Staying on time and on track when the unexpected intrudes on your life is a very difficult challenge.
Whether it’s a small distraction or a major upheaval, if you’re often off course, use these flexible focus tips to stay balanced and get essential tasks done, no matter what.
3 flexible focus tips
1. Use the flexible approach to stay away from distractions.
How satisfied are you at the end of most days? Do you realize, too late, that you have spent blocks of time on unproductive distractions or worries? Perhaps you have tried to free yourself from an overly rigid approach by slipping into a mist!
Resist any temptation to be hard on yourself. Instead, encourage yourself to replace a lack of focus with a compassionate overview.
The following exercise will help you:
- For a week, set aside at least 15 minutes a day to think about the goals that really engage you.
- Visualize yourself progressing along the path to reach these goals.
- Select an inspirational touchstone to activate this motivation: it can be an image you imagine, a poem, or even a piece of music.
- When you’re tempted to give in to distractions, use your touchstone to stay on track.
In this way, you allow your heart to connect with your goals to keep you focused and productive. This is a natural AND flexible way to stay focused. Keeping your eyes on the prize, you naturally move towards it.
2. Use the flexible approach to keep projects on time
Focusing too much on the details has derailed many businesses by delaying things and forcing them to miss deadlines. Flexible Focus helps you stay in sync with your schedule.
- Start with the broad approach by assigning a due date and writing it on your calendar. This is your uncompromising deadline.
- Working backwards, designate a specific time to complete each action step and write these steps on your work calendar. You could think of these as flexible terms. Call them smooth does not mean that they are optional. In fact, they break down your hard deadline into smaller steps that help you stay on track.
If you find it hard to unplug when you need to move on, set a timer. Then take a break so you can clear your head. While you’re away from your desk, imagine getting started on your next step. And be sure to schedule extra time at the end of the project to review, adjust, and celebrate your efforts.
3. Use the flexible approach to get through difficult transitions.
Have you ever suffered a loss and felt out of sync with everyone around you? Perhaps your world has come to a screeching halt while others are speeding ahead. When faced with challenging challenges like this, Flexible Focus can really help.
Your first task is to simplify your life, reducing it to the essentials. Create a breather in your schedule. Then take a special time each day to reflect and take care of yourself. Keeping a journal can uncover valuable information, helping you evolve in the right way. These restoration periods will help you build resilience.
After each personal session, redirect this inner focus. Go back to your ‘everyday life’ and take a calm and collected overview of your daily tasks. When feelings surface, just take note. You can return to a quiet space and attend to them after completing the tasks you identified.
By setting aside time to meet your needs and responsibilities, each with their necessary focus, you widen your circle of safety and competence.
You flow with the changes of life.