HOW TO STAY FOCUSED

Recently, I had an idea and I wanted to search on YouTube to know more.

As soon as I got to YouTube, something else caught my attention.

I began watching that particular video, and before I knew it, I watched another video, and then another.

After a while, I asked myself, "why did I come on YouTube again?"

For a while, I couldn't remember and had to move on to other things.

Why am I sharing this?

In a world where everything is competing for your attention, it's very hard to feel centered, focused, and productive.

One of the most expensive things in life is your attention - yes, your FOCUS!

If you don't learn to guard your attention, you will realise you will be extremely busy with nothing to show for your time.

So, how do you ensure you stay focused? Here are some tips:

1. Guard your attention: pay attention to the things that distract you and keep them away when you need work done. Get to what you need to be done and stick with it till you complete it or get the result you are after per time.

2. Take a break from technology: Have you noticed when you try to work, that's when Facebook, SMS, and Instagram notifications infiltrate your space? Learn to switch off your phone at times. Stop doing everything on your phone.

3. Make a SMART list. Create a link of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound activities you want to get achieved day by day and tick them off as they get done.

4. If you sway, don't stay! Now, there are times you would swap by mistake, learn not to stay, and give up refocussing your attention. When you catch yourself distracted, don't indulge, don't lose the battle, refocus immediately!

5. Reward yourself with a break: If you get to tick off things on your smart list, take a time-bound break. For instance, you could reward yourself 15mins on social media. Set an alarm to make sure you get back to work as soon as the alarm goes off.

I believe in you.



- Dr. Samuel Ekundayo | The Purpose Preacher