How to Stay Focused and Engage in Long Meetings
Meetings are an inevitable part of work for many people, and sometimes you know you are going to a meeting that will drag on and on. How do you prepare for engagement and attention? Here are some ways to get through these long meetings.
First of all, take a notebook with you , even if you want to draw in it when you are not paying attention (but at least it looks like you are taking notes). And in fact, taking notes is a great idea to support yourself. If you are inclined towards visual learning, you can draw diagrams to help you better understand what is being said, as well as stay involved and remember it better. In addition, in the specified notebook, you can prepare some points and questions in advance – things that you would like to talk about. Don’t interfere, but wait, listen and watch to see if your questions are satisfied, or to find the right moment to ask your questions. If you actively seek this information, your mind is unlikely to wander.
Even if you expect it to be a boring meeting, keep an open mind. Realize that you don’t know everything. Welcome the opportunity to learn and correct your weaknesses. A positive attitude will help you with everything in life. Anyway, this is a good start!
A well-rested, properly nourished and pre-balanced mind will also help immensely. Sleep at least seven hours every night. Do a little exercise in the morning. Try meditating if it bothers you a lot. Personally, I sometimes make a small statement in my head before a big event or meeting if I’m nervous: “I’m ready to let go … I release all fear … all frustration … all (insert whatever you want here) … let me go … I’m calm. “ Take some deep breaths. (I know this is crappy new age stuff, but I think it really helps.)
As mentioned above, eating the right diet also has a huge impact on your concentration level. When I went to meetings without eating properly, I couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than a minute or so. What you eat directly affects your energy levels, and while the beneficial effects of “brain food” are often exaggerated, the amount of glucose in your bloodstream can affect how well your brain works .
If you have addictive bad habits (such as excessive consumption of coffee, alcohol, smoking, etc.) that can lead you to withdrawal, this will really help you curb them. judge! As a teenager and in my early twenties, I drank coffee all day and often smoked pot at night. I was convinced that I “needed” these things. A little is ok, but I was completely addicted to coffee and I was crazy if I didn’t get it! So sitting for a long time without coffee was extremely painful, and even with that, I was nervous and could hardly stay put. In the end I got over it (I’m a lot calmer now! Although, in truth, I still drink a lot of tea. I’m half English, there probably can’t be helped!)
I mentioned weed too – not because I’ve ever used it during work hours, but because I’ve noticed that my joints after work or before bed can turn me into a gremlin in the morning – sort of a hangover effect. So if you know you are going to have a busy day in the morning, you should consider cutting back on your special pleasures the night before. Drinking plenty of water can also help!
If all of the above is under control and you still find it difficult to concentrate on these meetings, you might really want to consider a different line of work . Your lifestyle habits can affect your ability to concentrate, but personally, when I am passionate about something, my energy and concentration are almost limitless. I know there will always be parts of your job that are less interesting than others, even if you really like what you are doing, and there will always be people who are less fun to watch, listen to or interact with, but if you really passionate about what you do, you will find a way to deal with the less attractive aspects.
If staying awake during these encounters is still a recurring problem for you, it might be time to do a little soul searching and find what makes you freak out.
“ What are some helpful tips and tricks for staying involved and focused during long meetings? “- first appeared on Quora . You can follow Quora on Twitter , Facebook, and Google+ .
This answer has been edited for grammar and clarity.