Would you like to stay focussed so you can achieve what you’re after? Staying focussed is something that all successful people have in common. So here are some tips I’ve learned and use to remain focused.
So if focus is so important why don’t many people do it?
In society we have been conditioned to multi task. One example is – listening to the radio while driving and talking on the phone. A common one for internet marketers is – checking emails, talking on skype and watching a training video.
TIP 1 – Dont multi task
Multi tasking is a silent killer, it makes you feel like you’re getting more done but you’re actually not. You’re scattering your brain and it all ends up taking longer when trying to do it all at once.
Do one thing at a time and only focus on that one task until it is completed.
TIP 2 – Use a timer
Go and buy a timer so you can time your tasks. I learned from Eben Pagan, one of my mentors to work for 50 minutes then take a 10 minute break. So that’s what I do, I set the timer for 50 minutes and during that time my only focus is the task that I set.
When the timer goes off I take a 10 minute break, I usually go outside and pat my dog Zoe or I shoot some hoops. Basically anything to get my mind off the task I was doing. After that I get back to the next 50 minutes of focussed time.
The timer is also great to use Parkinsons Law to your advantage. Parkinsons Law is basically what ever time limit you put on a task it will somehow take that long.
For example back at school, you have about 4 weeks to do the assignment. Now most people do pretty much the whole assignment the night before. They manage to get it done because it has to get done by the next day.
So really the task took them 4 weeks but they really only did it in one night. When ever I do a large task I set a time limit for it. I put the timer in front of me and say I am going to finish this task by the time this timer goes off.
I am amazed how much I get done when I do this. I use the Parkinsons Law to my advantage, I highly encourage you try it out.
TIP 3 – Check emails at set times during the day
I dunno about you…. but I use checking my emails as an excuse not to do the task I’m avoiding. Checking emails at set times in the day really helps with this. Tim Ferriss from The Four Hour Workweek recommends checking emails at lunch time and at 4pm. This gives people time to respond and there’s a higher chance they have had time to respond.
TIP 4 – Remove distractions
Keep a list of all the things that distract you when you’re focussing on a task. It might be phone calls, checking emails, messages on skype.
Remove those distractions when you are doing your focussed work. Turn your phone off and let the calls go to voice mail. Close your email client. Sign out of skype.
One of my common distraction was I had people walking into my office and distracting me. To solve that I created a little sign and put it on my door – It says “Please do not disturb! Important work in progress!”
It worked like a charm J
TIP 5 – Write a to do list
Writing a to do list is probably the best thing I have done when it comes to getting results with internet marketing. I work really well with having action steps. Having a list of things to do allows me to focus on each item one at a time and get them done.
I cant believe I used to try and remember everything and just leave all these ideas and things to do floating around in my head – so stupid!
Anyway, sort your list by most important tasks to least important. I recommend doing your most important tasks in the morning when you start your day.
Another great thing to do is organise your to do list the night before. That way as soon as you wake up you just look at your list and you can start working right away.
So now that you’re able to focus what do you focus on? I recommend you take at Getting your focus for internet marketing success.
Try out these tips and let me know how they go for you. They have worked well for me and hopefully they will be just as effective for you. If you have any other tips for remaining focussed, im interesting in hearing, just post a comment to this post.
Ben Brandes
