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This week we explore 5 things that the bible says can help you improve your focus.
productivity
Tools to help you maintain focus
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The bible provide insight as to what we need to do to maintain focus. We share what those are in this week’s episode
Reasons why you can’t focus
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How much do you know about why your attention is divided which prevents you from achieving your objective? We explore these reasons on this week’s episode
The power to focus
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There are many things personal and professional that calls for our attention, how do you prioritize what gets your attention, time and energy? We explore the details in this week’s episode.
How I stop procrastination
Lack of ideas can kill creativity. The next close thing is procrastination.
This whole idea of do it later, I have more than enough time to finish can lead to mad dash to complete critical projects.
This situation has caught me several times. I remember working on a project got the main parts done only to finish it up. What happened was I put it off for a few days and ended up have to rush to finish it.
Here are some tips that helped me tackle procrastination.
- Do it now: if something needs to get done dot it now. For example you need to set an appointment to speak to a client instead of putting it off make the call now.
- Write down your ideas: another example you have a writing project and have a few ideas write them down as you get it. Outline it as best as you can. Flesh it out as you get the ideas. When you sit down to write you already did most of the work.
- Keep an idea journal: if you love to read keep track of quotes that inspire you. Photographers have a look book with shots, poses and composition to draw from. Some marketers have a swipe file with ideas to help them start a project.
- Start before you are ready: doing things ahead of time can help youove quickly. Have a project due 2 months from now complete it ahead of time. Do things in bulk and schedule them. Write more than you need. Take more photos than needed. Put plans in place before you need them.
In all cases don’t put it off for later. Get it done now. You may never get around to doing it.
How to optimize your workflow
Have you ever started working on a project only to get stuck. Or becomes side tracked only to realize your deadline is fast approaching and you’ve made little progress.
You may make a mad dash to complete it or you ask for more time. But the feeling of lack of progress on a project can get overwhelming at times.
At the beginning of my career as a writer working for a media company meeting deadlines use to frighten me.
Luckily after some experimentation and research I found 5 ways to optimize my workflow that I think can help you meet those deadlines.
1. Break project into steps
Worse thing you can do is doing everything all at once. Break the process apart to increase your focus.
What this will help is help you make small wins and make the project manageable.
2. Batch similar task together
I learn this from Michael Hyatt’s book free to focus. The concept is simple, group similar task on your calendar.
Work on everything in batches to increase your focus and save you time later.
For example, do all interviews on the same day. Write your peice at another time.
If you’re a designer, spend time to find all your ideas. Spend time to download all resources needed. Then sketch out all concepts then finalize them on another day.
3. Create templates and systems.
Creating templates and systems is critical to optimizing workflow.
In the book emyth Micheal Gerber emphasizes the need to be able to repeat results. If you know how to do something really well create a template or system to ensure you can get that basic result faster.
If you do something repeatedly everyday create a template. It helps you get consistent results everytime.
4. Review only when finished
There’s a chance you want to scrutinize your work on the go. Don’t do it. Make changes only when you are finished with the original idea.
Editing while you’re working will only waste time. Lengthen the time to actually finish and worse make you miss your deadline.
5. Get all the tools you need for the job
Invest in the right tools to make life easier. Don’t look at the cost upfront, look at the time you will save buying the right tools.
This could mean, software, plug-ins, physical tools, templates even people. Get what you need to get the job done.
Optimizing your workflow will take some time. Once you put the measures in place you will see your productivity improve.