Oh look, There’s a Squirrel. Taming Your Monkey Mind To Achieve More

Do you ever have days where you can't get anything done? Your brain hops from one thing to the next, and you can't focus?

Here are a few tips from neuroscience and learning experts to help calm your monkey mind and focus fast.

1. Set yourself up for success and leave your phone in another room or out of sight. Turn off the ringer and, if possible, put it in "do not disturb mode

2. Practice taking a deep breath for two minutes. Eight out of ten people do not know how to take a deep therapeutic breath; are you one of them? Check out this short article to learn how.

3. Next, ask yourself, "what is the one thing I want to get done today?" Don't worry; you will get more than one thing done. Right now, we want the monkey mind to focus. Now that you have identified one task let's jump into the following technique.

4. The Pomodoro Technique. This technique is excellent for starting your task. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work, then take a 5-minute break. You will likely find that you have a good start on your project with a few sets under your belt.

5. When you can not do any high-functioning tasks because you haven't gotten enough sleep or don't feel well. Use the same technique but have a list of things you can do when you know you aren't performing optimally.

This list is something you prepare ahead of time; therefore, there is no additional thinking. All you have to do is carry out the tasks on the list. Some examples are consolidating notes, cleaning the desktop, paying bills, and filing documents in their appropriate digital file.

The key is approaching your tasks systematically and reaching your goals with less anxiety.