3 best ways to stay focused and in the moment

By Coach Lisa Spink

With some massive races coming up, including the world championships for ITU, 70.3 and of course Ironman  - these are the times when it can be easy to get distracted.

Here are 3 simple tips for staying focused and staying in the moment--
 

1. Make sure you are properly rested - ​Sleep gets a bad rep. People that get their required sleep tend to be regarded as lazy, or apathetic. The idea that a lack of sleep is somehow aligned with being successful is ridiculous. Energy drinks and caffeine based drinks have never been more popular as we wage war on sleepiness. But the epidemic of sleep deprivation affects you in a bewildering number of ways; from slowing alertness, concentration and problem solving, to even making you forgetful. Get your sleep, and you will find yourself staying focused more deeply and for longer. 
2. Give your full attention - Well, duh, right? When was the last time you actually sat down and gave something your complete, undivided attention? It is easy to get distracted for example - daydreaming about what's for breakfast while swimming, thinking about what you have to do at work in the middle of a training session and we all know the list goes on. Provide unreserved attention to the task at hand and you will reap the rewards. 
3. One thing at a time - A huge focus-killer is that awful sensation of being pulled in a hundred different directions. Sever all the strings, and pick one up at a time and focus exclusively on it until it is complete. With the loads of tasks and expectations we all carry, it is natural for us to believe that we can perform at a high level while doing several things at once in order to save time. We are not built to multitask successfully - try this, say the first 10 letters of the alphabet as fast as you can out loud - how long did it take, how many mistakes did you make? Count backwards from 10 to 0 out loud, how long did it take, how many mistakes did you make?? Now alternate between saying the alphabet and counting backwards out loud ie A10,B9, C8 etc  - how long did it take, how many mistakes did you make... Wouldn't doing just one task at a time be faster and more accurate??!?!? So forget the hustle and bustle and zero in on one thing at a time (and do it guilt free too!).

Enjoy the process, stay in the moment and live your potential
Coach Lise

Want to know more about Coach Lisa Spink?  Click HERE