7 Ways to Regain Focus on What Really Matters
We’ve all had days, weeks, or even months when everything we wanted to accomplish just fell into place without even trying. On the other hand, there are moments when we’re overwhelmed by our day-to-day projects, burdens, and responsibilities (unfortunately, these are more common than the productive moments). These difficult circumstances are what push us to our limits and bring us to our knees.
Occasionally, you need to focus your attention on the things that really matter in your life. That’s harder to say than to do. Absolutely!
So how do you find the time and energy to refocus on what really matters when everything feels worthless and meaningless?
Read on to learn seven effective methods for refocusing on what’s important in your life.
“Having a personal productivity strategy that holds you accountable and gives meaning to your priorities is essential if you want to stay focused and give them meaning.”
We’ve all had days, weeks, or even months when everything we wanted to accomplish just fell into place without even trying. On the other hand, there are moments when we’re overwhelmed by our day-to-day projects, burdens, and responsibilities (unfortunately, these are more common than the productive moments). These difficult circumstances are what push us to our limits and bring us to our knees.
Occasionally, you need to focus your attention on the things that really matter in your life. That’s harder to say than to do. Absolutely!
So how do you find the time and energy to refocus on what really matters when everything feels worthless and meaningless?
- Make a list of your top priorities and always keep them in mind.
It is important to constantly remind yourself of what is most important if you want to focus on the right things. Make a list of the things that are necessary for your life so that you can set clear goals. What are you thinking?
“My top priorities for the coming year are: What makes me giddy? If so, how important is it to your job? What about my loved ones? Doing more to connect with others? My blog, my hobby, or my financial need?”
Determine the four or five most important aspects of your life and prioritize them. Make a list of these things and post it in a prominent place in your home or office, such as on the refrigerator or perhaps on the bathroom mirror.
- Determine what is not worth your time and effort.
All the things that slow you down, waste time, and depress you are crossed off here. What are you wasting your time on and what can you do to make better use of your limited resources?
If you want to make the most of your time, you need to be aware of the activities that are taking it away. Some people are not even aware that they spend much of their waking time doing things that are more of a habit, without ever examining (and stopping) that habit.
Eliminate all sources of noise and disturbance.
Consider working in an area that is free of distractions. Ask yourself, ‘What are the three most common distractions (activities, hobbies, and habits) that take away from my time and prevent me from doing my work in a focused way?” Find out how to not let these things distract you and how to better manage your time.
Tips for reducing distractions include:
– Keep your office door closed.
– Turn off your email, instant messaging apps, and cell phone for at least an hour.
– Avoid your favorite websites and limit your screen time.
– If you work in a noisy environment, wear headphones with music or noise-canceling headphones.
- Put an end to multitasking. Immediately.
Multitasking can make it difficult to focus on one thing, resulting in low-quality work. It prevents you from being attentive. If you plan your most important tasks for the day, you can avoid doing many things at once. Do each task one at a time and make sure you do not get distracted by unimportant details. By focusing on the tasks and projects that are most important to you and that are on your schedule, you can improve the quality of your work. It will also make you happier, more satisfied, and more focused.
- Organize yourself and keep track of things.
Having a personal productivity strategy that holds you accountable and gives meaning to your priorities is essential if you want to stay focused and give them meaning. Great if you already have a system that works. Find a method that works for you and stick with it.
- Focus on the positive instead of the negative.
Negative feelings are of no use to anyone but yourself. They divert your attention from the task at hand. People have never gained anything from resentment, hostility, hatred, or jealousy. Take responsibility for your actions. Replace negative thoughts with good ones by forgiving yourself for the things you have done wrong in the past.
- Show a happy face to yourself.
It is important to remember that you have the freedom to do what makes you happy. I know not every job is fun, but if you put your mind to it, you can have a wonderful time doing just about anything. Make the most of your free time by engaging in things you enjoy.
Accept that you can begin to put your own well-being above the expectations of others, as well as what you think you need to do but do not enjoy.
- Meditate
Start with five-minute practices and increase the time as you get better.
You need a place where no one will disturb you. You can do these short meditation sessions at home or at work, any time of day or night. Most importantly, do your focused meditation in a quiet place.
Focus your mind on a specific goal. Focusing your attention on your breath is a great way to begin your meditation practice.
Focus all of your attention on the object you have chosen. You should pay attention to how you feel and what you see and hear. The point is not to figure out what it means, but to experience it fully in that moment. Focus on the feelings that come up when you breathe in or out and pay attention to how your body feels.
Calm your mind and body. Instead of thinking about bad things that happened during the day, worrying about the future, making a grocery list, or doing anything else, gently direct your attention to your chosen goal and the good feeling it gives you. No matter what you are thinking about, the point is to turn off your thoughts.
Don’t worry about the chance that you might fail. Let go of the idea that you’re doing something “bad” if your mind is busy and you’re not fully present with the feelings of your chosen goal. By giving yourself a pat on the back, you can bring yourself back to the present and the feelings you’re having.
Credit: Entrepreneur.com
Michael Teh, 11th July 2022.
Michael Teh is a meditation coach devoted to a personal mission of awakening more people to higher consciousness. He teaches self-realization through meditation, qigong, yoga and philosophy.
Michael Teh Signature Workshop: The Essence of Life Series explores meditation as a powerful tool to realize our true potential. Michael has designed multiple workshops in this series to support his participants’ self-realization journey. Workshop Series 1 is currently running every few months on-ground in Kuala Lumpur, titled “Knowledge of The Self and Fundamentals of Meditation”.
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