Have you ever thought to yourself, “Man, I wish I were better at multitasking! I’d get so much more accomplished.”? That seems to be the going thought these days. But with so many electronic intrusions, it’s not unreasonable to not be able to hold a thought in your head. Neuroscientist Robert Desimone, PhD. says that “the brain isn’t wired to process everything simultaneously. It has to choose which signal gets top priority.” And usually, the loudest, brightest, sharpest, or smelliest wins.
Is that what you find happens in your business? Are you always fighting fires or starting to work on something only to find something else really needs your attention? As a business owner, we must create space and systems to help stay focused on the one thing that is the best use of our time at the moment. We also have to honor the schedule, plan, or commitments we have made to help us stay focused (my personal challenge!). Although the tips listed below are ‘simple’, you might find they are not easy to do at first. Try them out… stick with them. Remember, it takes at least 21 times (or more than 30 days) to change a new practice into a habit. It may take a few months to notice the change!
Here are 5 steps you need to take to re-teach your brain to fully focus.
The first step is to become aware of exactly what it is that is distracting you. Maggie Jackson, author of Distracted, suggests hiding your to-do list, position your desk so that you are facing a blank wall, turn off the radio and TV, and mute the sound on your computer. If you have to, you can even use earplugs.
The second step is to figure out the time of day when you’re most awake and productive. If you’re best time is the morning, that’s when you should get right to work. Your brain does, however, need to take a break after 90 minutes.
Step three is to set aside just 12 minutes a day of quiet time to relax, breathe deeply, and clear your thoughts and realign your focus. Then ask yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish?” This will help your brain focus on your intention.
Step four, maybe the easiest to follow, is to drink a cup of coffee or black or green tea. Caffeine is a genuine attention booster, according to some studies, and gives us pleasure. Enjoy yourself while you are improving!
Step five, last but not least, is to notice when you are getting sidetracked and then bring your focus back to what you are doing and move on. Just remind yourself of the goal and get back to where you need to be.
All of us are in business for ourselves to control our own destiny, have a bigger impact, have more freedom and make more money. Applying these simple tactics on a daily basis can help you more quickly achieve these goals and have a better sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
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