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- DictionaryFo·cus/ˈfōkəs/
noun
- 1. the center of interest or activity: "this generation has made the environment a focus of attention"
- 2. the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition: "his face is rather out of focus"
verb
- 1. (of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly: "try to focus on a stationary object"
- 2. pay particular attention to: "the study will focus on a number of areas in Wales"
Learn the various meanings and uses of the word focus as a noun and a verb, with synonyms, examples, etymology, and history. Find out how to focus on something, to adjust the focus of something, or to bring something to a focus. See also related phrases and words.
Learn the meaning of focus as a noun and a verb in English, with synonyms, related words, and usage examples. Find out how to use focus in different contexts, such as attention, science, photography, and business.
Nov 20, 2023 · Learn how to sharpen your focus with mindfulness, cognitive training, and a healthy lifestyle. Find out what factors can affect your attention and how to overcome them.
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- Overview
- Evaluate How Mentally Focused You Are
- Eliminate Distractions
- Limit Your Focus
- Live in the Moment
- Practice Mindfulness
- Take a Short Break
- Keep Practicing
Before you start working toward learning how to focus, you might want to begin by assessing just how strong your mental focus is at the present moment.
If the first set of statements seems more your style, then you probably already have fairly good concentration skills, but you could be even stronger with a little practice.
If you identify more with the second set of statements, then you probably need to work on your mental focus quite a bit. It might take some time, but practicing some good habits and being mindful of your distractibility can help.
The Brain Processes Behind Attention and Distraction
Mindfulness is a hot topic right now, and for good reason. Despite the fact that people have practiced forms of mindfulness meditation for thousands of years, its many health benefits are only recently starting to be understood.
In one study, researchers had human resources professionals engage in simulations of the sort of complex multitasking they engaged in each day at work.
These tasks had to be completed in 20 minutes and included answering phones, scheduling meetings, and writing memos with sources of information pouring in from multiple sources including by phone calls, emails, and text messages.
Some of the participants received 8 weeks of training in the use of mindfulness meditation, and the results found that only those who had received this training showed improvement in concentration and focus.
Members of the meditation group were able to stay on task longer, switched between tasks less frequently, and performed the work more efficiently than the other groups of participants.
Practicing mindfulness can involve learning how to meditate, but it can also be as simple as trying a quick and easy deep breathing exercise.
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 having on your life. If you are struggling to accomplish your goals and find yourself getting sidetracked by unimportant details, it is time to start placing a higher value on your time.
- Get rid of distractions. First things first: You need to eliminate distractions. While you can’t do away with everything, you can make an effort to reduce or get rid of as many distractions as possible.
- Coffee in small doses. Drinking coffee, or other caffeinated beverages, in small doses may positively impact your ability to focus. A 2021 study found that caffeine may positively affect sustained attention.
- Practice the Pomodoro technique. Staying focused helps you get more done in less time. While that sounds simple enough, it’s not always easy to put into practice.
- Put a lock on social media. If your idea of a break from work is checking Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok every 5 minutes, you may want to consider an app that blocks social media.
verb. OPAL W OPAL S. /ˈfəʊkəs/ Verb Forms. [intransitive, transitive] to give attention, effort, etc. to one particular subject, situation or person rather than another. She was distracted and finding it hard to focus. focus on/upon somebody/something The discussion focused on three main issues. Each exercise focuses on a different grammar point.
Definitions of focus. noun. the concentration of attention or energy on something. “the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology” synonyms: centering, direction, focal point, focusing, focussing. see more. noun. special emphasis attached to something. synonyms: stress. see more. verb. direct one's attention on something.
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