Focus for Success

Jul 25, 2016 by Reen Rose

How many important things did you get done last week? Do you even know what important things you needed to do?

If you aren’t crystal clear on what your goals are and then work towards them with focus, you won’t be making high achieving progress. Once you get clear on what needs to be done, you need to eliminate distractions so you can concentrate on the important stuff.

We have been brain washed for years into believing that the ability to multi-task was important for our success. New research shows that if you want to make big strides towards your chosen goals, multi-tasking is not your friend. Most of us can’t actually do two things at the same time unless one of them requires absolutely no brain power. Instead most multi-taskers switch their brain power from one task to another repeatedly. That may work out for you for a short periods of time if luck is with you, but the minute both tasks need your attention at the same time, - HELP!

Regardless of how good you are at switching your brain from one task to another, research shows that you will be more efficient and have better quality work if you concentrate on one task at a time.

Believe me when I say, that pausing your task to take a phone call and then resuming it when the call has been completed, will produce a much better phone call and completed task than trying to talk and type, or calculate, or plan at the same time.

Some Tips to Help You Focus:

1. Eliminate known distractions. Only check your email and Social Media posts at certain times of the day. Turn off all your notifications so you don’t get distracted by pop ups and envelop icons. Turn off your phone, and find a place to work where you won’t be distracted. (Of course this is not possible for anyone who is responsible for answering phones and other communications as soon as possible, like receptionists and customer care professionals.)
2. Write down and prioritize your tasks and then get your ‘must-do’ tasks done first. It will take pressure off your day. For those of you who like to procrastinate and do the easy stuff first, this may raise alarm bells, but trust me.
3. Learn to think before you say yes.” Is the request you are receiving going to move you closer to your end goals? Is it something you are interested in or feel would be a good experience for you to have? Do you feel moved to get involved? If the answer is no to all of these questions, say no. Being busy with tasks that are just distractions will slow you down more than anything else. Busyness is not a productive strategy for success.

If you get focused, your days will seem longer – in a good way – because you will get more done. Welcome to a world where there ARE enough hours in the day.