Do you think about too many things at one time? Does your ability to concentrate and focus seem compromised? Are you easily overwhelmed? As highly sensitive people, these are among the many questions that we must ask ourselves.

I’m guilty of all of the above mentioned road blocks to a peaceful and productive life! It’s easy to get caught up in our daily grind and lose track of what’s really important in our lives. We clutter our brains with trivial things that block our ability to focus our time and energy on what matters most.

Concentration is devoting your full attention to a specific task. I know from personal experience that this is easier said than done. Being a deep-thinking, highly sensitive person, my mind is always going in a million different directions. This scattered thinking causes undue stress on my already highly sensitive,  overactive nervous system.

If you have this same problem, below are some tips to break the pattern of frazzled thinking!

• Formulate a specific plan for what you’d like to accomplish. Lack of a definite plan causes a lack of clarity. Muddled thinking opens the floodgates to unwanted and unproductive thoughts. The more desire you have to do something, and the clearer plan you have to do it, the better your concentration and focus becomes.
• Work with your biological clock. What is the best time of day for you to concentrate? This may change from time to time. Be aware of it. Use this time to work on important tasks. What is your normal attention span? This can change depending on your energy level. Break up your focus time accordingly.
• Schedule time to rest and think. This should be obvious, but how many of you actually do this?
• Be aware of what distracts you. Make a list. Awareness will help you avoid or remove distractions.
• Take a break when you’re not concentrating. Don’t try to work through a spell of unproductive thinking.
• Take care of your mind and body. Proper rest, diet, and exercise are the foundation for being able to think and feel your best. When you don’t feel right, you won’t think right.
• Be aware of what relaxes you. It could be soothing music, spending time with your pet, talking to a significant other or trusted adviser.

In short, there will always be distractions in your life, so it’s important to cut back the clutter in your mind. Next, create a solid plan to help you focus your mind on the most important things. And lastly, practice good self-care, including doing all you can to reduce your stress. A relaxed, clear mind with a definite purpose is a productive one!

Does your mind wander? What do you do for it? I’m interested in any thoughts or comments that you have.

Join my community, and get my free e-book and twice per month newsletters, 17 Powerful Tips To Help You Thrive As A Highly Sensitive Person. I have an archive of my previous newsletters. Some topics include: Are you a magnet for toxic people?… Do you give up too easily?… Would you rather be perfect or productive?… and much more!