7 Ways to Think More Clearly During Your Workday

Did you know that the average person has over 70,000 thought per day? This is the equivalent of 49 thoughts per minute. That is a mind boggling number, both figuratively and literally! It’s no wonder then that we all struggle to stay focused and on task. Try these seven guidelines for helping your mind to stay clear and on point throughout your work day!

1. Keep your desk clear of everything except for the task at hand.  A clear desk equals a clear and focused mind.
2. Keep a fresh glass of water on your desk at all times. And drink it!
3. Learn to write with as much brevity as possible. Getting caught up with writing verbose email responses, text messages, and social networking posts clogs up your brain. (It also creates unnecessary garble for the person receiving it.) Make your point and move on.
4. Relax and unclench your jaw and stop hunching your shoulders. Both of these give your body a tense and closed feeling which in turn influences your brain to feel the same way.
5. Take 10 deep breaths at least 10 times per day. Oxygen is your brain’s greatest ally.
6. Listen to and follow your gut when your brain is taking way too long to sort something out. If you’re not 100% confident in either one of them, and the decision you’re trying to make is too big to wing it, move on and come back to it later. Either you are or aren’t going to figure it out within about fifteen minutes so any pondering it any longer is a waste of energy. Let it go and come back to it. Ninety percent of the time your brain will figure it out while processing it “in the back” of your mind.
7. Learn to be comfortable with a “pregnant pause.” All too frequently people don’t get things done because everyone involved feels the need to fill any silence that occurs after a point has been made. This robs the mind of the processing time it sometimes need. It’s ok for everyone to just hush for minute during a meeting in order to avoid unnecessary lengthy discussion.