5 ways to stay focused in a world full of distractions

Many things are just waiting to distract you from the main goal. In this article, Harvey Deutschendorf talks about 5 ways to use determination and stay focused to achieve your goals.

In each success story, the longest chapter is about determination.

Success requires a lot from us, and willpower and determination always come at the top of the list. Many people think that decisiveness is an inborn quality, and that successful people are just lucky who are fortunate enough to be born with him in excess. But if you ask any successful person, he will tell you that this is not so; he just always found a way to make the most of what he had.

Here are 5 ways to use determination and maintain concentration:

1. Plan your day the night before

Before you go to bed, decide what you will do tomorrow, what you wear, what you eat for breakfast, what road you will go to work. It's easier to pack a healthy lunch the night before than to think what you want to eat while standing in front of a hot dog stall in front of your office.

The same goes for spending money. Define a budget and follow it.

Make a decision the night before that you won’t check your emails or browse sites before you complete more important tasks. Follow the schedule, and at the end of the day close your eyes for a few minutes and feel how much you like to feel responsible for your day.

When day planning gets in the habit, it will become easier for you to avoid unnecessary and waste of time and energy on small, unimportant matters.

2. Do the most difficult things first

Difficult tasks will not become easier because we will be very worried about them or put off. We will only spend energy, although it would be wiser to just show patience and complete these complex tasks. Take on the hard work right away while you're still awake and you have energy.

Research has shown that our mind works best in the morning, and it is at this time that we must take up the hard work. After she no longer stands in the way, we can relax and take care of the routine work, which does not require so much mental stress, ability and energy. (We recommend reading a useful article on how to do everything on time .)

3. Eliminate distractions

We need to be prepared for real urgent matters when they appear. Most situations that distract us are not urgent and do not require an immediate response. Many of these situations will resolve themselves after a while.

By reacting to them immediately, you will only get a greater number of similar situations. By not answering them, you show that you are a strong-willed, focused person who is very busy; and soon you will be less concerned about trivial issues.

4. Restore and save your energy

Take a short break while working on something if you feel your energy is decreasing. Brisk walking, running, stretching, or anything else that helps you take a break from work and restore strength. You will return to work with renewed vigor and concentration.

Instead of eating a lot at lunch, have a healthy meal, such as fresh fruits or vegetables throughout the day. Drink plenty of water and exercise regularly. Organize it all so that you do not have to think about it, and that it becomes part of your daily routine.

5. Constantly remind yourself of the main goals

Make a visualization board, a short motivational video, or something else that will constantly remind you what you are working for. The word “why” behind the goal is key and will serve as a motivator.

Suppose the reason you want to earn $ 10 million is to open a school in a third world country. Create a clear vision of how the school will look so that you can present this image regularly. Determine the time to visualize this goal and spend 5 minutes daily. The more details, the better. It's good to create an emotional engagement in visualization with music, video, or something that makes you feel emotional. Emotional attachment is very important, it will motivate you to move towards the goal.

PS We recommend one more article on the topic -Five misconceptions about productivity that we inspire ourselves.

Translation by Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of MBA Consult