Focus...



Do you ever have a hard time staying focused?

Do you ever get distracted by something at work or home that takes you on an alternate journey which last up to 20 or 30 minutes?

Have you ever started an email or project and had to stop because something happened and you lost focus on what you were doing?

(ARE YOU ALREADY DISTRACTED FROM READING THIS BLOG?)

If so, then you're in good company!

Here's the scary thing. The average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. According to a study done in 2015 by the Microsoft Corp, people generally lose focus every 8 seconds. That was two years ago so I'm guessing it could be even worse now. We have a lesser attention span than a goldfish...Ouch!

So, what do we do?

One of the problems I've read is that our brains are simply over stimulated. We don't ever give them a break. When you lose focus on an email because a text came in, our focus changes and next thing you know you're checking Facebook and ordering something off Amazon. I could continue with the science behind all of this and here are a few good links if you'd like to know more:

-The Science of How to Stay Focused: Psychology, Slow Habits and Chewing Gum
-Science: You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span than a Goldfish

I'd rather focus on how we can stay focused longer and do more. I struggle with this a lot. I share an office with 2 other amazing people and are in a suite of offices with an additional 5 others. Basically everyone in our office has people coming in all day long 4 days a week. (we don't work on Fridays)

Here's a few things to do to help you stay focused:
1. Finish what you start.
2. Make the Time
3. Put Your Phone Away

1. Finish What You Start
I can't tell you how many times a day I start an email and an hour later have still not finished it. For no reason other than I started something else. Finish what you start the first time and check that off your list!

2. Make the Time
If you have a project or email that you know is going to take more than 10 minutes, find a space and schedule the time to get it done. For example, if you know you have to send a long email that involves some prior planning, put on your headphones, silence your phone, put your computer on "do not disturb" and knock that junk out!

3. Put Your Phone Away
We live in a society where if you don't return a text message in 2 minutes, you're a horrible friend or mad at someone. Well, it will be ok. Make it a priority to set your phone aside or put it on "Do Not Disturb" and get done what you need to get done. Make a goal to work 15 minutes and then check your phone. Then the next day or week, try to go 20 minutes.

Alexander Graham Bell said, "Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus."

It's not easy staying focused, I know! However, I bet if we can do these three simple things our days will be more productive and we'll stay better focused on the things that matter most!

Stephen Covey says, "The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing."

Proverbs 4:25 says, "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you."

Have a FOCUSED Day and get up and do it again tomorrow!

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