I have to admit, the other day I was having trouble getting anything done.
Everything seemed out of focus.
I wasn’t clear on what I should be working on.
And I couldn’t get started on any one particular project.
What do you do when your work and priorities seem blurry?
Looks Kind of Blurry
Some days you just can’t seem to get things in order.
Projects seem to be in disarray.
And your todo list looks like it is four miles long.
– How to start?
– What to do first?
– Why doesn’t this task want to get done?
Does this happen to you? And you can’t clearly see your work?
“Sometimes we lose our focus.
Priorities, tasks, and our work become blurred.”
When I find myself in this predicament, I try to step back and see if I can regain my perspective.
How to Find Your Focus
When life seems blurry like a badly focused photo, you need to regain your footing and clarity.
Here are 7 Ways to Find Your Focus:
- Take a Break – Sometimes you need a break to snap you out of the situation you are in. Go for a walk. (Even if just down the hall.) Go outside and take 10 deep breaths of fresh air. When you return to your work you will have a new sense of vigor and energy.
- Narrow Your Focus – When everything seems out of focus, it can be a result of trying to take on too much at once. Instead, try concentrating on one task. Focusing on completing one task can get you back on the productivity track.
- Take a 10,000 Foot View – Sometimes you need to see the big picture. Take a step back. Review your projects and priorities. Are you aware of your workload and what you should be doing? A little perspective of the landscape can save a you a lot of wasted time and effort.
- Look at the Menu – If you don’t know what task to do, go to your “menu of productivity.” I am referring to your todo list. Instead of flitting from one miscellaneous task to another, make sure you are doing what is on your list. Avoid going “off the menu.”
- Match Your Energy Level – When your focus is blurry and you can’t concentrate, you need to match your tasks to your energy level. Do low energy tasks when you are sluggish, and get back to high energy ones when your energy returns.
- Start Small – Can’t get started? Build momentum by starting small. Sometimes even the smallest of tasks, like gathering your supplies for a project, can get your productivity pencil sharpened.
- Set Deadlines – Deadlines tend to bring things into focus quickly. Use deadlines to define when things need to get done, and your productivity vision will quickly return.
Bringing Things Into Focus
When you find yourself aimlessly plodding through your work, it is time to refocus.
Take a break to regroup, refocus, and re-prioritize.
You will be more effective and spend less time spinning your wheels.
A little bit of focus goes a long way to increase your productivity.
How do you regain your focus on work and priorities?
Wow. This post is right on time. I am trying to get myself back focused and all the answers are right there…
Wow. This post is right on time. I am trying to get myself back focused and all the answers are right there…
Craig,
I think that looking at the big picture helps me the best.
Sometimes I’m too just blind to see what I’m actually doing and in a situations like these, taking a bird’s view definitely helps.
By the way, have you read a book: “Find Your Focus Zone” by Lucy Jo Palladino? It has some great stuff related to focusing.
Timo
@timokiander Timo… I haven’t read that book. Will check it out.
Thanks for the tip!
Craig,
I think that looking at the big picture helps me the best.
Sometimes I’m too just blind to see what I’m actually doing and in a situations like these, taking a bird’s view definitely helps.
By the way, have you read a book: “Find Your Focus Zone” by Lucy Jo Palladino? It has some great stuff related to focusing.
Timo
Hey Craig,
Here’s a good quote from Da Vinci: “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.”
— Leonardo Da Vinci
Those 7 elements are all effective. I would add getting coached. That was the best business decision I made in the last two years! For things that I don’t know how to do, or just on a weekly basis, he helps me find my focus and STAY focused.
@Matttanguay Great quote! Thanks for sharing it, Matt!
@TMNinja 🙂
Hey Craig,
Here’s a good quote from Da Vinci: “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.”
— Leonardo Da Vinci
Those 7 elements are all effective. I would add getting coached. That was the best business decision I made in the last two years! For things that I don’t know how to do, or just on a weekly basis, he helps me find my focus and STAY focused.
@Matttanguay Great quote! Thanks for sharing it, Matt!
@timokiander Timo… I haven’t read that book. Will check it out.
Thanks for the tip!
Good stuff..start out small and once you start chiseling away at the “to-do” mountain, perspective will undoubtedly come. A good one to attach to the 10,000 ft view is to see what projects can be delegated or which cases you can involve other teammates.
1st time to the blog, enjoying it Craig.
@Jacob Yount Jacob, glad you found TMN! Thanks for the kind words.
And yes, great point… too often we forget to delegate. And then we have that much more clouding our focus. 🙂
Good stuff..start out small and once you start chiseling away at the “to-do” mountain, perspective will undoubtedly come. A good one to attach to the 10,000 ft view is to see what projects can be delegated or which cases you can involve other teammates.
1st time to the blog, enjoying it Craig.
@TMNinja 🙂
@TMNinja 🙂
@Jacob Yount Jacob, glad you found TMN! Thanks for the kind words.
And yes, great point… too often we forget to delegate. And then we have that much more clouding our focus. 🙂
yah i badly need this..
yah i badly need this..
A simple but very effective list. Just what I needed to read. Thank you.