What helps me to channel a bit of focus when needed … PLANNING FOR WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY.  

I have some projects in my life I deeply care about.  There are things in my life that I care so much about and there are things that I want to accomplish.  HOWEVER, I am also easily distracted and also I easily put the things that really matter to me on the back burner because I put other things first.  It is easy for me to say yes to things instead of saying YES to things that really do matter to me and I would regret later on in life not doing them.  (Saying NO can be a monumental YES to yourself).   Also, I do seem to be very busy doing utterly ‘non essential’ tasks.  

It is because I am so easily distracted that I use various tricks inorder to ensure that a task that I need to do, want to do, gets done.  A thought and idea that is not relevant to what I am actually doing will take me off course in a nano second … and then I am off in a different direction entirely.  And, it is extremely easy for me to reason as to why it does not matter – and that the distractions are also relevant!  And then, I loose myself to all that is not really that important in the long run.  I wonder if you can identify with this?  If so, below are a couple of tips that I use to pull back the reins, to steady my course and to keep on the right track long enough to stay the course. 

1. Before sitting down, I will jump on the spot, move and get the blood flowing!  I breath intentionally, telling myself that I am excited and stimulated at the prospect of getting down to work.  I ‘feel the feeling that I am wanting to feel’ at the end of this focused session.  I tell myself that I get this work done with ease and know myself to be able to struggle effectively with the struggles that might arise.
2. On sitting down, I  do plan my day in a diary, handwritten, listing the little tasks that I want to do AND whilst doing this, I ask myself as to what is REALLY IMPORTANT for me to get done.  The IMPORTANT task is the one that inches me forward on a MISSION of mine.  The effectiveness of this comes with having already thought, dwelled and planned for a larger goal that gives you a sense of meaning and purpose.  
3. I close the door to outside interferences and set a timer – 23 minutes – when I just do the work.  Even though I want to distract myself and do something else, because I know that the 23 minutes will come to an end and then I can do the ‘other things’ it gives me the energy to just do it. I am competing against the timer! (23 minutes, for me, is short enough to know that it is not too long – and I can get quite a lot done in this time – and I was born on the 23rd May!).
4. I talk back to the distracting, niggling thoughts.  Not always, but I am getting better at it.
5. On my desk I do keep ESSENTIAL OILS that bring me back to focus.  Rosemary, lavender and peppermint.  I also have a little ball that I fiddle with if needed.

And I keep going.  The 23 minute timer will go off and I am always rather amazed as to how much I have managed to get done.  I will then get up, shake and move on the spot, stretch … and get going again for another round of 23 minutes or do the other tasks that are NOT necessarily that important in the bigger scheme of things, but I would love to get done.  

As I write this, I am planning to diarise a time for when I read text messages, and respond properly.  Also, my scrolling of the news – perhaps during the working week, reading the headlines should become less of a ‘anytime habit’ but actually done intentionally. Already this idea feels that I will have better charge of my day.  This is what this is all about really – taking charge enough so that you give yourself the space to take the action towards something that really does matter to you.  

PS – I have invested in a very LARGE WHITE BOARD TOO! Useful for brainstorming ideas.

May you have a wonderful week ahead.