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Festive
season is supposed to feel magical, but let’s be honest, it often feels like a marathon instead. Between late-night celebrations, endless errands, sugar highs, and social overload, your brain ends up running on fumes. If you’ve been struggling to stay focused and energised this festive month, science has some surprisingly simple answers.Here are nine research-backed tricks to help you stay sharp, steady, and sane, no matter how chaotic your calendar looks.
1. Sleep comes first, always
Studies have shown that even a singular night of bad sleep can throw off your attention span and memory for a couple of days. If you’re sleeping late, balance it out with a power nap (15–20 minutes) the next day, it helps restore focus faster than caffeine.2. The 5-minute rule comes to rescue
Feeling overwhelmed by clutter, work, or WhatsApp groups? Take out just 5 minutes for complete focus on your task. Research also suggests that this often is the hardest part, once you begin your brain eventually wants to finish the task at hand.3. Eat protein before sugar
That box of sweets is calling, but studies show that eating a bit of protein first stabilises blood sugar and prevents the post-dessert crash that drains your focus.4. Light matters, literally
Natural light exposure in the morning improves alertness and mood. Step out to get some sunlight before actually diving deep into festive prep, it resets your body's clock and reduces fatigue as well.5. Do one thing slowly every day
Whether it’s making tea, folding clothes, or lighting diyas, doing one simple thing with full attention helps your brain rebuild concentration pathways, according to mindfulness research.6. Movement is important
Even 10 minutes of walking or dancing or any type of movement can be more than enough. This increases the blood flow to the brain and helps boost clarity. On the pro side, it helps in burning off the festive indulgences also.7. Hydration equals focus
Mild hydration, even as small as 2%, can make you feel tired, foggy and irritable also. Always keep a bottle nearby and keep sipping consistently, not just when you feel thirsty.8. Practice digital fasting
Switch off notifications for an hour daily. Constant digital stimulation fragments focus — but just 60 minutes of silence can reset your attention span.9. End your day with a brain cool-down
Write down three things you did well that day. Research on gratitude journaling shows it reduces stress hormones and helps your brain unwind before sleep.Because while the lights, laughter, and laddoos make the season sparkle, your presence of mind is what truly keeps the glow alive.Do you find this article useful?
