Here a short list of simple ideas to keep you focused
1. Know what’s important for you – write it down. If you try to memorize everything you will most likely end up with information overload. If you use a to-do list (daily, weekly and for your general long term goals) that will give you a good option to take control of your tasks, projects and keep yourself organized
2. Prioritize your to-do lists – this will help you to focus on what is really important.
3. Learn to say no – you get overloaded with too much work when you always say yes. So learn to say No to items with are not on your list or which are low on your list. This frees up time for the important items.
4. Take time before you act – Before you commit to a new task etc. think before you say Yes! This will ensure that your objectives and you to-do lists are aligned.
5. Evaluate regularly how you spend your time – Is the task on the to-do list still important to you or is it a habit that should be changed? Do the current activities get you to where you want to be?
6. Stop doing other people’s work – To do this might be considered heroic in some places but the challenge is it doesn’t get you to where you want to go. Focus on your own project and goals and learn to delegate effectively. Think about teaching others to do their own work
7. Monitor how well you do with your goals – evaluate your goals and see how much progress you make. This will help you to set more realistic goals going forward
8. Avoid busy time – The key is not to be busy but to be productive. Just because you are busy and getting things done doesn’t mean you actually accomplish something significant. Maybe you just spend time on tasks that don’t even need to be done.
9. Avoid doing too much – It’s always good to shoot for a little more but it can be overdone. The risk is that you spread your energy and time too thin over too many tasks and projects. In that case you can’t make any meaningful progress. Focus on less tasks but get these done.
10. Check email only at certain times during the day – that will ensure you are not getting distracted. You are in control and that reduces the stress.
11. Sort email in Folders – when email comes in put it in different folders (e.g. Important/Urgent, Important/Not Urgent). This will put you in control and so increase your focus and reduces your stress.
12. Balance your activities – leave time to recharge your batteries. You get even better at your professional life when your private life exists and is enjoyable.
13. Listen before you talk – Usually we first try to be understood and therefore most people don’t listen with the intent to listen but to reply. If you do that you potentially waste a lot of time and focus by not hearing what somebody is trying to tell you. So Listen! That way you learn what is important to your project/others and can focus on the important tasks.
14. Stop worrying too much about others – honestly most people think most of the time about themselves and not about you. Focus instead on achieving your goals.
15. ASK – for what you want or need. If you are clear and specific you will see this can save a lot of time.
