Simple Remedy for Lack of Focus
For when “just do it” doesn’t cut it.
Okay, I’ve been in a funk.
These past several days at work have been full of agony and guilt as I’ve tried and failed to force myself to focus and get anything done.
Finally I had the bright idea to Google “why can’t I focus on my work”, hoping it would help me solve the problem, but fearing it would end up being just another way to putter around.
After skimming about 10+ articles in search of a solution to my chronic lack of focus at work lately, I found myself overwhelmed with massive lifestyle changes and distracting activities that I’d already tried and that failed to solve the problem.
No matter how good the advice to eat better, get enough sleep, meditate, exercise, care for your mental and emotional health, or stop procrastinating and set a pomodoro timer, I knew that none of those things were what I was needing to just get my projects done.
Fortunately, as I pondered that there must be a better way, I remembered an old trick that’s saved my butt many times in the past but that I’d somehow forgotten about.
First, take some deep breaths.
Actually, this is optional, but I think that we really just don’t breathe enough these days. And oxygen going to the brain is pretty important for focus, I hear.
Second, get a piece of paper or word processor open.
I prefer to type in times like this because I can go much faster, but sometimes you just can’t beat the freedom of pen and paper. I recommend going with whichever just feels more right.
Third, write about whatever is on your mind.
On this particular occasion, I whipped up a whole half page of complaints about how I couldn’t seem to focus and didn’t want to work on this particular work project for whatever reason. Then I finally got it out of my system and naturally switched to brainstorming a lead in, then a rough outline, and then half a draft!
At that point my focus was waning again so I took a quick break and then spewed out another half page of concerns that were chewing at my thoughts. I felt much better then and churned out the remainder of the draft and realized I was quite happy with what I came up with!
Not only that, it only took about two hours total to write both the mind dumps and the draft.
It feels almost silly after I just spent the last three days trying to force myself to work and instead puttering around, squeezing out a paragraph of disjointed trash here or there, and wallowing in a cloud of frustration and fogginess.
But it worked!
I hope you find this helpful too! Good luck!!
