Focus is concentration. The ability to pay attention to an activity, completely ignoring distractions. This is an essential skill that is a challenge to many, especially in our fast-paced environment with so many easy-to-distract activities and materials.

This article will briefly discuss the meaning of focus and practicable steps to help you apply it in your daily life and career. 

As stated earlier, focus is concentration. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as the centre of interest or activity. It is being in control of your attention and training your mind to handle one activity/thought/subject etc., at a time. Apart from the challenge of dealing with all the already existing external distractions, there's also our brain with its ever-flowing flood of thoughts. This increases the level of difficulty of concentrating even when one is seated in a position; however, the benefits of focus, and its direct impact on a person's success professionally, academically and otherwise, make it an art worth practising, and thankfully, it can be practised and perfected. 

Some reasons why you should practise focus are as follows: 

1. Focus gives way to growth —

Paying attention is key to learning, which in turn leads to steady growth. If you are a college graduate, for instance, you had to pay attention to lectures to pass your exams which was the only way you could advance to the next class. This applies to your career and everything you do. 

2. Focus reduces stress — 

When you are focused, you save yourself the unnecessary adrenaline rush, tension or anxiety that arises from not having done what you were supposed to do or having done a sloppy job. 

Stress is bad news for your health, and any doctor will tell you why, so in a way, we can say that focus helps you maintain better health. 

Things That Affect Your Focus

1. Distractions — Not trying to state the obvious but identifying things that easily distract (and they could be people too) is a good start if you're trying to practice concentration. 

2. Lack of sleep — Sleep improves brain functionality and body growth, and since you need your mind active when you practice focus, not sleeping when you ought to or not getting enough sleep will get you nowhere. 

3. Poor mental or physical health — Mental health challenges like depression, ADHD, emotional breakdown, stress, anxiety, and bodily ailments can prevent you from concentrating. If you are experiencing symptoms and need to be sure, get a diagnosis and resume proper treatment, as your mind can only function properly if it is in top form.

4. Living situations — Uncomfortable situations like loss, death, lack, and so on, can also prevent you from focusing because they directly affect your peace of mind.

In light of these, the key to staying focused is simply recognising the issues that affect your focus, and finding solutions for them; however, you may find the following tips helpful: 

1. Sleep well and on time. 

2. Take breaks, you can't and should not work all the time. 

3. Avoid procrastination. 

4. Exercise regularly. 

5. Prioritize your mental health.

6. Find support. It could be friends, an online support group or community, family etc. Just someone to help hold you accountable and give you a hand on the rough days. 

7. Handle activities/ thoughts one at a time. 

8. Use a to-do list. 

9. Create a routine (but don't if it is counter-productive for you).

10. Organise your personal space.