“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.”
David Allen
Today I wanted to talk about how to see your goal through from the beginning to the finish line through focus. I want you to know where you’re going and how to get there. First, you have to know where your starting point is by knowing what your goal is and what you want the outcome to be-or the finish line.
Think about running a 5k. Before the race you can study the course, you can see the starting point, you can evaluate the route and the see the finish line. You know exactly where you’re going and the finish line doesn’t keep moving.
Let’s look at:
6 Ways to Structure Your Environment for Focus
Create quiet time to work
- Make sure you have a space that’s just your space to work-preferably with a door you can close
- Explain to your family what a closed door means
- Post your schedule on the door if you need to
- Get up earlier than your family and get a jump start on your project
- Leave the house to work if your home has too many distractions
- Library
- Coffee shop
- Shared work space
Allow yourself enough time
- Enough time to work by carving out a chunk of time to work with focus and without disctractions
- Give yourself a reasonable timeline for due dates to complete projects and include wiggle room for the unexpected
- Evaluate where you’re wasting time
- Pay attention to where you are getting sucked into things that break your focus-checking phone, checking social media
- Resist the urge to waste time while working in a focused manner-kick in your control
Set a timer
- Work distraction-free for 96 minutes: 20% of an 8-hour workday
Organize your office
- Make sure your desk is clear so you can focus on your work and get right to work with purpose
- Clearly label files & filing systems
- Keep supplies you need at your fingertips-no digging and searching
- Use a reliable calendar system
- Get a grasp on how to prioritize your work
Fuel yourself
- Have access to healthy meals, snacks and water to stay hydrated. Avoid only having coffee
Leave Self-Doubt at the Door
- This is the work you love
- This is what you’re good at
- This is your gift, only you can deliver it the way you do
Wrap Up: Just Do It
- At a certain point we have to stop talking and thinking about our goals and just do it
- No one is going to do it for you
“Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic.”
Robin Sharma
