Time to Focus

It’s summertime, that traditional time of the year for taking vacations. Returning from vacation you discover you have to refocus. Easier said than done for many people like me who have a constant goal of staying focused.

Here are some tips that work for me:

1.         Take good care of yourself. Get the required amount of sleep. Stay hydrated. Eat a healthy diet and surround yourself with positive people. You will be able to focus if you’re taking good care of yourself physically and mentally.

2.        Stay in the moment. Our world today is filled with distractions. Work to eliminate as many of them as possible. It will have a major impact on your ability to focus.

3.        Create routines that work for you. Make lists and post them so you can refer to them often. Checking things off your list can be motivating and help you to move on to the next task or goal.

4.        Monitor your energy level. If you find it easier to focus as soon as you start your workday, your energy level is likely higher at that time of day. If you get bursts of energy or creativity at midnight, that may be when you are at your best. Find the time of day when your ability to focus works best for you, adjust your schedule accordingly, and build your day around those times. At those times when you don’t have control over your schedule, take deep breaths and do your best to keep focused.

5.        Turn off your devices when you can so that you are not distracted. Just don’t forget to turn them on later. Train yourself to not automatically reach for your phone.

6.        Take frequent breaks. Even standing up for a few minutes can help you get back to what you were working on. If you can, get outside and take a walk to get some fresh air. Get out of your chair and stretch. If you meditate, find time to build 10 minutes of silence into your daily routine.

7.        Practice active listening by learning to ask questions when you are in conversations with others. Maintain eye contact. Paraphrase what you think you heard so that you can focus on the conversation.

8.        Assess your workspace. Be organized and keep the necessary supplies at hand to accomplish the tasks before you.  Adjust your lighting for the work you are doing. If you use a chair, make sure it gives you the proper support. Get all those things out of the way before you jump into your day. You will see a difference in your ability to focus.

Staying focused isn’t easy—at least for me—but with some effort, can we all do a little better? I am willing to try.