Focusing Is A Challenge

When you’re working in any type of business, focus is critical.  It can be the difference between achieving your goals and seeing them slip way.  Before you can improve your focus, it’s important to assess where it is right now.

But gauging your level of focus can be a challenge.  How do you measure something that can’t be attached to a number?  With focus, you’re not looking to quantitatively measure your focus.  Instead you want to get an idea of the big picture.

One way you can gauge your focus is by asking yourself if you’re accomplishing what you want to accomplish in a given period of time.  That could be a daily task list or it could be weekly or monthly goals that you’ve set.

It’s possible that you’ve set goals that are unattainable, but often if you aren’t reaching your goals it’s because you’re distracted and not focusing on being productive.  It’s important to take a hard look at your goals and determine what the problem is.

It can be beneficial to spend a few days tracking the time you’re spending on specific tasks.  For example, in a typical work day how often are you getting distracted by time wasters such as social media or social phone calls?

Even if you use social media for your business, are you getting distracted by personal interactions?  You may find that when you keep track of a few days you’re spending much more time away from work than you realize.

Keeping a journal is a great way to gauge your focus levels and see where you can make improvements.  It can help you get back on track and improved your time management skills for better performance.

Is your day planned?  Or do you spend a lot of your day just tackling random things?  People who have the most focus tend to plan their day and schedule what work will be done during specific times.  If you’re not doing this, chances are your focus can be improved.

You should also think about the breaks that you’re taking throughout the day.  Many people think that taking breaks means a lack of focus, but the opposite is true.  If you’re never taking a break you may actually become more distracted.  The most focused people take scheduled breaks so that they can refocus their mind.

If you’re questioning whether or not you’re focused in your work, chances are you’re struggling in this area.  The good news is that even if you struggle with focus, there are several specific things you can do to improve your focus and increase your productivity.