While multitasking may seem like a great way to get a lot done quickly, it turns out that people are actually rather bad at it. Juggling multiple tasks at once can dramatically cut down on productivity and makes it much harder to hon...

Start by taking several deep breaths while really focusing on each and every breath. When you feel your mind naturally begin to wander, gently and uncritically guide your focus back to your deep breathing.

While this might seem like a deceptively simple task, you may find t...

Shift your attention to something unrelated to the task at hand, even if it is only for a few moments. These short moments of respite might mean that you are able to keep your mental focus sharp and your performance high when you really need it.

Building your mental focus is not something that will happen overnight. Even professional athletes require plenty of time and practice in order to strengthen their concentration skills.

One of the first steps is to recognize the impact that being distracted is havin...

Before you start working toward improving your mental focus, you might want to begin by assessing just how strong your mental focus is at the present moment.

• You find it easy to stay alert
• You set goals and break tasks up into smaller parts
• You take sho...

You have probably heard people talk about the importance of "being present ." It's all about putting away distractions, whether they are physical (your mobile phone) or psychological (your anxie...

While it may sound obvious, people often underestimate just how many distractions prevent them from concentrating on the task at hand.

One way to deal with this is to seek out a calm location where you know you will be able to work undisturbed. The library, a private room ...