5 useful tips for those who can’t concentrate at work

If you struggle to stay alert, massage therapist Suzi Cinalli, from The Vital Touch, might have just the answer.

Here, writing for Healthista, she outlines her six top tips to boost concentration, from cooing over cute pictures of pets, to indulging in a lunchtime yoga session...

Massage your 'third eye'

Massaging reflex points when you have a spare moment at your desk can boost memory and dissolve tension. 

Apply pressure to your 'third eye' with your middle finger tip while taking several deep breaths.

The 'third eye' is a point directly between your eyebrows at the point where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead.

Press on this point to 3-4 minutes, repeating two or three times a day.

The 'third eye' is associated with the pituitary gland, the pea-sized master gland of the endocrine system.

Light pressure applied to this pressure point will boost memory and concentration and relieve stress.

Keep pumpkin seeds in your desk drawer

Just a handful a day provides the recommended daily amount of zinc, vital for enhancing memory and thinking skills. 

Pumpkin seeds also contain omega-3 oils which are great brain food. 

These oils help build and maintain the myelin sheath that protects our brain nerve fibres - allowing messages to flow freely.

If you don’t like pumpkin seeds walnuts are another great omega-3 brain snack you can keep on your desk. 

Opt for activated nuts – available from Planet Organic – for optimum nutrient absorption.

(Activated nuts are those that have been soaked in water and salt for a period of time. This not only increases the nutrient value of them, but breaks down the problematic compounds that help enhance their digestibility)

Eat fish for breakfast 

Swap cereals for kippers and wholemeal toast and you’ll soon ramp up brain-boosting essential fatty acids (EFAs) and slow release sugars, needed to stay focused all day.

Oily fish deliver a powerful EFA boost in a form that’s easily absorbed by the body, containing both EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.

Low DHA levels have been linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. 

Other good options include salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines or pilchards. 

And if you’re serving them on toast, opt for wholegrain granary bread, which has a low-GI and releases glucose into the bloodstream more slowly, a steady blood sugar level will also help keep you mentally alert throughout the day.

Take a deep breath 

Slow your breath down when you need to focus, do a presentation or attend an interview. 

Deepening your breathing can change brainwave patterns activating theta waves, a brain state associated with enhanced memory. 

To activate theta waves switch your breathing to your lower abdomen and start breathing from your stomach and consciously slow your breath.

1. Breathe in for the count of six.

2. Hold it (count to two)

3. Let the breathe out slowly (count to nine approx.)

After a few moments you should feel calm and more receptive to new information. 

To improve memory even further combine deep breathing with mindfulness.

Look at cute pet pictures

Next time you’re feeling fuzzy-headed, log on to PetSugar for an instant reboot. 

Yes, you read that right, far from being the ultimate timewaster trawling through cute kitten photos could actually help you meet that deadline at work.

It sounds unlikely we know but a study by Japanese researchers found that university students behaved ‘more deliberately and perform tasks with greater time and care,’ after viewing photos of cute kittens and puppies. 

Just make sure your boss knows that cuddly pets are an all-important part of your new work remit.

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