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Stay Focused, Get it Done, Then Have Some Fun

Guest post by: Nate Silverman

Article Overview: Stay focused, get it done, then have some fun. What is your goal, and what do you need to get done today to reach it? Get the most important thing done first, then move on to the next most important thing. It’s called prioritization, but in reality, that’s only half of it. You have to prioritize your to do list, then keep focused on that list without getting distracted.

Stay Focused, Get it Done, Then Have Some Fun

One of the simple changes we can make in our lives that will make a big difference is to learn how to focus. What is your goal, and what do you need to get done today to reach it? Get the most important thing done first, then move on to the next most important thing. It’s called prioritization, but in reality, that’s only half of it. You have to prioritize your to do list, then keep focused on that list without getting distracted.

Entrepreneurs and business owners often find it even harder to maintain focus because customers pull them in one direction, employees push them in another, and their families need them in yet another. And, none match their own personal vision for the company. That is why more companies “die of indigestion than starvation,” as David Packard (of Hewlett Packard) said. They take on too much and get overwhelmed. Important things start to slip through the cracks. Things like customer service, quality, billing, payments, etc.

Sometimes relatively simply things can make a big difference in your day, such as:

Don't look at your emails and texts while you are doing something else. They'll still be there when you're done. Focus on your current project first, then be open to moving to the next one. In the “old days,” executives would say, “Hold all my calls” when they needed to focus on something important. It’s even easier today to keep distracting calls and other messages waiting in your inbox until you are ready.

Don't underestimate how long things take. They almost always take twice as long as you first guess. Think it will take 10 minutes? Budget 20. Either of two things may happen. One, it does take 20 minutes and you're still on schedule, not 10 minutes behind. Or, two, it takes less than 20 minutes and now you have some extra free time. Yippee! Just don't take on another project that will encroach on the time you allowed for the next project.

Simply and politely say, "Thank you for the opportunity. I can't right now," to everything that comes along until you finish what's on your plate now. We do it at restaurants, why not in social situations? Even if you r e a l l y want that triple chocolate cake for dessert, you will wait until you finish your main course before digging in (or at least pack it up nicely so you can get back to it later). Exercise this same (minor) self-control when it comes to tasks and favors too. Will this make you look bad? Quite the opposite. If you only agree to do something you can do whole-heartedly, you will do a better job.

These simplified suggestions don’t always work in every situation, but if you stick to them, you should start to notice that you feel more productive and less overwhelmed quickly.

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Article Tags: Focus, prioritization, productivity, time management



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