The Power of Focus: One Simple Tool I Recommend
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 at 10:48 amMy problem might be that I’m a Gemini. True to that affiliation, I tend to have more projects and activities going on simultaneously than I could possibly give my attention to. I have big projects, small projects, one time events, daily activities and things that I’m just curious about. My to-do list never shrinks. If I were to focus solely on the things currently written there without continuing to add on to the bottom, it would take me weeks or even months to complete every task.
Also true to my Gemini ways, focus is not a skill I possess. I can’t even begin to enumerate the myriad ways that my attention gets drawn away from the task at hand at any given moment. If it’s shiny, makes noise, has a catchy title or looks pretty and interesting, I can be instantaneously detoured from my work. Before I know it, I am touching, tasting, smelling, watching, reading or listening to something that has nothing at all to do with my current project. The world has a never-ending fascination for me and I must fight my natural state of curiosity and wonder in order to get anything done.
Although it is not an innate skill of mine, for me focus is the key to productivity. It has been absolutely essential for me to find ways to effectively manage my time so that I can get things accomplished. While I have uncovered many different techniques for creating and maintaining focus, the one that seems to work best for me is creating a daily six point list of action items that are in alignment with my current intentions. This works because it is simple.
Before I set to work each day, I become clear on my intentions. I begin by asking myself, “What am I currently working to create?” I cannot be effective and productive if my goals are unclear. I may have a lot of irons in the fire, but how many of those items are important in leading me in the direction of my desired outcomes? The fact of the matter is that many of the activities that I engage in during the day are serving no other purpose than distracting me from the work that I really need to do.
Once I have found clarity on my goals, it becomes simpler to then pull from my pages long list the 6 most important things that I must do today to move me forward towards my dreams. If I am working on a larger project, the action items may be individual steps in the process. If I have multiple smaller projects, I may work on several of them in a day’s time. My list might include emails I need to write, phone calls I need to make or research that I need to get done. I may have meetings or appointments. I may be creating a teleseminar or creating materials for a course.
Whatever it is that I am working on, the action items need to be specific and measurable. I want to create quantifiable action steps in order to gauge my progress, as well as be clear on when I have completed a task so I can move on to the next.
When I have found the 6 items, I list them on an index card in order of priority. What do I need to do first, second, third etc. This is an important because in order for this list to truly be effective in keeping me focused, I must complete the highest ranking one before moving on to the next. I work on number one until it is complete. When it is done, I cross it out (boy does that feel good!) and move on to number two. I do not move on to number three until number two is accomplished and crossed off my list. And so on and so forth. At any moment in the day, it is clear what I need to be working on. When I get distracted, I pull out my index card and zero in on the next task at hand.
Although simple, I have found this technique to be a powerful tool for keeping me on task and focused. It gives me a clear path to follow, as well as a way to measure my progress. It allows me to find clarity and to stay in integrity with my life goals.
Try it. You just might find that it helps you to focus better too.
