 It is not always easy to focus on one thing at a time, especially when we are constantly bombarded by all kinds of problems starting from the home front, to the office or shop.
How do you obtain the maximum amount of focus and become an efficient entrepreneur or business owner in the long run?
The answers are not always obvious. Over the past few years I have had to learn how to fine tune my focus abilities so that I can get more done in less time. Believe me, I am far from perfect, but I think I have caught on to a few key principles that we all can follow.
Avoid Distractions
When completing tasks in your day to day life, staying focused can be difficult. The world is full of distractions. Using a change in thinking and some planning, you can change the way you focus and the time it takes you to complete your work.
If possible, take the work to a quiet area away from distractions. This may not be possible in some situations, such as a shop, but eliminating nearby distractions can make the work easier. If people are talking nearby, move to a different area in the office, shop, room or ask them if they could move away. If the work is being done on a computer, avoid looking at websites that take the focus off the work.
Additionally, what type of adjectives would you use to describe your kind of investment? If you invest in stocks and real estate, you may find papers pile up on your desk or documents multiply (seemingly out of nowhere) on your computer desktop. Or perhaps you have a shop where you sell your products.
Your focus is not distracted by papers and file folders, but by people! You receive too many phone calls to count and you are not sure how to tell people “no” every once in a while.
Also, your environment has a huge effect on how well you can focus at your investment. Take some time to consider how you might change your environment for the better, and eliminate all distractions possible. I get so much more done when I can think clearly without distractions.
It is a challenge, but the only way to get completely focused is by getting rid of distractions. This takes planning in advance and changing your habits to be effective, but once you become aware of all that is distracting you, you can eliminate it so your focus improves.
Conquer Procrastination
Are you putting off a task or project you are supposed to be working on? That is a form of procrastination. It is amazing how long it takes to complete something we are not working on.
Next time you are about to postpone a responsibility, ask yourself, do I have to do this? Do I want it done so it is not on my mind? Will it be any easier later?”
Those three questions can give you the incentive to mentally apply yourself because they bring you face to face with the fact this task is not going away, and delaying will only add to your guilt and make this onerous task occupy more of your mind and time.
Write things to do down – every time.
One of the best tips I have found is to write things down. Not just the super important things, but even the things in your life that are small and little. These tasks can often pop into our minds and distract us from the task at hand. Writing things down gets these “to do” items out of our heads and onto paper. That way, we won’t have to worry about remembering something, and we can purely focus on our work.
Schedule when you will accomplish each job you need to get done and use your time to focus on each task when it comes up. You can split activities like work, cleaning, studying and eating into their own time slots and leave periods of time in between for relaxing and taking breaks.
Keep a day-to-day journal to write about your thoughts at the end of each day. Write down all of your thoughts and worries and try to work them out on paper. This helps you to remove distracting thoughts from your mind and only deal with worries once a day, instead of building distracting stress through negative thinking throughout the day. Set Goals
Set frequent goals to stay focused on your work. Small daily goals allow you to maintain a sense of control over your day-to-day life, while long-term goals help you realize the steps you need to take to eventually reach those goals. Set yearly or monthly goals and then set up smaller weekly and daily goals to help you remain focused on getting where you want to be.
Work with Your Body’s Natural Rhythm
Figure out the time of the day when you are most motivated and energetic, and use that time to focus on important investment or business tasks. For some people, the morning is the best time of day and for others tasks are most easily completed during the afternoon or night. Finding which works for you can be key in developing better focus and a longer attention span in your investment life.
Practice “pure work.”
Multitasking is sometimes glorified in our society. But why? And moreover, are we truly benefiting ourselves while we are multitasking? Focused intensity can go a long way. There is great power in focusing all your thoughts on one single goal, checking it off your list, and moving onto the next project.
The idea of “pure work” I’m promoting here is the concept that you should strip away any distracting elements in your life so that you can garner your energies toward one goal. One might argue that having one goal is impossible in larger projects – because they are comprised of several tasks. While this may be true, it is important to focus on that one “pure” task that does not have any other elements to it and then move on to the next.
Think of it like this: every project is comprised of many tasks. Your goal is to focus on one of those tasks in the larger project. Identify each task within your project before you start, and you will get to a place where you can “purely” focus on one thing at a time.
Practice makes close to perfect. The more practice you have, the better you will become and eventually you will be that efficient working machine you desire. You will make more money, accomplish lifelong ambitions, and be on the road to a brighter future. But remember, it starts with you. God has given you unique abilities, and he desires that you use them for his glory. Stay focused.
GOOD SLEEP
An important thing to consider: SLEEP. Did you get enough? Do you need more? You get the idea.
Not getting enough sleep, being physically ill (and not staying home to take care of yourself), and other well-being problems will severely impact your ability to focus–on anything investment.
I hope these tips will take you closer to more focused and productive investment and business life.
See you next week Thursday, and remain blessed.
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