How to stay focused
In the last few weeks I've been struggling mightily with focus. Or more accurately, the complete and utter lack of it. It feels like I'm (finally!) back on track now, but for a while I found myself drifting and just didn't seem to be able to bring myself back to where I needed to be.
With that in mind, I found this article on how to stay focused (by Kevin Eikenberry) particularly interesting and relevant.
He breaks it down into three main categories.
* Planning
* Questioning
* Removing
My favorite part was the questions he suggests incorporating into your daily routine:
* Is what I am doing now focused on my most important objectives? If the answer is yes, great! If the answer is no, time to re-focus.
* How is my energy level? If you feel it waning a bit, take a five minute walk, a ten minute power nap (click HERE to read more about my thoughts on power naps) or eat a smart snack of almonds or some other energy food.
* What is distracting me now? If something is, determine how to quickly handle it, or remove that distraction. Which leads to my third set of ideas...
His thoughts on getting rid of distractions are spot on as well:
Turn off the TV. Clean your desk. Turn down the volume or turn off the ding. Have someone answer your phone while you work on that project. Screen your calls.
Make a list of the 5-7 top things that distract you (at work or at home - wherever you are trying to increase your focus). That's right make the list right now.
Then identify what you can do to remove, eliminate or defer the distraction when you most want to be focused.
Good ideas, and worth a read.
--
Curt Rosengren
Thanks for the kind words Curt. Hope you have gotten your focus back!
Posted by: Kevin Eikenberry | May 07, 2005 at 07:31 PM