When was the last time you successfully cleared your mind?
If you’re like me, you often find dozens of projects, activities, and people fighting for your attention at one time. Some argue that it’s how life is these days, but that doesn’t make you feel any better in the moment.
If you’re having difficulty making progress in your job search or in your career, it might be that you haven’t been able to adequately focus on what needs to be done to get you to the next level. Here are 5 tips on how to bring focus back into your day and produce better results on key initiatives in your life.
- Eliminate distractions. For a couple hours, turn off the television, shut off your cell phone, close down any extraneous windows on your computer. Be ruthless in cutting out attention-stealers.
- Time block. Decide up front what your priorities today will be, and assign time to them. Commit to yourself that you’ll focus exclusively on that priority during the assigned time.
- Use a timer. Another way to commit to burst of activity and focus is to use a timer. Try deciding that you’ll work on the thing that’s most important for you to accomplish today for 10 minutes. Set a timer (here’s a web timer) and blast through that activity for the 10 minutes. You may find that once you get working, you’ll remain productive well after the 10 minutes, but even if you don’t, you’re 10 minutes farther than you were before.
- Do a brain dump. If what’s really getting in your way is an inner monologue (“What should I make for dinner?” “Did I remember to pay the water bill?” “When was Katie’s birthday again?”) try doing a brain dump — sit for several minutes and just write down all of the things on your mind. Then, give yourself permission to forget about it until after you’re done with what you’re working on. By clearing your mind, you’ll find it easier to focus on the task at hand.
- Be realistic. If you’re just getting started with this, start slow. Try setting yourself time blocks of a half hour or an hour, or even 5 minute bursts of activity. If you get distracted, don’t get discouraged, just get back at it. As you practice some of these methods, it will become easier to stay focused for longer.
How do you stay focused?
Related posts:
- 15 minutes a day to more productive work
- 5 things you can do right now to get out of your productivity hole
- Update: What can you bring to the table?
- 5 Ways to Recharge During the Holidays
- My new favorite productivity tool: Toodledo
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Kristi,
I do like number 3 – use a timer. That’s a great idea.
One thing that I learned from Tim Ferris (4-hour work week) was only look at your emails twice a day. That saves me a lot of time and focuses me!
Andrew
So, the email notifications, Tweetdeck chirps and the 42 different tabs open in Safari probably aren’t helping? I had such a suspicion.
My best days are when everything is off, and I use a little dollar store timer on my desk to keep me moving. Sadly, today isn’t one of those days.
Scott
@sbowmann
Andrew: I aspire to only check my email 2x daily. I lose that war. The smartphone doesn’t help. Maybe next week.
Scott: When I got serious about getting things done, the Tweetdeck chirps were the first to go. But that little birdie sits in my taskbar, taunting.
See? Easier said than done.
It’s a good thing for me that I can’t download Tweetdeck on my work computer, or I’d get nothing done. That thing creates ADHD in me!!
I like your idea #4 about the brain dump. Goes well with Martha Beck’s article in this month’s Oprah magazine (my mind fluff!) — except in her case she’s talking about what to do if you’re creatively “stuck” — go out and do lots of different stuff to distract you from what’s got you stuck, and let the inspiration come when you’re not obsessed about it. Here in your scenario, you’ve got stuff IN THE WAY that won’t let you get down to what you need to focus on. Two sides of a coin. Great advice!
Heather: Sounds like an article worth looking into! Sometimes, we really get in our own way. However we can get out of it — that’s a good thing!