Improve Your Life | Success Rates
Improve your life understanding how to get a higher success rate. By not preforming a multitude of tasks, multi-tasking creates stagnation!
By Natalie Mantle - Meditation For Freedom
You may pride yourself on your ability to multi-task – but multi-tasking is really a way of saying that you’re not able to focus on one thing at a time. In a work environment this tendency can keep you from being as productive as you’d like to or need to be.
Multi-tasking can actually cause your stress levels to increase as well. You can schedule time for true rest and relaxation which will improve your focus. There are several things you can do to reduce your multi-tasking tendencies, increase productivity, and feel less rushed and stressed. We we look at them below
Planning Out Your Day
Get Organized
First, plan out your day. Many people find that it’s best to do this the day or night before so that they can begin each day with a plan in place. Your schedule should include blocks of time in which you’ll be focused on one task only.
For example: If you need to use social media to interact with clients or customers you will block off a specific amount of time to do that each day instead of going back and forth with it all day long. Schedule more than one block of time if need be, depending on your social media business requirements.
However one shouldn’t interrupt another task in order to get on a social media site. As social media can cause allot of distraction and procrastination.
Emails
Responding to emails and phone calls is another task that can end up taking up time throughout the day and distracting you from other work. Choose two blocks of time to do this each day, once in the beginning of the day and once at the end.
Breaking Up Larger Projects
Segmentation
Break larger projects into smaller tasks that you can complete. This will help you create a “to do” list that is manageable and allows you to focus on each smaller task within the larger project. You’ll find that you won’t feel as overwhelmed.
Being overwhelmed can often lead to problems with focus. Leading to more procrastination.
Time Outs
It’s also important to plan breaks throughout your day. If you know that you’re going to have a fifteen minute break in an hour, it’s easier to focus on a specific task instead of becoming distracted by other things you’d like to be doing.
Become Aware of Your Tendencies
Lose Focus
Becoming aware of your multi-tasking tendencies is critical as well. You may notice that there are certain times of the day when you lose focus or certain tasks that cause you to wander into other areas instead of remaining focused.
See The Pattern Be Strategic
When you know which times of day are a struggle, you can work on a plan specifically tailored to help you stay productive during those periods. These might be the best times to schedule your daily breaks.
Multitasking Without a Plan
Multi-tasking takes away your focus and can keep you from working efficiently and effectively. But when you develop a plan and pay attention to your needs, you can reduce your multi-tasking tendencies and improve your success.
Simple Tricks To Improve Focus
Stay Focused
If you’re suffering from a bad habit of being unfocused, all you may need are a few tweaks to your lifestyle. To regain focus, try the following little things that could mean a lot to your focusing ability:
• Trade Caffeine for Exercise – While caffeine may become addictive and you may have to have it to remain alert, a good cardio workout can keep you going and help you focus. Exercise releases endorphins, a natural stimulant that can help to sharpen your focus.
• Keep Lists – If you’re finding it difficult to think of things you want to address in a meeting or discuss with your family, keep a notepad of
written ‘hints’ that you can refer to periodically. It could be as simple as a key word reminder or a complete idea that you’ve thought of.
• Prioritize – If you find yourself procrastinating about certain tasks, prioritize them. Schedule a certain amount of time to complete part or all of a task and don’t take a break until you’re finished.
• Getting Plenty of Sleep – Nothing can zap your focus worse than sitting In A bar during rush hour. Drinking too much alcohol or a stressful activity before bed can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep and playing havoc with your focus abilities the next day.
• Drink Water – Water is cleansing and life-giving. It can also decrease your focus if you become even slightly dehydrated. The brain can detect any change that occurs in your physiological make up and begins to operate at a lower level until you correct the situation.
Empower Yourself
You can empower yourself by doing what you must to help yourself focus and complete tasks on time. Be sure to reward yourself when you accomplish a task that you usually have trouble focusing on.
Bringing joy into your life by rewarding yourself can help relax your mind. Making it possible to focus on the next task at hand.