Remember when you were fully engrossed with doing something and didn’t care about anything else in the world? That’s hyperfocus, and this article will teach you how to achieve it at will.
What is hyperfocus?
Hyperfocus, broadly and anecdotally speaking, is a phenomenon that reflects one’s complete absorption in a task to a point where a person appears to ignore or tune out everything else altogether. It is generally reported to occur when a person is engaged in a particularly fun or interesting activity.
Hyperfocus can be good or bad, depending on the situation. When you are working, however, hyperfocus will help you achieve more in less time. In addition, your results will be better quality because you use more of your cognitive resources in a focused way.
However, entering the hyperfocus state is not easy and requires some practice to maintain it over a more extended period. Most people who enter it by pure luck will say, “I was in my zone, dude!” Or: “It was like I was in the flow. Everything just came and worked out. Like a key and a lock.”
But what if you’d want to enter the hyperfocus state at will? Although everyone has a different trigger, we’ve narrowed down this article’s most effective methods of reaching hyperfocus.
Why is hyperfocus helpful?
As we progress into a more stimulus-oriented generation, maintaining focus can be challenging, especially with the number of distractions around.
Hyperfocus is an excellent way to get complex tasks done and is extremely useful for things that don’t just take creative thinking, logic, or mental capacity to solve but also take up a lot of time.
There have been proven ways to unlock hyperfocus, and by doing this, you could effectively change how you work and the quality of your work.
How to turn on hyperfocus?
Different people often work on other triggers; once you discover yours, you’ll be able to put your brain to work into the desired state.
But don’t expect too much at once. You will set yourself up for disappointment, making it harder to get into the mental state required to enter hyperfocus.
Have the goodwill to succeed at it, and do the following routine repeatedly without forcing yourself or being disappointed about the results.
Preparation
When you have a task you need to do later on, it always helps to prepare beforehand. This way, when you have to do the job, you can clear all distractions out and focus on nothing else.
Another way to prepare is to remove all possible distractions in the way. The less stimulating your environment is, the more you’ll be able to focus on what’s in front of you. This includes your desk, wallpaper, icons, and even your keyboard or mats.
Work the moment you wake up
After a night’s sleep and maybe a quick exercise to get your blood pumping, your brain goes into a lucid state of being half awake and half asleep. This can be very beneficial for different tasks and is already considered hyperfocus by some.
To unlock this, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and have a short but physical wake-up routine.
The Pomodoro method
The Pomodoro method involves strategically doing deep work and taking breaks. The good thing about Pomodoro is that you are programming your brain to work efficiently within a given timeframe to prepare yourself for a break.
To do this, time yourself. That means you do 25 minutes of deep work and then have a 5-minute break. Then rinse a repeat it over and over again. After that, it’s just a matter of sincere repetition.
Shock your body
Temperature and other stimulants are great ways to wake up your body and get it to work in hyperfocus. This involves taking a quick cold bath, eating something spicy (not too spicy to the point of discomfort), or drinking cold water.
When you shock your body, you are given an initial “wake-up” feeling which can be used to help you focus intensely on work.
Why hyperfocus is important
Hyperfocus lets you get things done more efficiently and allows your body to reach its peak mental performance. The more you practice this, just like a muscle, the more you can improve your performance.
The more you can focus, the more things you’ll be able to do.
The problem with many people today is that they fall victim to dopamine overdose, taking away their incentive to work hard. (Hint: “Social Media”)
By practicing hyperfocus, you’ll be able to get more done in less time and feel great afterward. Because your brain will reward you with dopamine for a job done and not just for engagement experienced.
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