sales skills

Struggling With Focus?

Do you struggle getting focused and staying focused?  Me too! Sometimes I look at my computer to find an open power point I am working on, 3 publisher documents, one word document, three internet browsers (each with 8-10 tabs) and of course those social media notifications.  (That may or may not be exactly how my laptop looked 5 minutes ago and it may or may not be what prompted this article).frequently don’t have enough meditation time.  We plug in first thing in the morning and usually unplug right before bed.  We do a lot of jumping from one task to the next without completing each one.

This IS a HUGE problem for business owners.  And none of us are immune to it.  Here are some tips for how to avoid distractions and what to do when you are distracted!

1. Close EVERYTHING!  You should only have one project open on your computer at a time and anything else you open needs to be related to that task. 
2. Have an idea spot.  Mine is in my business tracker.  I have a specific place to keep new ideas.  I also have another place for things I need to do.  I do not keep this tracker open all of the time or it can become my next distraction.  But I can pull it up, write something down, and get back to work again quickly. 
3. Take a 15 minute break to get your thoughts organized.  It will make a world of difference in your productivity for the rest of the day.
4. Unplug 1 hour before bed.  Your brain needs quiet time to rejuvenate EVERY day.  If you go straight from online, texting or working to bed, your brain is not having time to adjust.  You will find you are MORE tired and distracted the next day
5. Do not get on your phone, laptop or social media until after you have cranked out some of your projects.
6. Get enough sleep, drink enough water, and eat healthier foods.  Your health is essential to your business.  Give yourself what you need to be focused and feeling great.
7. If your brain is just too tired to focus, take a powernap.  I used to work for a professor who took her blanket and pillow to work so she could lay on the floor if she got too sleepy.  During the middle of the day, she would pull it out turn off the lights and lay on the floor (While I was still working at the computer.  It was a little awkward.)  And it gave me permission to do the same. 

What are your tips for staying focused?  Share them with us on our facebook page

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