5 Quick Tips for Increasing Energy and Focus Throughout Your Day

Had a friend recently ask me for tips to improve focus, and here are five I sent her via Facebook messenger:

5 Quick Tips for Increasing Energy and Focus Throughout Your Day

1) Keep your blood sugar “balanced” — in other words, eat consistently, especially protein and veggies while avoiding the ups and downs of sugar and processed food (or too much caffeine, especially later in the day)

2) Get your rest. So much brain and body renewal occurs with our daily cycle of sleep, yet it’s one of the first things we skimp on when we’re “busy”. Try turning off your “screens” and “unwinding” a bit before bed, and even shifting your “stop time” earlier — I read once that the Taoists say every hour of sleep before midnight is worth two after midnight! (The Tao of Abundance by Laurence G. Boldt)

3) Stay hydrated — pure water is best (try adding a slice of lemon, lime, grapefruit, cucumber, or a mint or bay leaf for variety)

4) Time block — block off shorter segments in your day to totally focus on a specific project, task, or intention. Then re-assess at the end of that block  to set your intention for the next “segment” of your day.

5) Pattern interrupt — avoid zoning out on email, facebook, internet searches, etc.  Periodically step away from the computer/phone — stand up, get a drink of water, go for a short walk — or even a bike ride — to re-energize, refresh, and re-focus.  You’ll find yourself more “on purpose” and more productive than if you never took the break.

There you go! Which one can you act on today? In the next hour?

What’s one of your favorite tips for increasing energy and focus throughout your day? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Dr. Ben

P.S. Want a free 7-day guide by email for feeling your best in just minutes a day?  Get yours here.

Four steps to refocus, re-energize, & move forward now

imageIn the midst of a busy week – ever had one of those? – I quickly jotted down four steps (as a reminder to myself and others) to refocus, re-energize, & move forward now, and here they are:

1)  Step back for a moment from what you’re doing – stand up, take a few deep breaths, go for a walk – often simply interrupting your pattern, particularly with movement, can bring fresh energy and a renewed perspective and re-alignment of priorities

2)  Focus on what you CAN do.  Often we get so overwhelmed by what we’re not doing that a part of us just shuts down…whereas if we simply take the next step we CAN take – the process of simply moving forward feels good and “unlocks” the feeling of being stuck, thus turning into feel-good, forward-moving momentum.

3)  Give thanks – find something to appreciate.  You’ll immediately feel better and have fresh energy for re-engaging with life.

4)  Re-focus with intentional questions – what do you really want? What are three things you can choose to put in place right now to move toward what you want?  If you’re feeling badly about something that’s not getting done – or perhaps a relationship or area of your life or business that’s not getting attention right now – rather than continuing to feel badly, simply ask yourself, “is this important to me?” and if so, “what’s a step I can take to start sowing in this area this week?
(For more on this, see The Power of 10 Minutes a Day)

Now to really anchor and apply what you just read, how about choosing one of the four and practicing it for a moment right now?

Here’s to a prosperous and wonderful week!

Dr. Ben