How To Focus

You have work to do, projects to finish, memos to send out and a deadline to meet. You know this, and yet you're distracted. The laundry isn't doing itself, and the weather is great. The car needs an oil change and your 8-year old needs help with his science class bug collection. You really need to focus on the work that is waiting to be finished. You've committed yourself to this job. But your just can't finish it! What should you do?

Some people are born with an innate ability to tune out everything else in order to get something done. Others are easily distracted and can't focus to save their lives. Most of us are somewhere in between. So, how do you focus yourself, when you seem to be having an unfocused day (or week)?

Try these tips:

Break your job or the work you need to accomplish into bite-size pieces. Don't look at the whole thing or you may get overwhelmed and just go to bed for a nap.

Schedule your work. If you have set times each day that you know are just for work, you will be more likely to actually do the work

Notify your family or house mates. Let them know that you are working. This might be hard for them to get used to. But they can learn, really. Let them know that you will be in your office from X time to X time, and that you are working, meaning they need to leave you in peace unless there is an emergency. Explain an emergency (the cat throwing up is usually not an emergency).

Talk yourself into it. Do some affirmations or other self-talk that will help you get in the mood for working. Some people need to listen to a certain type of music; some need to tell themselves that by doing this job they are furthering themselves. Some need to just sit down and give themselves permission to forget the laundry for a few hours.

Do not have distractions nearby when you're working. No TV, or other things that might lead you away from the job at hand. Don't check email unless you have to for your job. Same premise goes for your phone. When your mind starts to wander, tell yourself that you can revisit whatever it is in a while. Write the thought down if you need to remind yourself and then go back to work.

Work for a set period of time, or until a set task is finished, then take a break. People who work outside of the home get breaks, so should you. Just make sure that you don't forget to go back to your desk and finish for the day.

Focus, time management and the drive to accomplish your goals all go hand in hand. If you want to accomplish things, remind yourself to focus.