Though the previous challenge was about ‘movement’, today’s challenge is REMAIN CLEAR about what you want to get done.  In short, BE STILL, be STEADY, be FOCUSED.  Distracting yourself is a habit.  The browsing, the multitasking, the flicking between one project to the next, or the quick scroll through social media just TAKES YOU AWAY from what is really important and needs to be done.  This is a call out to remind you to:

BE ATTENTIVE. 

To CONDITION your mind away from the frenzy of distraction and PURPOSEFULLY plan to stick with what you intend to ACTION.

I absolutely agree that I am the most distractible of people.   It is ridiculously  easy for me to have excuses as to why I  need ‘another cup of tea’ or to make a call or do something else that takes me away from the one task that is actually really important in the long term. Like for instance, right now.  I want to put the kettle on, I want to tidy my desk and I want to quickly hoover a room of our house!  

Why is this?  It is the habit of procrastination, and for myself is it because my mind has not been trained and taught to ‘stick with something’.  I also think that I think that I am accomplishing tasks – which I am (though not meaningful to the overall goal of Branching Out) – and this makes me ‘feel’ good.  It is the DOPAMINE hit too.  So, with this in mind:

I set the TIMER for 23 minutes … and I know that I do not leave the work in front of me until that timer goes off.  This is a great trick through which MOMENTUM does build and I do get the release of dopamine as I manage to get through the important tasks.  Important because they matter in the long run.  

I VISUALISE myself as that person with utter focus, concentration and an ABILITY to accomplish REWARDING PRODUCTIVITY.  I have learned to talk to myself with great ENCOURAGEMENT.

And, I am (slowly) learning to say NO to distractions – knowing that I will feel very happy with myself for doing so.  A NO to something is a YES to something even more IMPORTANT.

Other tools that I use for focus:

I use essential oils that encourage you to be ‘alert and attentive’. Including: rosemary, peppermint, clary sage, orange.

I ensure that I drink plenty of water and nourish myself well.  However, I know that over eating and eating too often can make one sluggish – and I want to fell invigorated.  

At each 23 minutes, I get up from my desk and jog on the spot, stretch or do a ‘plank’! 

I do have something to ‘fiddle’ with at hand.

Also, I always keep a pen and notebook at hand so that I can record things that come into my mind and I want to attend to at a later stage.

So, in short, for this day – and tomorrow – WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DO AND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KEEP SAYING NO TO INORDER TO BE SAYING A WHOPPING BIG YES TO YOURSELF.