Ring. Buzz.
“Do you have 5 minutes?” The common sounds of our days – interruptions, distractions, emergencies and urgencies. It is a wonder we get anything accomplished at all! Yet we make it through the day, collapsing into bed just as we finished off the one thing we had to get done. Ring. Buzz. It starts all-over again.
Ever wonder why you feel frustrated? Not at the constant interruptions. No, the frustration you feel at not being able to move the ball forward. Yes, that feeling. That feeling of, if I could just shut the door and do what needs to be done, I could be so much further ahead.
Our wired world misdirects our focus from the important to the urgent. It is so easy to fall into the trap of feeling productive by responding to everything and anything, yet at the end of the day possibly none of that activity has moved you in the direction of your goals.
Last week I wrote about setting yourself up for success with powerful habits. These habits will allow you to utilize the most powerful tool we have – focus.
Laser focus is a very apt description of what results when we establish routines and habits that allow us to concentrate on a specific thing. The deck (or desk!) is clear, the phone silenced, the email banished and our mental capabilities are focused on the task at hand. We are amazed at the results and the relatively minimal amount of time it took to complete the task.
We love to blame the wired world for our hurried, distracted existence, yet we are the ones with the power to push the off button.
How can you utilize the power of focus to have more productive days?
- Review. Set aside 30 to 45 minutes at the end of each work week to measure your results against your goals and plan for the week ahead. Identify and schedule what you will do first thing Monday morning (and I hope it is not a staff meeting!). Continue this review process at the end of each day and set the priorities for the following day.
- Control. Take back your email. Do not read your email first thing in the morning. See #1 and #4 on Set Yourself Up for Success. Schedule time during the day to read and respond to email.
- Advantage. Use technology to your advantage by identifying “favorites or VIP’s,” or by using color codes on emails or ring tones. You are still accessible to children or others important to you, but not the world!
- Access. Others respect your time when you let them know your availability. An amazing number of “Quick question for you…” requests get resolved without you ever hearing that phrase.
Focus is not only for you, but for the others in your work and family life. How special do we feel when we have the full attention of a teammate, boss, partner or parent? Find your focus and find success!