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Flickr/john.schultz
the time 3 p.m. hits, it may be hard to muster up the cognitive resources to focus on
anything work-related.
That's why Vince Favilla says, "You need to work on your most important tasks early in the
day, while you still have the focus and willpower to complete them."
Psychologist Kelly McGonigal offers another reason why willpower may be highest in the
morning: The brain is refreshed by sleep. (That's also why an afternoon nap may work to
boost your willpower and productivity.)
REUTERS/Gil Montano
jazbeck/Flickr
The point is not to waste time getting upset because you're struggling, but to get to the root
of the problem and eliminate it.
Shutterstock
8. Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the general term for cultivating greater awareness of your experiences in the
present moment, and it can help you stay focused on the task at hand.
One simple mindfulness practice is to "do what you are doing with full focus," says Paras
Trehan. For example, Trehan says, pay attention to every bite of food you take, including the
taste, the temperature, and the texture. Eventually, you'll get accustomed to zeroing in on
single tasks, while minimizing external distractions.
9. Learn to meditate.
Flickr/mrhayata
For those who aren't interested in dedicating that much time to their meditation practice, an
anonymous user outlines an exercise you can do for a few minutes every day.
Find a quiet space, sit in a comfortable position, and start breathing. Count to six as you
breathe in and six again as you breathe out. Keep doing this for as long as you can. The key
is to notice when your mind is wandering instead of focusing on the task at hand. (There are
variations on this technique, but counting your breaths is a basic meditation practice.)
11. Be patient.
Albert Gea/Reuters