In case the heat, humidity, and out-of-office emails haven't tipped you off, we're officially in the dog days of summer. Getting through the long weekdays can feel hard enough, without the added challenge of actually getting stuff done during them. Luckily, in the same way that there are crystals to help us date, garden, and deal with bad vibes, there are ones that may prompt greater concentration and productivity in their users.
If browsing for a whole new set of crystals sounds daunting, you may already have some focus-friendly stones in your current collection. You might not have known it when you purchased them, but quite a few energy-boosting varieties of crystals are also associated with increased focus and concentration, since they're thought to help you wake up and channel your energy toward productive ends.
Read on to learn about which stones will help promote the focus you crave. And keep in mind that, if you're dealing with mental fog day in and day out (and it isn't just vacation brain), you might need something besides a crystal to clear your thoughts — make sure you're getting enough sleep and drinking enough water, then consult your crystals for assistance.
Hematite
Looking for a stone that's believed to energise the user, increase their confidence and certainty, and absorb negativity to the point that the user may think more optimistically? Hematite should be your number-one pick. In The Mystical World of Healing Crystals: a Metaphysical Guide, Jennifer J. Barlow writes that this crystal's grounding energy urges you to hold onto your convictions, so it ought to help you stick to the plan you laid out for yourself, say, at the start of your workday, too, right?
Sodalite
Corinne Kenner, author of Crystals for Beginners: A Guide to Collecting & Using Stones & Crystals, writes that sodalite is known as the "student's stone," due to its association with improved organisation, memory, and attention. It would seem that with those effects come a boost of confidence as well, since sodalite users tend to report feeling less stressed when they have this crystal on them. Keep this stone at your desk or work station and even try bringing it with you to your next hour-long meeting.
Garnet
In The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Judy Hall writes that garnet was once believed to ward off demons and malevolent spirits. Nowadays, this blood-red stone's protective and esteem-raising properties are thought to be better fit for warding off self-doubt, bad habits, and needless distractions. Hall adds that garnet can even help prompt resourceful thinking in the user, making it a great stone to have on you when you're stuck trying to find a solution to a problem at work or in your creative life. Luckily, garnet's popularity as a gemstone in mainstream jewellery makes it especially easy to keep on your person whenever you like.
Kyanite
Hall writes that this crystal can help you get back in touch with your spirituality and sense of truth. Similar to garnet, it's a super helpful stone if you tend to get distracted easily or need to feel grounded in order to get your work done. Plus, if you've already fallen behind on your tasks, kyanite is believed to increase efficiency in the user. In other words, it's the perfect crystal to put out at 4 p.m. on Sunday, when you finally remember all of the chores you've put off since Friday.
Moss Agate
According to The Pocket Book of Stones, Revised Edition: Who They Are and What They Teach by Robert Simmons, the same properties that make this stone useful in the garden make it a powerful crystal for concentration, too: Sometimes referred to as the "stone of birth," moss agate is a grounding stone that promotes healthy change, development, and growth. If you're keeping it in your flower bed, you'll see its effects in the blooms that start to sprout, but if you're using your moss agate to focus on your to-do list, you'll notice its influence in your increased sense of purpose and calm.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Friday The 13th Will Be A Hotbed Of Astrological Activity — Should We All Just Stay Home?