The 7 Strategic Steps to Overcoming a Lack of Focus
By Sophia Bailey

If everything is possible where do I start!

Over the past few months and definitely in the recent run up to the new year, I’ve noticed a shift in energy in the people I’ve been speaking with. It seems that following the elation and hype arising from the many positive stories in the media, people are beginning to realise that whatever they put their mind to is possible and that is fantastic.

However, what this energy shift has brought along with it, is a sense of confusion leading to a lack of focus. I guess that knowing anything is possible, gives you the feeling everything is possible but if that’s the case where do we start?
And what about all the niggling doubts and outstanding tasks we need to get over and through before we begin building our new creation? With so much going on in our heads how can we possibly focus on something new?

Without clarity, focus and discipline we are blinded to the many opportunities before us and held back from even the simplest forms of action. If there was ever a time in history where we had the opportunity to achieve our dreams, it is right now but without focus we are in very real danger of simply letting the opportunities pass us by.
We have all heard the example of never noticing the red cars on the street until we want to buy one or until we own one, or seeing every pregnant woman when you are pregnant.

By focussing our minds on any particular situation we begin to see opportunities to attract that situation. Unfortunately, maintaining the focus to achieve our goals is one of the most common challenges we face.

The 7 Strategic Steps to Overcoming a Lack of Focus

I put together these seven simple steps to overcoming a lack of focus, for anyone has so much on their mind they find they cant concentrate. If you are sleeping well, eating right and are in good physical health but lack of focus is still a problem for you, these 7 steps will go a long way.

1. Get rid of your distractions.
(Your creation must begin in silence)
Create a place of silence and eliminate outside noises. No TV, radio, etc. You can purchase noise cancelling headphones if you work around noise. I find if I’m doing something physical like house work then music helps but for anything that needs concentration, my written work for instance, I work better while sitting in silence.
If young children are your distraction, let them watch a film, that gives you ninety minutes.
Maybe take it turns with a family member or another mother to watch each others child an hour or two in the week.

Empty your mind
A place of silence gives you the opportunity to hear what’s going on in your head. Note what your thinking about, write it down. It only needs to be a word or sentence, for each thing. (Bills, relationship, argument, paperwork etc.) then move to the next thing you are thinking about until you can not think of anything else and the buzz in your mind has been emptied on to paper.

Plan Your Day
Make a list of what you need to achieve, then go through it and put a priority mark next to what is important. Those tasks are first. This will allow your mind to be free from worry because you'll know that you've scheduled your most important tasks according to priority. TIP: A majority of the most successful people in the world do this step the night before so they wake in the morning with a head start.

Clear your desk or working space.
This is not a tidy up, just a quick clearance into a tray, box or carrier bag. You can sort it out later, just remove it for now. If you need something from your desk to complete a task you’ll know where it is.

Close All Unrelated Computer Programs.
This step helps me a lot because I often have my email inbox and a lot of social networking sites open and find myself checking them when I don’t need to. Add to your list, I’ll open it and have a look for ten minutes at 2pm, or after I complete task ‘x’.

Ignore the phone(s)
Put it on silent or switch if off until your task is completed, that's what voicemail is for! If you’re unable to return the call (no credit/battery/signal!) still don’t worry as if it’s important the person will call you back.
Centre your mind
Burn a white candle in your newly cleared space and take a minute or so to centre your mind by just looking at the flame.

2. Visual Reminders.
This doesn’t always work for me as I tend to stare at them and start daydreaming but I know some people are very visually oriented. If that is you, then create some type of visual reminder of the task you are working on. Try post it notes on the monitor or perhaps a dream board if this is in line with a creative tasks. I created a dream board from magazine cut-outs stuck to a large piece of mdf. My dream board that reminds me that every small task I am performing will lead to the accomplishment of a much bigger picture.
(I have a link for online dream boards on my website under the vision creation tab – www.sophiabailey.co.uk )

3. Find a reason to get super excited.
We hear this so much but that’s because it is true ‘You need to define your WHY!’ Sometimes the reason we don’t get the tasks done is because we don’t want to, they just don’t excite us enough. When that happens, we need to find the reason to be excited or we just won’t be bothered.
Focus on the benefits of completing your work. If there was no benefit, you wouldn’t have added it to your list. There must be some benefit even if it is that you will be avoiding something negative. Tell yourself that you like it. It can help to even be silly about it. Find ways to make it fun. Find ways to make it sexy. Find ways to make it exciting. If you ask yourself "How can I make this work fun," you will find an answer. If you're already working on something you're passionate about, then focus on that and exaggerate your excitement.

4. Set Mini-Deadlines and Realistic Targets.
I am highly motivated by targets and deadlines, without them I tend to drift along unmotivated. I also get bored once I reach a target unless I have another one to replace it. If this is you, then try dividing the work into pieces. Plan it out on paper. You could use a timer to keep on schedule. Be realistic about how long each section takes or you will end up feeling defeated and giving up.

5. If you feel low, don't force yourself take a break.
You will know when your energy is dropping, you’ll feel stuck and frustrated, and that’s the time for a break. Get up. Go to a different location. Stretch. Close your eyes. Take 10 deep breaths. Enjoy the exhale. Check your progress vs. your daily plan. I absolutely love ticking things off on my list and I give myself a smiley face when it’s all done, childish perhaps but it works for me and makes me smile. A break will give you renewed energy and focus.

6. Relax and stay in your flow.
To maintain creativity we need to avoid being harsh, critical with ourselves. If we continue to focus on the task it will eventually become complete so don’t stress yourself out. You can not be both creative and stressed.
The only way to fail your task is to give up, everything else is continued progress. Be gentle, exhale often and if you lose your focus, take a break, return and start again.

7. If you’re a procrastinator, use it to your advantage
Paul Graham explains why procrastination isn’t always bad and how you can make the most of being a procrastinator and even use it to become more successful! I love the advice in his closing summary

Are you a procrastinator?
Read this..
Good and Bad Procrastination by Paul Graham