It is very difficult to concentrate on an activity. It always has been. But in recent years, when we are distracted by literally everything around us, it is even more complicated than before. I myself am not able to concentrate without my morning coffee, sometimes I even use natural dietary supplements to support this function. There are many steps we can take to keep our brains functioning properly in the long term. But one thing many people underestimate. Healthy sleep.

I rarely go to bed after 10 o’clock. And I always get up so that my smartwatch shows me at least 8 hours of quality sleep. It’s rare that I don’t. A lot of my friends tell me I’m weird. But then again, I say that their inability to focus on work is related to how little sleep they get. And science is on my side.

Brain function impairment of up to 30%

If I brought this factor up to my friends, they’d probably knock my arguments off the table. But the scientific evidence is clear. If a person sleeps less than 6 hours a day, their brain function decreases by up to 30%. It becomes very difficult to concentrate on work, or virtually anything.

During sleep, the body rests. The whole body, our limbs and internal organs, as well as the brain. The synapses are regulated and memories are consolidated. It’s not that long sleep is a luxury. Rather, it is an obligation that many of the people around me simply do not observe. Sometimes it’s because people go to bed late and get up early. But I also know people who have trouble sleeping even though they spend a lot of time in bed. How to improve the chances of a restful sleep? Several factors can help:

  • dark curtains in the room
  • lower air temperature in the bedroom
  • fresh air
  • avoiding blue light before bedtime
  • herbal teas
  • meditation

As someone who has never had a problem falling asleep, I know I can be happy. However, several people in my area have dealt with sleep complications and have finally managed to fight them. Their concentration subsequently improved as well.

Unfortunately, the power of our brain is not unlimited. And some factors destroy our concentration more than others. ━━ Unfortunately, the power of our brain is not unlimited. And some factors destroy our concentration more than others. ( Source: Helena Lopes /  Unsplash+ )

Try to avoid distractions

If you get enough and healthy sleep, your concentration will improve. However, as mentioned, nowadays we are constantly distracted and sometimes it is difficult to concentrate even when we have enough energy. Therefore, try to avoid unnecessary distractions while working. Focus on one project and don’t get sidetracked by others. Don’t do too many things at once until you have finished the important ones.

What helped me personally at work was turning off unnecessary notifications on my cell phone, which distracted me a lot. In addition, it’s important to take breaks at work, stretch, and allow yourself time to rest physically and mentally. If you follow all of these steps and set a healthy sleep schedule to go along with them, your concentration will improve significantly.