Do you ever find yourself at the end of the day feeling like you worked all day, but didn’t actually get much done?

If so, you’re not alone. In today’s world, it’s never been harder to stay focused on a single task at work or at home.

Whether it’s social media, text messages or email, distraction seems to be just a button press away at all times. But, with some focus and effort, you can take back control of your life and regain a laser-like focus toward your goals and dreams.

5 Steps to Get Your Focus Back NOW

1. Plan the Night Before

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” It’s so true when it comes to staying focused in this distraction filled world.

Here’s what I suggest you do each night to set yourself up for a productive morning.. Before you go to sleep, make some basic decisions about what you will do tomorrow. Think about what you will wear, what your meals will be, and if you have anything to do after work.

Just these simple planning tips will help you wake up on time, have your outfit ready, and have a plan for your day. It will also help you plan your meals and when you have time to workout.

You might be thinking, does it really matter if I choose what I’m going to wear? Yes, yes it does. Look at Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg and you see they’re almost always wearing the same thing.. This is a conscious choice by them, they know your decision making muscles get weaker as the day goes on, don’t waste your decision power on something so trivial as, what you will wear that day.

2. Do the Hard Stuff First

If you’re like most people, you probably procrastinate the big stuff or “hard stuff” until later in the day. Only to not get it done and push it back again and again.

Like Brian Tracy said, “If you have to eat a frog, eat it first thing in the morning.” Get after the hardest job immediately while you are still fresh and have the most mental energy.

Research has shown that our minds are sharpest in the morning and that is the best time to tackle the tough jobs. This will also help you build momentum and confidence for the rest of your day.

Save the smaller, easier, and less intensive tasks (i.e. clearing your inbox) for later in the day.

3. Remove Distractions

If you want to stay focused, it’s time to break your phone addiction. Airplane mode is great even when you’re not 30,000 feet in the air.

When you have important things to do, turn off your phone or put it in airplane mode. Then, put it out of sight so you’re not as likely to check it for a message or notification.

You won’t have to get your focus back without being distracted in the first place.

4. Take Breaks

Studies have shown the brain gets tired and lazy after only about 20-25 minutes of work. This is why the “Pomodoro technique is so effective.” Instead of trying to “power through” a task, work in focused blocks of time.

Work for 25 minutes then take 5 minutes off to check emails, grab some water or go on a walk. It’s so important to take a quick break when working on something if you feel your energy fading. You will come back to your task with renewed vigor and a sharper mental focus.