Creating a Balance Between Focus and Deliberate Unfocus

Open any business magazine and you’ll find multiple forms of advice and resources on how to stay focused. We’re told to put our phones away, stop trying to multitask, and create a distraction-free environment to optimize focus. In today’s fast-paced and information-saturated world, people have become preoccupied with ways to maintain focus.

But what is the goal? How much focus is a reasonable aim? Six hours? Eight hours? To be in a zen-like state of focus for your entire waking day?

Recent research has shown that both focus and unfocus are necessary for the brain to operate at its best. Focusing on the task at hand is important in order to be productive, however it is also essential to take breaks to deliberately become unfocused. Taking a break allows us to look beyond the here and now in order to reflect on our life, set goals, and prioritize activities. Short breaks can help increase mindfulness and spark creativity.

Desperately trying to stay intensely focused can lead to frustration and stress. Allowing the mind some time off provides clarity of mind, improved concentration, and reduced stress levels that will decrease our overall exhaustion.

The ability to manage focus and unfocus in the brain is essential for achieving balance and optimal performance. By alternating…