Productivity Hacks: Focus Your Time

How In This World Does She Do It All?

We all know that girl next door who always looks perfect, works, manages her family and never seems to break a sweat.  She probably does not really do it all. It just looks like she does because she chooses to focus her time on what’s most important. It’s not that it’s hard to focus. I just think that we are not really taught how to focus our time and that there are so many distractions it can be hard to stay on task.

Here are a few of my productivity hacks for making sure I focus my time on what’s really important and for preventing the distractions.

Silence Is Golden

In this age of iPhones, iPads, and all sorts of devices to keep us connected, sometimes we just need to disconnect for a few minutes. Rather turn off my device completely, I use Airplane Mode. Once activated you cannot make or receive calls, texts or emails, or browse the Internet. You can still use apps on your device that don’t require a data connection to function.

–> During my morning silence time of prayers and meditation I turn my devices to airplane mode. I use Evernote on my devices for my prayer list.  By activating Airplane Mode, I can review those while praying without Facebook notifications popping up.

–>I use a meditation app, Headspace, (find it on iTunes), which still works in airplane mode, so I get focused meditation without email notifications buzzing.

Prepare to Focus

I know I talked about using a planner and time blocking in my last productivity post, 3 Steps to Planning Your Week. Blocking time is for knowing when you will have focused time for working on a task or reaching a goal. You have to spend some time preparing for that time block and setting yourself up for success.

–> I have time blocked for my morning work out. To prepare for that, the night before I make sure the treadmill is unfolded and there is nothing in the way of my jumping right on it. I also set out my work out clothes and shoes. Preparing to be focused will help you stick to your plan.

Prevent Little Interrupters

Prepare others who might not understand that you have scheduled some focused work time that does not include them.

–> Do the kiddos seem to always need your attention when you are trying to focus?  Spend about 15 minutes playing with them with intentional focus and let them know that you need 30 minutes to work on something by yourself. Set the timer and let them know that as soon as the timer rings you will be available if they need you. If they need help finding something to do during your focus time, give them an assignment for their focus time.

Side Note:  I highly recommend this adult and child positive affirmations coloring book for your play time together and to give them a quiet and positive project to work on while you work on your project.

What’s Up Next?

You had an awesome time working on that special project during your blocked focus time.  Your time is almost up and you won’t be able to get back to it until your next time block. When your next time block starts, you are not sure where to start. So then you waste 5 minutes remembering where you left off. That never happens, right??? My hack to overcome the “what’s next” blues is to assign a next action to the task or project.

–> You blocked 30 minutes to work on planning your summer vacation. You checked flights and printed off the info to share with your significant other later in the day. Next Action: Make a decision on the flights

–>Next you find the beach-front hotel where you usually stay is sold out for that week. Your time block is almost up! Next Action: Research AirBNB for an alternative place to stay.

When you pick up on the project during your next time block you’ll be able to book the flights and start your research.

Don’t Get Sidetracked

How many times do you determine to work on a specific task and 12 other things that need to be done pop into your head? When I’m working on something I either keep a note open in Evernote or a pad of post-it notes handy. Then when those crazy unrelated thoughts pop in I write them down to deal with later. This generally puts them to rest so I can refocus on the task at hand.

In his book, Getting Things Done, David Allen describes that all those “to do’s” that pop in our heads are commitments that we are making to ourselves. Once we put them on a list to do later, we essentially are still committed to do them, but our mind is free to think creatively and focus.

–> Imagine that it’s the hour you blocked for working on your plan to end world hunger or at least plan next week’s meals.  You are sitting at your desk.  Your phone is in airplane mode.  Your kiddos are in separate rooms working on their own project.  The timer is set.  You’ve prepared what you need to work on your project.  Out of nowhere you remember that you were supposed to RSVP to your best friend’s mother’s birthday party or that you forgot to call Aunt Mary. Take five seconds and note it on your post-it note to handle after your focus time and then get back to feeding the world.

Putting one or all these little hacks into play will make your time more effective and you will feel the success of being focused. I’d love to hear how you do with implementing these tips or some of your own tips. Please share in the comments below this post.

Blessings,

Lauree

…keep dancing the dream

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