To be a great team player and stay 100% involved in a project, you need to be able to focus on tasks and not get distracted in the process. I have my favourite apps and tools to help me stay focused and be more productive. But today, I want to keep them private, but other ways to stay focused.

Giving up multitasking

Do you know how to multitask? I’m sure you do. After all, part of having to perform two tasks at once or switch instantly from one task to another. Moreover, this is a skill that many clients appreciate.

But some experts argue that multitasking is a myth. Having a couple of seconds to work on a project, listen to music, reply to a colleague, check a call invitation on the calendar and glance at three monitors is not multitasking. It’s a fruitless attempt to stay busy and cross off tasks on a to-do list.

According to research, only 2.5% of people can multitask effectively. Ironically, they need multitasking the least.

When we switch endlessly from one task to another, we overload the brain with unnecessary activity.

According to another study by the American Psychological Association, even the transient inhibition of brain activity when switching between tasks can cost up to 40% of an employee’s time.

The upshot is that you can be much more efficient and productive by focusing on a single task. By reducing the load on the brain, you can achieve success and set yourself up for success.

Standing up

If you can’t find a solution to a task, try working on it standing up. According to one BMJ study, standing up helps increase productivity and reduce mental fatigue.

Bottom line: when you need to concentrate, interrupt your work schedule with regular standing intervals, for example, during a Zoom call. Going from extreme to extreme and working only standing or sitting is optional.

Planning

To keep your mind on your work, you can create a pie chart for the year and divide it into time slots, indicating where you are at the moment and where you want to go.

Such a chart helps you find a balance between work and leisure.

Think about what you want to achieve. You may want to develop a new skill or do more sports. To make a chart for the year, you need first to analyse the previous year. Then, according to your goals, make a chart for the year, keeping a balance between work, private life and leisure. This helps to keep you focused and moving towards your goal.

Alternatively, you can do things for work projects using the Chronodex system. Visualise the day for yourself in the form of a traditional 12-hour clock.

Conclusion: The main thing is to plan, not go with the flow. That way, all the essential items will be in your focus.

A decisive step

How do you imagine a great start to your day? Hardly like a swim in icy water or a dousing and rubbing in snow. Nevertheless, such drastic habits help you focus, calm down, and quickly get into a work rhythm, especially when stressed.

Admit it; it takes a lot of determination to get into an icy pool and then the stamina and willpower to swim a few metres in it. But after such a sobering “morning routine”, there is an incredible calm and focus on work.

Conclusion: You can swim in a pool of icy water. Not necessarily an extreme and stressful one for the body. You can always find your way to find your focus.

To-do list

This is the easiest and most effective way to identify all tasks and their ordering. Lists give you a sense of control, help you work out a plan of action and help you stay focused.

Try to make a list for the week of everything that needs to be done. Then, in order of priority, delegate what you can. Leave for yourself only the essential, high-level tasks that matter most to the project or your business.

Bottom line: effective planning is necessary and can be learned. Especially as there are a vast number of tools available to do this, my favourite planner is todoist.

Background music

Does background music help you at work? I do. But the music has to be appropriate. It should not be distracting. Try to choose long tracks to listen to. They’ll help you get more immersed in your work, unlike ways that change every three minutes and take you out of the flow.

Conclusion: experiment and settle on what works for you. It could be Hans Zimmer; maybe it could be club music.

What helps you stay focused? Share your experiences.

So, before you close the publication page, please subscribe to my updates or visit the other pages I run:

Twitter | Instagram