Ways to Keep Focused

A struggle many artists may face is trying to stay focused on their projects. While this can be a sign of a disability that has a negative impact on focus such as ADHD, that is not always the case and the ways to keep focused below might not be helpful for such a situation. But if you find yourself getting distracted, or you are procrastinating from your creative tasks, then there are some things that can prove helpful to you.

Background Noise

Many people find that background noises such as music and audiobooks can help them focus on their tasks. Having something go through their ears adds an extra bit of stimulation for those who may find it difficult to focus without something else going on in the background.

However, be aware that this doesn’t work for everyone. Some people may find the background noise more distracting than working without it. Video essays may prove to be another way to procrastinate instead of working on the task. A podcast episode may discuss something particularly interesting you’d like to actually listen to. The noise may prove too chaotic to help with focus.

The effectiveness background noise will have in helping with focus will depend on who you are as a person and the type of noise you turn on. White noise and classical music may prove more helpful than something that involves a human voice. However, it is hard to tell if background noise will help you, and the only way to find out is by giving it a try.

Changing Your Space

If you misbehave and work in bed, or work on a creative task in a space where your brain doesn’t associate with work, then making a dedicated working space or changing your scenery may remove that association that is holding you back. Many people have dedicated working spaces or sit in a public space such as a coffee shop because they associate home with rest.

Stepping foot out of home is not even a necessity. Sometimes, sitting at a desk or changing rooms can be enough to bring back focus. As long as you are changing where you are, you’re changing your space.

Working on Something You’re Passionate About

It’s harder to focus when you’re working on something you don’t care about. Including something that gives you passion and inspiration could motivate you into working on your project. While this won’t be possible for every project, you can always start a project about something you really enjoy as a reward for finishing something that may not catch your interest as much.

Take a Break

Sometimes, your inability to focus is your mind telling you to take a break before you burn out. If you can’t find your motivation and working on something that once was easy for you is taking a great effort, then going on to working on other projects or spending a day relaxing your mind can help rejuvenate your brain and make returning to it easier.

Just like any other part of your body, it is possible to overuse your brain. The creative juices can run dry and it may need some rest. There is nothing wrong with taking a couple days off to just enjoy the moment and not create for a little while. Your tools and ideas will still be there when you come back, and they may end up better than if you tried to work on them when you needed a break.

Conclusion

There are a variety of reasons why someone may struggle to focus on their creative work. However, those reasons are highly personal and deserve their own article based on heavy research rather than giving general advice based on thoughts and personal experience. So while these methods of keeping focus won’t work on everyone, I find that these things help me and there is a chance they might help another artist out there.