How to Focus on the Work

You have a lot of things to do. So many things. And yet you find yourself reading this instead of doing that thing you were supposed to do? Well, I know how that goes. I've been there. It's hard to get it all done, right?

We're all human, and we all have a bad habit of putting things off. But procrastination can get in the way of you getting things done and achieving your goals. Here are some tips to help you focus on the work!

Think about the big picture

It can be easy to get distracted and lose sight of your ultimate goal when you're working on something. Keeping the big picture in mind can empower you to put distractions aside. How often do you check in to see how you're doing when you're working toward a goal?

We've all had experience with situations where we lose focus along the way and don't end up finishing what we started. We lose sight of the big picture or we stop checking in on our progress with an eye toward the goal.

It also may help to look back on your life successes and failures for inspiration. Remember, it's not just one decision that causes success but an accumulation of many small things that add up over time. Keeping that in mind may also help you do the things you need to do at the moment.

Close your email and turn off notifications

When you need to focus on your work, you should recognize that you have an enemy who wants you to focus on them instead. Most apps and websites want to give you notifications when they want your attention - which can be constant.

If someone messages you about The Bachelor, that's probably less important than the work you're trying to focus on. The best way I've found to get any kind of serious work done is to not have notifications coming in from my phone or computer until it's time for a break.

DND is your ally in this battle. Computers, phones, and other devices all have some sort of "Do Not Disturb" function. Many have advanced functions so that you can get calls or other notifications that are truly urgent (like when someone is going out to pick up coffee and they need your order). A little time telling your devices to follow your rules will pay off as your focus improves.

Finally, don't quit cold turkey. Set aside time to check social media or email, and in those periods, focus 100% on those things. I find a great way to combat the urge to constantly check these sites is those periods set aside for exactly that purpose.

Change your environment

Sometimes a little change of scenery can help restore your focus. Leaving your workspace every now and then is healthy and increases productivity. Getting up and taking short walks outside helps reset your brain so that once you come back inside, it's easier to stay focused.

Your ears deserve some love too! Change things up by listening to different types and genres of music throughout the week. You could even put on calming sounds like chimes if that works better for you. You can also try silence if you're used to working with noise or music playing. The change of atmosphere can help your brain reset and refocus.

Delegate and learn to say no

How many times have you found yourself in a sea of incoming tasks, obligations, and invitations with no idea how to keep up? Once your plans for the week are made, it's hard to stop adding other things on top. If this sounds familiar, you need to try something new.

Learn to say no.

Saying no is hard. You might feel guilty about disappointing someone or think that saying yes will help you build relationships. But there's only so much time in the day. And always saying yes means putting off what's important and soon everything becomes an emergency.

Learning (or relearning) how to say no won't be easy and may make some people upset at first. As long as you're true to yourself - don't let anyone guilt-trip you - then over time, it will get easier and easier until saying no is second nature and more natural than saying yes.

Unlearn bad habits

There are many habits that are so ingrained in us that we don't even realize how counterproductive they are. If you want to be more efficient, focus on the work, and do your job well, it's important to identify these habits and make a conscious effort to change them.

Stop multitasking! Start monotasking!

Multitasking is a myth. The problem with trying to multitask is that we can only truly focus on one thing at once, so when we try to divide our attention, our ability to do anything well—whether it's writing an email or working out—suffers greatly. The cost of context switching is much higher than you realize. Just stop it.

Stop trying to be perfect! Be done!

Stop beating yourself up for not being perfect! But can you embrace doing things imperfectly? The answer here is to define "done". When you try to do a perfect job, you'll never finish because everything could always be just a little better. Your stress levels will skyrocket. Instead, set a concrete idea of what it means to be done so that you can focus on doing the things you need to in order to finish. When you're done, force yourself to stop, rather than doing "just one more thing."

Stop procrastinating! Start doing.

All of this worry about focus may just be simple procrastination. Procrastination is normal - we all do it. As Walt Disney said, “the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Action creates momentum, so stop reading and start doing!

Photo by Stefan Cosma on Unsplash