Guides To Self Improvement

There are days when you just can’t focus or get it together. You feel tired, can’t think straight, and are probably feeling sorry for yourself. You are in what is known as a mental rut and it really sucks.

When you’re down in the dumps, this can affect your relationships, your work, and even your leisure time.

Many people confuse being in a mental rut with being depressed. Depression is a serious disease and if you suspect you do have clinical depression, then you should seek professional help.

In contrast, lacking focus and being in a mental rut is only temporary and usually subsides within days or weeks. Below I will list five things you can do to focus better and get out of a mental rut.

1.Sleep- In my experience, the first thing I ask myself when I start losing track of things and I start feeling like I can’t focus is “how have I been sleeping lately?” Lack of sleep is probably the number one culprit in not being able to focus well.

Don’t think that you are lazy because you feel the need to take a nap. Personally, I love to take naps every chance I get. This is probably the single greatest factor in helping me be more productive. It doesn’t have to be a 2 hour siesta (although those are nice), a 15 or 30 minute powernap followed by a shot of espresso usually does the trick for me. You can do this almost anywhere, in an office, a car, or at home. Even if you don’t fall fully asleep, simply closing your eyes in a meditative state will refresh your thinking and boost your energy. Just in case, set the alarm on your cell phone.

2. Exercise- I know it has been said a thousand times, but it’s true, nothing helps you focus better than working up a good sweat. For me, a combination of jogging, walking, and weightlifting does the trick. A good long walk will do for most. Exercise also does something else; it helps get the creative juices flowing, this is good for brainstorming projects and new business ideas. Additionally, exercise helps keep your weight down, which is a big factor in helping you feel physically and mentally better.

3. Food- Speaking of weight, food is a big contributor to being in a mental rut. If you are on a high carbohydrate and low protein diet, you’re probably not feeling mentally sharp. The reason is that the brain needs protein to function. Don’t believe me? Try a strict Atkins diet for 5 days and you’ll see just how much you will sharpen your ability to focus.

4. Sight seeing- If it’s the weekend, jump in the car and go somewhere different. Sometimes just changing scenery can do wonders for your state of mind.

5. Party- Finally, nothing beats a mental rut, like a good party. Find some friends, go dancing, and get drunk (for me getting drunk usually precedes the dancing). If anything, you’ll wake up hung over and think “oh the hell with it, there’s nothing wrong with me” and go on about your business on Monday morning having forgotten how depressed you may have been the week before!