Did you know?

We live in a society where technology is at the ready to help us do everything—direct us to our destination when driving, guide us through daily tasks (there’s an app for that!), and even entertain us endlessly with social media buzz. It’s no wonder that when it comes to multitasking we consider it a badge of honor to brag about our skills. Even sitting at a red light while driving is a chance to “catch up” on something.

Unfortunately, this common juggling act can have real repercussions for your brain health, including short-term memory loss and difficulty concentrating. A neuroscientist at Stanford University found when learning new information, distractions cause this data to go to the wrong part of the brain, making it harder to retrieve the instruction when you need it later. And, that’s just physical repercussions.

Another study, conducted by consulting firm Basex in 2007, concluded companies lose $650 billion a year due to a lack of job performance and creativity. When employees lose their concentration, they lack focus on finding solutions to help their business reach its financial goals, leading to profit loss.

Here are four tips to refocus your attention, shut out the distractions and use multitasking to your advantage. Your memory will be sharper, your job performance stellar and your life more balanced.

1. Take a break
   We know, it sounds counterintuitive—you have so much to do and so little time to do it in! But, hear us out. Research shows periodic diversions (say once every hour or two) make it easier to focus on one thing for a longer amount of time. This can be anything from taking a walk, to viewing a video on YouTube, meditating or listening to music with lyrics.
2. Shut off outside distractions
   Before tackling your first project, switch off notification alerts for email, IM and phones to ensure zero interruptions. If necessary, set up active accounts to “busy” or “do not disturb” to get your message across to colleagues or those who frequently interrupt you. You’ll find your productivity increases, which means you can work fewer hours.

3. Keep your workspace clean
   There are people who swear they thrive in chaos—the messier the better. In fact, it would probably fuel a multitasker to start organizing items as they saw them, instead of concentrating on the task at hand. Hence, it’s essential to start out with a clean workspace so the only item in your line of sight is your current project.
4. Group similar tasks
   If you have 15 emails to return, set a timer for 30 minutes and start with the most important one and then work your way down. Don’t switch to a different task (writing a check, inputting something into a spreadsheet, answering your phone) until you’ve answered as many of the 15 emails as you can in a time limit you set. By eliminating one major category from your to-do list, you free up brain power to tackle your next major project.

Multitasking may seem like a smart way to make the most of your time, but it actually harms your productivity and efficiency in completing tasks. This leads to stress, which increases your frustration and memory cognition. Reframe your mindset to tackle to-do’s one at a time, from start to finish. You’ll find yourself less frazzled and more productive in no time. And, you’ll actually remember where you put your car keys/glasses/phone at the end of the day!

Taking the right supplements can also help aid memory function, concentration and focus. Many people have found improved mental focus and concentration after taking Laminine. Read some of their stories here.