Why is it that so many people have such a difficult time focusing on their tasks at hand? So many people really battle when it comes to simply getting themselves motivated or started on what it is that they need to do for the day, luckily there are definite steps which you can follow so as to overcome this problem.
Many of the ways which I will suggest to you so as to assist you to be able to do this might seem very simple, but that is the beauty of it all, once you are a Wealth Creator you will have gained the mindset which will enable you to simplify and speed up a lot of the tasks which would normally eat away at your valuable time throughout the day and which prevent you from achieving your full potential and ability to be the best that you can be.
Please do not be mistaken, just because these steps seem so simple, don’t allow yourself to be misled as to the power and effectiveness which they contain, sometimes the smaller and simpler things in life are those which are able to have the most effect on our productivity and overall performance.
Here are the 7 secrets to be able to stay on task:
-
Be sure to have a visible list of your daily goals – The moment that you take the time to make a visible list of your goals for the day, is the moment you are beginning to structure your focus and concentration. Be sure to list your goals in order of importance and address those which you know can have the most impact first. Do not let trivial time wasters creep onto this list but rather have a short list of Power Goals than a list of trivial nonsense. Begin at the top and do not continue until you have met the first goal which you have set yourself, don’t worry if you do not get everything done in the day, but rather spend your time and effort focused on a goal which counts than the trivial time eaters.
-
Avoid email distractions – Far too many people feel obligated to check their email every five minutes and this can become a really time consuming habit. As soon as you do this you are opening yourself up to the trap of reading all the jokes and other trivial emails which circulate and this can seriously eat away at your productivity. Rather make a scheduled routine as to when you check your mail, perhaps once or twice a day and allow those who might be sending you important information to understand that this is how you work and if it is really important they should contact you to let you know that it is something for your immediate attention.
-
Avoid unnecessary disturbances such as noise – Now many people are in open plan offices and feel that this might be difficult to do, but there is a solution, invest in ear plugs or noise blocking headphones, this way you will have less distraction due to the conversations and noise going on around you.
-
Keep a clear workspace – Try to keep the clutter on your desk or in your workspace to the minimum. By effectively doing this you will reduce the chances of allowing other work which ‘needs your attention’ from bothering you. It is a proven fact that if you keep only the work which is relevant to the task at hand around you, you will be far more productive and less likely to worry about other tasks which you might still have to handle, take it one step at a time and concentrate on the task at hand and you will get far more done and in a shorter time.
-
Work to a schedule – Try to teach yourself and those around you that you need to stick to a schedule so as to be as productive as possible. Make it clear to those around you that you have certain times which you need to be left alone to get the job done and that they can consult with you if they have to, but not in those times. So if you find you are able to concentrate effectively in the morning hours, make it clear to them that you will only be available for consultation later in the day, try to stick to these schedules and you will be amazed at the results and difference which it makes.
-
Avoid social networks while concentrating on a task – We are all aware of how amazing it is to be able to keep up with everybody on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or MXIT, but these social networks can also lead to a very negative drop in productivity. Rather be sure to focus on the task at hand first which can benefit you, before allowing yourself time for social networking. There is nothing wrong with these types of social networks, but if you are constantly monitoring responses on them, then there is no way that you will be able to achieve your goals or focus on the task at hand.
-
Work in comfort – Are you aware of the fact that your productivity and your comfort in your working environment are actually very strongly linked. The comfier you are while working has been proven to have a significant influence on your productivity. Now this need not mean ordering new office furniture, rather find ways to make yourself as comfortable as possible such as buying a chair cushion.
Now as I said, these might all seem like really simple changes to make so as to stay on task, but believe me when I say that you will be amazed at the results you will see by simply following these secrets and opening your pathway to productivity up a bit wider so that you too can become the best that you can be.
The Kaizen Principle teaches us that it is not the size of the change or improvement which counts but rather that we make these improvements on a constant basis which counts, so do yourself a favor and strive for constant and never ending improvement and very soon you will achieve your goals or what I prefer to call Kaizen Wealth.