Feeling like there’s so little time, but so much to do? You’re not alone.
It can be hard to stay focused in business with so much responsibility to get through in a single day and today’s digital environment doesn’t make it any easier. While multitasking is essential, ensuring that you are being most effective and productive in your is just as important.
Here are five tips to help you become for focused.
Save The Easiest Task Til Last
Typically you can create a habit of doing tasks that require the least brain power first before moving onto the ‘nitty gritty’ stuff. This can lower your focus. “An hour into doing your work, you’ve got a lot less capacity than at the beginning.”says Dr David Rock, Co-founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute and Author of Your Brain at Work.
Ever thought about reversing the order? For more effective focus do the jobs that require more effort and concentration first, then round the day off with simple tasks like deleting emails, checking social media pages or scheduling meetings.
Keep Note Of Where and When You Focus
According to research we are focused for an average of only six hours per week.“You want to be really diligent with what you put into those hours,” says Rock. Some people focus best in the morning and others late at night, some people produce their best work outside of an office and others need to sit at a table. Take note of where and when you focus best and do your most challenging tasks at these moments.
Commit To One Task At A Time
Multi-tasking is something most business people do a lot, hence why it becomes the norm for the brain. However, learning to commit your attention to one single task at a time can stop your mind from wandering or getting easily distracted. You can do this by breaking tasks down into smaller or larger chunks of time, for example you can spend 15 minutes on one task and one hour on another.
Write Things Down
When business is booming, there’s no time to keep everything stored in your head, write it down! Thinking about all the tasks that need doing can be overwhelming, often leading to anxiousness. Note down your concerns on paper or write a ‘to do list’numbering tasks in order of priority, this way you may be able to get some sleep at night.
Take A Break
Working without regular breaks can be less effective than working with them. Regardless of how much you need to get done, your brain need to rest…I’m sure ten minutes is not going to hurt. Stopping to have a hot drink, or look out the window for five minutes helps to break up time between intense working and can help you to be more focused when returning to the task at hand.
(Cover photo via weheartit)
