It’s the first full week of the month and if you are like most people, you are geared up and hitting the ground running. You have made some new, or perhaps recommitted to habits of health, connection, and productivity. The outcomes in whatever you committed to depends on your ability to focus when and how you need to so your execution is efficient and effective. There is no shortage of tips on how to get more focused and this post includes the top four ideas that helped me create success both in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds.
Create a simple habit or routine for focused time
Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, identifies a three-step process of habit creation.
- There is a cue – you walk into the kitchen first thing in the morning.
- There is a behavior in response to the cue – you crave and then make coffee
- There is a reward for completing the behavior – you enjoy the warm beverage and get a little caffeine jolt to make you feel energized for the day.
I cue up focus by clearing my desk of all distractions and get out whatever materials I need to complete work. I also start a 30-45 min timer to focus on work and once the timer goes off, I leave my office, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Engage the whole you
When you are feeling your best, you will focus best. Being tired, hungry, stiff and achy, thirsty, or cranky, all distract you from your focus. To ensure your body, mind, and spirit are operating optimally here are a few ideas:
- Body – Get six to eight hours of sleep, move your body, stay hydrated and remain well-nourished throughout the day.
- Mind – Engage in self-development regularly, plan each day with intention of the outcomes you want to create, and take one to two-min breaks between activities so your mind can reset for the next one.
- Spirit – Take time each day to be in gratitude with a simple review of the big and small things you are grateful for. Also, connect with yourself and God or your higher power through journaling, meditation, or prayer. These practices are grounding and great for the soul.
I have a morning routine that includes meditation and prayer, bible study, planning my day, 20min of movement, and gratitude. The whole routine takes an hour and sets me in the right frame of body, mind, and spirit!
Choose a system that supports efficiency and effectiveness
I teach a course on productivity in which one of the exercises is to take an inventory of which productivity systems/tools are used (MS Outlook, G Suite, sticky notes, a paper calendar, a paper planner, etc.). It really does not matter which system you use, as long as you are committed to ONE! When you use multiple systems, there is a greater chance of you not using any of them fully or well. If you want to use a paper planner, commit to it and use all of its features. Do you prefer electronic systems?…choose one and do a deep dive learning on all of its functionality.
I encourage my class participants to run experiments to find the system that works best. I recommend researching one or two systems to try. Create a habit for using one and commit to it for a minimum of three months. If after three months you feel your system is not effective, choose another one based on your learning from the experiment.
Get an accountability partner
One of the best ways to keep your focus is to know you have a scheduled time with someone to share your progress. Having an accountability partner reinforces my commitments, accelerates my progress, and provides the motivation needed for me to stay focused.
If you are looking for deeper learning about focus and productivity, I highly recommend the works of Brendon Burchard, Stephen R. Covey, and Brian Tracy. Each of these authors have written multiple books on focus and high-performance habits.
If you would like to increase your performance and create a life you love, let’s connect for a discovery session and explore if coaching is a good fit for you now.
Wishing you a successful month and 2021!
Blessings and gratitude,
