5 Methods to Focus and Get Back on Task

By Hal Neff


Every day, there are dozens of tasks which are calling your name, both at work and in your personal life. With life being so stressful it's easy to lose concentration on the main picture.

Just how many times have you gone to bed asking yourself what you actually accomplished that day? Or have you actually felt like your day was somehow wasted?

To avoid these thoughts, you can try out a number of different methods to get yourself back on track. Instead of bemoaning your wasted time, resolve to regain your focus and get back on task.

Confucius States...

There is a famous quote about focus by the remarkable philosopher Confucius: "If you chase two rabbits, you catch none. " True, there may be people who are able to multitask and do it relatively well; but more often than not, individuals who split their own attention between two distinct tasks have a harder time finishing both tasks well.

Listed below are 5 ways to get your own focus and get back on task:

1 . Eliminate the interruptions. Remove the barriers that are leading you to avoid getting things done - it is that easy! Forget about checking email every 5 minutes; those emails will still be there when you finish your work. Make a list of distractions and get rid of them!

* Turn off the phone and let the voice mail take over.

* Close the blinds in your workplace.

* Shut off the music when you find yourself singing more than working.

* Simply closing the door to your workplace can give you more privacy and more focus.

2 . Prioritize your work. Rather than working on projects all together, take one thing at a time, concentrate on it, and worry about all the other tasks later. Eventually, you will get a lot more done and you'll complete it faster. You will also be identified by the high quality that you present when you are free of interruptions.

* Find a way to prioritize that works effectively for you. Pick either the assignment that has the earliest deadline or the one with the least components so that you can finish it quickly and get it out of the way. There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems so tackle it whichever way works for you.

3. Tell everyone to respect your time. There are several nice and respectful ways to ask people to back off. If you are seeing yourself in a time crunch and cannot seem to escape from other people, think about letting them know that you will need time to complete some crucial assignments. There are a lot of various ways to do it - just make sure you do!

* Set times you receive telephone calls and even visitors. Inform them to contact you by email and then set a regular time to check your email.

* Set business hours during which people can expect you to return their calls or emails.

4. Set a few restrictions with your internet access. The web is wonderful but it can be a big time waster, especially if you work at a computer all day long. Regain your focus with some self-imposed rules.

*Initially, close all those windows you're not using. Stay away from Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, stop browsing on auction web sites, and leave messenger alone!

* Set up particular times every day to use these fun stuff and just concentrate on what you have to do. You will easily achieve more!

5. Have faith in your capabilities. This may seem like a very small thing when it comes to concentrating and getting back on task, but trusting that you can get everything done that you set out to do sets you in a positive perspective and you'll be less distracted with stress and worry.

* Have confidence that you can complete each task with ease and believe in your ability to produce. If you will just have the confidence, you're sure to have the concentration!

Now that you have already been introduced to several methods to concentrate and get back on task, it is up to you to take action and learn how to focus your thoughts. If you've got to get things completed, follow these guidelines so you can put yourself - and your goals - first!




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