How to Keep Your Mind From Wandering

In today’s fast-paced market, being able to stay focused and stay productive is of the utmost importance. However, there are so many different things that can prevent even the most determined of individuals from being as productive as they want to be. For many people the most distracting thing that gets in the way of their productivity comes in the form of mental wandering. If you are someone who finds that their mind often wanders to random places, particularly while they are trying to get work done, then this can be very distracting and can hamper your productivity. The good news is, there are a few things you can do in order to keep your mind from wandering and to make sure you are staying focused and staying on task.

Meditate

The ancient art of meditation is not only a great way to help you relax, refocus and unwind, but it is also a great way to help keep your mind centered and less-distracted. If you practice the art of meditation, you are exercising your mind and you are teaching your mind how to be in better control. You will not only find that your mind is clear and focused after you meditate, but you will also find that when you need to focus and eliminate distractions, you will have better brain power and the ability to block out distractions when they arise. Just try meditating for a few weeks, you would be surprised by how much easier it is for you to control our mind and prevent it from wandering.

Manage Your Distractions

If distractions aren’t readily available to you, then they can’t really prevent you from getting your work done. One of the best things you can do if your mind tends to wander is to make sure you set yourself up for success. Manage your distractions, try to eliminate as many distractions as you can so you are not setting yourself up for failure. Turn off your internet if you can, put your phone on silent, close your social media accounts and remove things from your office that may distract you. The less possibilities there are for your mind to wander, the less likely you are to drift off.

Organize and Shorten Your To-Do List

There are so many people who have to-do lists and who use these lists in order to keep themselves organized and on-task. However, if you have a disorganized and long to-do list it can only distract you and cause your mind to wander. Shorten the list. Keep it to 3-5 really important and manageable tasks. There are some people who think that putting everything from “pay the gas bill” to “showering” on their to-do list is the right way to go as it makes them feel like they are getting more done. Shorten this list. Don’t include things like this on there. If you have a longer to-do list do your best to keep it organized. Separate it into sections. Keep your work ‘to-dos’ together with other work ‘to-dos’ and your personal ‘to-dos’ with other personal ‘to-dos.’ The more organized you are with your list, the more focused and organized you will stay during your day.