Gain Focus and Become Productive With These Tips

If you want to be more productive or you have big goals for your life, it's important to learn how to focus. Learning these skills will catapult you to success. Here are six ways to gain focus and become more productive. 

1. Ditch Distractions

This may be the most difficult step to take, but if you want to be more productive, it's necessary. Distractions are anything that steal your focus from the task at hand. If you're working or studying and your phone notifies you of a new text message, you probably drop what you're doing to check it. If you get a text every ten minutes, you're going to be busier reading and replying than you are with your work. Turn off sound notifications and flip your phone over so you can't see any alerts either. If you need to, hide your phone under a stack of papers. This will help you to stop reaching for it. If you work from home, you will struggle with more distractions. Because you're your own boss, you will need to practice self-discipline. When you feel the urge to turn on the television and see what's on, you must resist. You might find you want to clean the kitchen, do laundry, and even scrub the toilet. Things you might not normally be enthusiastic about. They have now become convenient distractions that rip your focus from your work. Set aside scheduled times for breaks and cleaning so they don't get in the way of your focus. The less distractions you have means the more focus you'll have. This will lead to you being more productive. 

2. Make To-Do Lists

To-do lists are a good way to stay focused on what you want to accomplish each day. Without a to-do list, you might find yourself being unproductive. You will fall back on activities you're used to such as watching TV or playing games on your phone. With a to-do list, you you will know exactly what you want to accomplish. Create a habit of making your to-do list before you go to sleep. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many items. Only add a couple big items to each day's to-do list. If you try to do many big things in one day, you'll wear yourself out. 

3. Organize

If you want to get more done, you want to spend less time cleaning and looking for things you need. Whether you work from home or in an office, make sure your workspace is always organized. Before you quit work for the day, spend a few minutes putting things back where they belong. If you already know what you'll be working on the next day, put what you'll need out so they are ready in the morning. You will feel better starting work with a clean, organized space and not a messy one that will stress you out. If you work from home, make sure you have a dedicated workspace. Don't allow your space to be used as a dumping place for other items. 

4. Drink Water

Hydration is an important part of being able to focus. Without a well-hydrated brain, you may find yourself unable to concentrate on tasks. You may be impatient and irritable. If you find yourself drinking more caffeinated drinks than water, it might be time to start drinking more water. Always have water with you at your desk to sip on. It's also important to start your day with a nutritious breakfast that will feed not only your body, but your brain as well. 

5. Reward Yourself A Little

If you decide that rewarding yourself might be beneficial, make sure you don't reward yourself with too much too often. If you're a writer and you're on a deadline to write a 1500 word article, reward yourself with something every 500 words written. If you love coffee, maybe treat yourself to a coffee. If you like jellybeans, enjoy a few. Looking forward to a reward, whether a snack or checking texts, can help you get the job done more quickly.

6. Create A Routine

A routine can be helpful in your attempt to get more done. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of things you need to do each day, a routine might be your answer. If you want to workout or run more often, you must fit it into your schedule. Decide that you're going to workout each morning as soon as you wakeup. If you do it at the same time every day, as you would with meals, it becomes something you do and don't have to fight to fit in. Things you want to do on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis need a time and place. You can learn all about how to create a routine and see a sample routine in the post Benefits from Building a Daily Routine. 

In order to become focused and productive, you must change some of your habits. You must decide that what you want is worth the time and energy you put into it.