These tricks can help.

Meditation can help a lot here.

I highly recommendHeadspace, an app thatteaches you how to meditate.

It guides you through structured meditation sessions, so youre never left wondering what youre supposed to be doing.

If ever there was a good argument for starting up a meditation practice, this is it.

you’re free to transform your bedroom a sex haven by making it a clutter- and electronics-free zone.

Take a moment to think about any other distraction triggers that you might have.

Do you tend to get distracted if you know there are dirty dishes in the sink?

Or maybe the peeling paint on the wall always catches your eye.

Take any necessary steps to remove that distraction.

The truth is that its impossible to be present and focused 100% of the time.

You cant stop your brain from thinking.

Instead, acknowledge that distraction is the price we pay for having brains.

make a run at reframe your goals and think about minimizing distractions rather than eliminating them altogether.

Headspace has a great metaphor where they compare mindfulness to sitting beside a busy intersection.

Imagine that your thoughts are the cars driving down the roads.

venture to allow thoughts to pop into your head during sex, but dont actively think about them.

You may even find it useful to visualize them driving out of eyesight.

Use Your Breath

Focusing on your breath is one of the core principles of mindfulness.

Its a great way to let go of your thoughts and bring yourself back into the moment.

This requires a bit of extra attention, and brings your focus back to your body.

It might sound something like, now hes running his hand up my thigh.

Now hes spreading my legs apart.

This trick gives your brain something to do, but focuses it on the sex itself.

For example, now Im feeling my breath start to quicken.

Now Im feeling my stomach flutter.

Now my skin feels like its tingling in anticipation.

Its like writing your own erotica.

These kinds of statements help bring you back into the moment and focus on whats actually important.

Plus, is there any great motivation for learning to improve your mindfulness skills than hotter sex?

Illustration by Jim Cooke.