Stay Focused - Getting The Things You Want To Do Done!

Many people have trouble staying focused on what they are doing. I got this email recently, take a look, does this sound familiar to you? "I know what I have to do but never do it. I get side tracked, then I lose track of time and next thing I know the day is gone and I've done nothing. It sounds like I'm a bad and lazy person, but I'm not. I'm full of plans and dreams, but lose track of them."

Staying focused means that you have decided what you want to do and actually do it. Of course, there are many reasons why our attention may stray from one thing to another. The good news is that there are ways to deal with it. Here are 8-tips to help you get focused. Try some of them out and see what works for you.

1. Instead of letting your day just happen, decide on 1-2 things you MUST get done that day.

2. As you begin a task, say what you are planning on doing aloud. Even though it may seem silly to say to an empty room "Now, I am going to pay bills" or "Now, I am going to clean up the dinner dishes.", stating your plan aloud forces you to consciously decide what you are going to do and reinforces your plan in your mind.

3. Most of us can easily recognize many of the things that distract us. What are your triggers? Can you shut your email? Turn off your cell phone? Move the papers on your desk out of your line of sight? Shut your office door or turn your back on the window? Ask your kids or partner to give you time alone?

4. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes. When the timer goes off check in with yourself -- are you doing what you planned to be doing?

5. Keep a pad of paper and pen nearby. When you think of something that you want to shift your attention to write it down and go back to what you were doing. Now you can feel confident that you won't forget that other task.

6. Many people feel the need to move between tasks. Pick 2-3 things that you are "allowed" to divert your attention to. If you find your focus drifting decide which of these other tasks you will do instead.

7. Make yourself accountable. Tell someone what you are going to be accomplishing that day. Maybe they can be accountable to you too? What do they plan on working on while you are working on your task?

8. Work with someone. Having someone with you often makes staying focused easier. Either they can work with you on your task or they can work on their own task while you work on yours.

What are you going to focus on today?n