It’s easy to be seduced by the many opportunities available to us. For me, my addiction is about learning and I find it hard to resist courses, blogs, and webinars on subjects that interest me. The end result is an overwhelming amount of email and a sense of feeling behind and guilty when I can’t get to them all. And, the real truth is that many of the courses are really just duplicate or poor quality information.
In order to stay focused and protect my energy, I became more ruthless about how I spent my time. The result has been feeling clear, confident, and my projects moving forward more quickly. You can have this, to.
The first step in creating focus is to be very, very clear about your priorities. Write them down and keep them close at hand so that you can remind yourself when you start to feel overwhelmed or distracted.
The second step is to let go of the need to respond and stay updated all of the time. When you are constantly checking emails, social media, or responding to every notification on your phone, you are being distracted over and over again. True focus comes from dedicating time to single tasking on a project without interruptions.
The third step is to evaluate the value and priority level of what comes your way. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it relevant to your current goals?
- Is it in alignment with your values, integrity, and vision?
- Is it the best use of your time at this moment?
- Does it really belong on a “Don’t Do” or “Some Day” list?
- What is the priority level based on a scale of 1-10?
- Is it a distraction in disguise?
- Is the information provided of the highest quality?
- Will the end result be worth the investment of your time and energy?
- Can it be combined with something else or simplified?
- Is it a red alert, yellow alert, or something that can be planned for later?
When you make a commitment to investing your time and energy only in things that are of high value and move your goals forward, the possibilities are endless.
Please feel free to share your story, thoughts, or what focus tools you use, by commenting in the section below.
