short walk outside. When the weather isn’t great, I still go stand under the awning for a few minutes. Taking a minute to “get some fresh air” is a lot more effective than just hearsay informs us.
- Prioritize – Sometimes you can get a feeling of being overwhelmed because you have a lot to do and don’t know what to tackle first. It could be a lot simpler if you find a way that works for you to prioritize what you need to do. This will not only help you organize things in a way that makes sense to you personally, but it can take your mind off the immediate task at hand. Do the things that matter the most first, and the rest will fall into place.
- Breathe – This is something that a lot of us forget to do, no matter if we feel we’ve become unfocused or not. Taking a minute or five out of your day to sit and close your eyes and breathe with no distractions is a great way to find that quiet time for yourself and just reset. Take long, deep breaths, but don’t strain yourself. Only do what feels right, as this shouldn’t be an experience to make you feel stressed or out of breath. Just stop, breathe, and get back to it.
- Zone In – This is a more abstract technique that I can only describe by saying that it is essentially doing whatever it takes to get your head in the moment. It can be a pep talk to yourself in the mirror, an affirmation or mantra you say out loud, a song you listen to in order to get pumped up. Zoning in is anything that you do to shake off whatever feelings of doubt or despair you might be having and really focus on what you should be doing. You’ll know the right thing for you when you do it. Just remember what it is so you can come back to it.
- Talk to a Friend – You’re not alone. If you can, take a five-minute break and call or approach a friend to help you get resituated. Everyone has been in that boat at some point, so they might be able to shed some light on your lack of focus. If nothing else, a quick laugh with a friend is always a great way to get into a great mood.
What are some of the ways you choose to reset and refocus?
-Lisa
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Comments
Osmyn Friday, April 16, 2010
My two favorite vices: Cleaning and laying down for 20 mins.
Cleaning stops my fore-mind from spinning around and lets my subconscious work on the problem for a while.
I consider laying down and closing my eyes for 20 mins akin to meditating - it clears my mind. After 15 minutes or so I feel something like a pulse go through my mind, like it just degaussed my brain! Luckily, I work from home, so I can do this anytime ;)
Bud Friday, April 16, 2010
All very good sound advice. The first one, taking a walk outside is my favorite. I do that a lot. For me when things just get too stressful that is when I just take that walk. It clears my head and gives me time to think about things I need to do but it also takes my mind off of things. Another thing I do when I have so many tasks at hand is to just start doing them. I guess it fall into your category of Prioritize, I take what need to be done first then just start working. I don’t think about how things will never get done I just continue with the projects and eventually they get finished. And the amazing part is that it never seems a bad, or as hard as I was thinking it was going to be. I guess it follows the old saying “Start at the beginning”.
So once again, great advice Lisa, thanks so much. I always look forward to your column.
Nure Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thank you for the reminder, Brigitte. However in time of stress we tend to forget how to relax.
I am currently in the middle of my exams and last week I had my 3 hardest over 4 days. I was stressed out. I tried to stay away from my computer, which seems to be the biggest distraction! I put my laptop away and opened up all the windows and doors. Made myself some hot coffee. It was refreshing to get some fresh air. Sometimes if the weather is nice, I sit outside.
One time it was raining, and I decided to take a walk in the rain. There is nothing like walking in the rain, as you drain out all the stress. On my way hope I bought myself some yellow Tulips. I placed the flowers on my desk to brighten up my mood. It worked.
And today, it was sunny. =)