As you read these words, what else are you thinking about? Work stresses? Family obligations? Planning to renovate your kitchen? How to spend Saturday night?

Self-help gurus tell us to live in the moment…to be fully present for whatever we are doing and with whomever we are speaking. But how ̶ ̶ when mental distractions keep pulling us away?

 Winning athletes are masters at concentration. Sports psychologist Jennifer Carter, PhD, specializes in performance enhancement at Ohio Columbus. She says that the key to success is focusing on cue words or images when thoughts distracts, “Eye on the ball is a phrase players often use when they feel their concentration slipping. Patience, patience may work for frustrated parents… images of serene sunsets for crazed executives who need to calm down.”

Example: Athletes often encounter verbal abuse from spectators, she counsels pros to repeat such focusing phrases as Play my game. When dealing with workplace conflicts or frustrations ̶ ̶ try, Keep my cool or This is not personal.

Another way to shut out distractions is brain talk, says Noah St. John, author of Permission to Succeed and founder of the Success Clinic of America, in Hadley, Massachusetts. If outside thoughts intrude, he suggests telling your brain, I hear you and understand your concern ̶ ̶ but I need to complete this. I will finish in an hour. Then I’ll get back to you.

Noah says that brain talk can relieve mental chaos. “Your peace of mind will skyrocket-and nagging problems will fall into perspective.”