Stay Focused: 7 Mental Acuity Secrets No One Will Tell You About
Trouble Staying Focused?
Distracted? Mind-wandering mid-sentence?
Fatigue in the body is one thing, but what happens when you feel your brain is tired? Do you have long workdays? Parenting a young child? Your mind may be betraying you as you find yourself easily distracted, barely able to keep up with the demands of work and home.
You may literally feel like your brain is fried. In our world full of distractions, the mind seems to suffer most. You can spend hours scrolling through social media, but reading a book for 10 minutes feels impossible.
The Real Answer Could Be Diet
You can throw away your phone, never leave your office, tie yourself to your desk, remove every single distraction.... but still find your mind wandering.
When you look up how to focus, you see guides on limiting social media, how to train your brain etc. All the techniques and hacks for staying focused are of no use when your diet is not optimized to keep your body and brain healthy.
This is what no one's telling you. You are told to change your habits, try techniques like setting timers and meditating. But if your brain is not fed with the highest quality nutrients that it requires, it cannot keep up with the demands of your high-powered life.
Natural Supplements To Help Focus and Mental Acuity
A balanced, healthy diet that nourishes your body will help your mind too. As add-ons, nature also supplies many different compounds proven to improve concentration.
1. Caffeine
Caffeine in small amounts is extremely potent for increasing focus. It does come with a dreaded crash. It can also affect sleep and cause anxiety. Fortunately, caffeine is not the only natural compound that can help you focus. See the supplements below to know more about powerful ingredients that can help without the side effects
2. L-theanine
L-theanine can be a game-changer for mental acuity and focus. It's found naturally in tea. In scientific studies, it has been shown to have great effects in increasing alertness and concentration (1). On the market, it's available as Suntheanine, the purest form of supplement.
One cup of black tea will give you around 24 g of L-theanine. Suntheanine is the only product that, at 99% concentration of L-theanine, is a nearly pure source. Suntheanine is used in scientific studies that show the great benefits of L-theanine for productivity and the ability to concentrate.
3. Lion's Mane
Research shows that this wonderful mushroom increases the amount of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in your body, which enhances brain function (2). There is no way to supplement your body with more NGF, so Lion's Mane is a phenomenal supplement. Lion's mane can help you concentrate and focus.
4.Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Foods that are rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids are essential for your brain. For example, research suggests that walnuts protect your mind from the effects of ageing (3). Omega-3 is also found in other healthy fat sources like salmon and flax seeds.
5. Ginseng root
In scientific trials, Ginseng has been shown to improve mental performance and fatigue (4). This root is sourced from the shrubs of ginseng plants. It is a popular ancient secret for vitality, energy and anti-ageing as well. It's available in many forms, like teas, powder and capsules.
6. Maca
Maca is well-loved for good reasons. A study in 2006 shows its direct action on the brain(5). Maca acts on parts in the brain that increase attention and help you focus. Maca also comes with great age-defying benefits, so you hit many birds with one stone.
7. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is another ancient secret. Indian Ayurvedic healers have used Ashwagandha for centuries. Science shows that Ashwagandha may also benefit the mind. Animal studies show that Ashwagandha encourages the growth of neurons, and protects the brain from oxidative stress(6,7). This shows promise in keeping your mind young and helping you concentrate.
Ashwagandha is also sold in many forms, but KSM-66 is its purest form.
The coffee replacement of your dreams
Do you see how many options you have? You may love coffee but you can't deny that you know there must be something better out there. Something that makes you alert and focused without pumping your anxiety. Without a crash after a few hours.
Check out high-quality supplements, preferably those that combine the powers of the ones we list.
**Our own Zen Strip combines the power of L-theanine and Ginseng, for clarity and alertness that is simultaneously calming. No crash, no heart pounding in your ears. Just calm, sustained focus and concentration.
Our Mental Focus Strip with Ashwagandha and Lion's Mane is designed for long-term help with focus and alertness. ***
A high-quality supplement and small additions to your diet can give you the mental acuity you need.
Optimize Your Ability To Focus With Good Habits
Focus may be the single thing that sets apart happy, successful people from others. If you have other problems like low energy and low motivation, the key may be to work on improving your ability to stay focused. You must have heard, "where focus goes, energy flows."
This is why staying focused is important. Focus is the best-kept productivity secret. It's the key to unlimited energy for your work, family and personal goals.
Nurturing your mind with the food you need should be supplemented with good habits of the mind. Staying focused is a skill that can be learned. Especially for long periods of time, concentrating can be difficult but is learnable. Practice can optimize your focus and concentration.
1. Train Your Brain
Multitasking is overrated. Train yourself to stay on task. Focus on one task at a time. Every night, instead of scrolling on social media, use your phone to set a 10-minute timer. Use this time to stay focused on reading a book without distractions. This focusing exercise can be adapted to less or more time depending on
2. The Pomodoro technique
The Pomodoro method is the secret to concentrate on tedious work. Remove distractions then set a timer for 25 minutes to concentrate on a single task. After 25 minutes are up, take a 5-minute break. The Pomodoro method requires that after four rounds of 25-minute blocks followed by breaks, you reward yourself with a refreshing 15-30 minute break. Repeat as often as you need. There are apps dedicated to the Pomodoro method so you don't have to keep setting timers.
4. Sleep
Coffee is no match for a full night's sleep. Sleep is your brain's chance to do some serious clean-up that is vital for concentration. A diet optimized for focus can also help you sleep.
Remember
There are real consequences for a tired mind in our competitive world. Focus is the single thing that keeps you consistent and increases productivity. It's not the long hours, elbow grease or late nights that will help you get far and live a full life.
Think about how it would be to live every moment in full. In the office, at home or at vacation- an alert mind is the secret to success and happiness.
References:
1.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/
2.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24266378/
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071526/
4.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15982990/
5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614644/
