How often have you looked at the clock stunned because even though you’ve been scrambling all morning, it’s now noon and you have no idea where the time went or what you’ve actually accomplished? There are sound reasons why it’s so hard for us to stay focused — and fortunately there’s research that shows what we can do about it.
Stop Mindlessly Going Through Your Work Day
It’s too easy to allow entire days to pass by in a blur without being able to articulate what you’ve actually done. One of the most effective tactics for staying focused is to bring purpose to each moment of your work. That might sound daunting, but doing so has benefits to your productivity, well-being, and health. Start by understanding and articulating how your daily work connects to both your personal goals and the goals of the organization. Then, use that information to create a roadmap where you identify which tasks are most critical and which are less immediate. Make time estimates for each task and then plot out your work so you know what you should be focusing on and when. Finally, name your distractions — and understand the root cause of them – so you can catch yourself and return your attention to those tasks on your priority list that will produce a greater sense of meaning.