Stay focussed - Get More Done
Add to : Del.Icio.Us / Reddit / Digg / Stumble Upon
I wrote down a list of the things I do (almost everyday) that helps me stay focussed, and helps me get more things done. It happens really often (when you work from home) that you get distracted by this and that, and at the end of the day you haven’t done half of what you wanted/needed to do. You have to stay focussed, but sometimes it’s not easy, so i thought i could share my little list of the things i do, that helps me stay focussed, with you! :)
I try to schedule things, and dedicate a certain amount of time everyday to do this and that (don’t forget to take breaks often. to clear your mind and then you can get back to work, with fresh ideas and maybe a new perspective). For instance, writing on this blog. I also won’t answer the phone, unless i think it’s important, because i don’t want to get distracted at all, and i don’t watch TV either!
It’s proven that when you focus on something, and get distracted (phone, spouse, e-mails, instant messenger, tv), you brain can take up to 15-20 minutes to regain it’s focus, so imagine if you get distracted 10 times during the day…
Don’t try to do a million things at the same time! Say you have to work on redesigning your website, answering e-mails, work on your primary busness, your secondary business, spend time on your hobbies, and add social life to that… you can’t do this all at once. You have to “forget” about the things you’re not working on at the moment. A place for everything, and everything in it’s place. Do you have a business plan?
Define your goals, if you have, at least, an idea of where your going, it’s easier to stay focussed. You have an idea? Does spending time working on that idea, fits in your schedule? If it does, go ahead, if it does not, just write down the idea, put it away, and wait till you have more “free” time to work on it. Don’t get involved in a thousand things at the same time, because you won’t get anything done that way. Improve yourself, get better, and focus on one thing at a time, instead of “trying” to focus on many different things.
I also try to keep track of my progress. I usually spend anywhere between 15 minutes to half-an-hour every day or so, analyzing my productivity. Have i done all i wanted or needed to do today? Or, can i do more, and cut the time spent on less important things? The best intentions won’t make you succcessful, you need to prioritize, and take the necessary actions that will take you where you want to be.
Don’t put too much on your shoulders. You have a goal? Ok good! Now, what does it take for you to get there? Break it down into manageable pieces, and work on those small pieces one at a time. It’s like a big puzzle, and at some point all the pieces will seem to fit together, and you’ll find yourself closer to your goal than you would’ve thought.
One last thing that helps me keep my focus is, i spend time every single day working on self-improvement, personal development, and learning about ways to help my creativity.
Albert Enstein once said “Imagination is more important than knowledge“. And i believe he was right.
So what do you do that helps you stay focussed and get more things done? I hope my little list will be useful to some people, and feel free to add to it, and share your experiences and thoughts.
Add to : Del.Icio.Us / Reddit / Digg / Stumble Upon
Well I have classes every day, so those are already scheduled for me. The only thing I have to do is find time to do homework, balance my social life, and blog. I was just going to write a post about blogging and how I get distracted easily by browsing other blogs, and reading, and not getting what I want to get done. I am also going to do polyphasic sleeping over summer so I have more time in a day to do things that I want to do.
Polyphasic Sleeping? umm interesting, i know it is possible to sleep way less and still be healthy and in shape (i’m a little more concerned about the effect of this if you do it many many years in a row). I might try this too and see how it goes. Great post on your blog man! Today i learned something (which is one of the reasons i don’t mind getting distracted by reading other blogs hehe)
:)
Hey Jon,
I keep a low-tech pad of lined paper on my desk. I write down the things I need to do or want to do. When it starts getting cluttered I’ll write it out again on the next page (minus all the “done” stuff that’s crossed out). I’ve tried calendars, planners, and software, but this is what works for me.
I also keep a separate list of blog topics. I try to make a short list of post ideas for each week but some days I just pick whatever feels right off of the list and write that.
My fail-safe organizational strategy is the classic …
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff
2. It’s all small stuff!
Hi Shane, yeah i’ve treid calendars, planners and all that kinda stuff, and i find that actually “writing down” the things i have to do, or that i accomplished, helps me more, it sits on my desk, i won’t forget about it! As opposed to having it in a text file on my comp or on a calendar i might not take a look at… What i often do (and i’m not sure it’s a good idea, but i’m testing) is i start a new post, write a couple of lines, title, some ideas, and just save it without hitting the “publish” button.. now i have to analyze that, do i have to many “unfinished” posts? :)
You’re right! It’s all small stuff!
I think a lot of online workers fail in their business primarily due to the fact
that they don’t stay focussed. I personally made the same mistake at the beginning
when I started my online business—joined too many programs at one time and
struggled long hours each day trying to cope. I failed of course.
Don’t get me wrong, I can double-job any time. But I find it impossible to do 2
similar things at one time—for example, Agloco is a business about network
building, if I were to take on another networking marketing program (besides Agloco)
I don’t think I can do well in it.
SChee
Hey Chee, i agree, you have to stay focussed. If one thing works very weel, of course you can take on another program, but it’s hard to focus on two at the same time. I did the same thing as you before, and ended up having tens of things to manage. Now i have my blogs, some adwords campaigns, and it’s real fine, gotta have some kind of system that runs for you, then you can start wandering and taking on other projects :)
[…] Everybody is busy, working on their own stuff, or on other people’s stuff. In order to be seen as a leader you have to manage your time well, have a schedule, stick to it, and let people know you have things to do (in a nice way, of course) and that you have priorities. Wanna get more things done? Start by scheduling! […]