‘Focus, otherwise your life will become a blur’
How often have you been driving and on arrival not been able to recall a specific chunk of your journey? What about when you have got to the end of a day and it’s felt like you done all sorts and nothing! You have lacked focus.
Having focus plays a large part in your motivations, direction and your sense of self worth. Focus is the skill of paying attention, being in the moment. To be focused is to be present.
5 ways to build focus
- 1. Identify what matters to you. Back in ‘July 22 I blogged about finding purpose using Ikigai. It is a way to focus yourself on not just knowing what matters to you, but also on how much of what you want is actually happening right now. Sometimes we have lost touch with ourselves and also with the value of what of what we are doing. Ikigai can help you identify for the first time or reconnect if you have gone astray.
- 2. Expect and be ready for difficulties and curved balls. In August ’22 my blogged touched on how difficulties can throw you off track. Here I shared some examples of client situations that detrimentally shifted their confidence levels. Being ready and understanding how you respond to challenges gives you the ‘oh no you don’t’ nudge you need, to change your behaviour to where it needs to be and get you back on track. I use several tools to build this awareness.
- 3. Listen actively. The blog in April ’22 draws on a skill that requires constant attention. Listening. Focused listening is an internal and external activity. Listening internally is to listen to yourself, where you notice feelings, moods and thoughts. Where you assess these, and address them appropriately and with timeliness. Listening externally is giving focus to what others are saying, words, body language, tone. Listening with curiosity to check understanding and for clarity. Both these skills will help you to make adjustments and keep moving forward for positive results.
- 4. Mix it up. Nov’20’s blog was very specifically on the over use of video calls and how draining this is for the brain. Staying focused is really challenging when you ask your brain to pay attention for long periods of time. Brains need breaks! They can be rest periods, a move to a new environment, a different subject to discuss, a new idea to try out, a shift in the time of day for doing something or even a new set of people to spend time with. This is not about random acts, this is about staying fresh and getting unstuck. Changing the lens of your focus whilst not losing sight of your goals can create triggers for new ideas, excitement and momentum.
- 5. Reflect on the journey so far. Even further back a blog in April ’20 explored how managers and leaders can lift a teams morale. Looking back at the tips included, they are just as relevant for self reflection. Appreciation of what has been achieved giving you a boost for what is still to come.
