Writing to-do lists and keeping a
schedule may keep you organized, but does it really help you get more
done? I believe that organization is important, but what you really
need is focus. Being able to sit down and concentrate intensely on your
work for a few hours. Even a half hour of focused effort can get more
done than an entire day of distraction and multitasking.
Here’s some tips to get into a state of deep concentration where work flows easily:
1) Cut Off the Noise
It may be obvious that distractions aren’t helping your focus, but do
you actually cut them out? I’ll admit, it can be tempting to put the
e-mail alerts on, turn on the IM and answer every request sent your
way. But in the end it is only preventing you from concentrating.
Getting into a state of concentration can take at least fifteen
minutes. If you are getting distracted every five, you can’t possibly
focus entirely on your work. Answer your e-mails at scheduled times.
Request that people don’t interrupt you when working on a big project.
If you are required to answer phones and drop-in’s immediately,
schedule work when the office is less busy.
2) Structure Your Environment
The place you work can have an impact on your ability to focus. Try to
locate yourself so you are facing potential distractions such as doors,
phones or windows. This way you can take a glance to assess sounds that
would otherwise break your focus.
3) Clarify Objectives
Know what your goal is clearly before you start. If you aren’t sure
what the end result is, the confusion will make it impossible to focus.
Before I write any articles, I define the main focus of the article and
get a brief mental picture of the structure. Unclear objectives often
result in having to redo sections of work.
4) Divide Blobs
Big blobs of tasks that have no clear start or end point destroy focus.
If you have a large project that needs work, clearly identify a path
that you will use to get started working on it. If the sequence of
actions isn’t obvious, it will be difficult to concentrate. Taking a
few minutes to plan not only your end result, but the order you will
complete any steps, can save hours in wasted thinking.
5) Know the Rules
Get clear on what the guidelines are for the task ahead. What level of
quality do you need? What standards do you need to follow? What
constraints are there? If you are writing a program, get clear on how
much commenting you need, what functions you want to use and the
flexibility required. If you are writing an article, decide on the
length and style.
If the rules aren’t clear from the outset, you will slip out of concentration as you ponder them later.
6) Set a Deadline
Deadlines have both advantages and disadvantages when trying to force
concentration. A deadline can make it easier to forget the
non-essential and speed up your working time. If you give yourself only
an hour to design a logo, you will keep it simple and avoid fiddling
with extravagant designs.
Time limits have disadvantages when they cause you to worry about the
time you have left instead of the task itself. I recommend using a
deadline when:
Time is limited. If you only have a day to complete work that could
easily take weeks, chunking it into specific deadlines will strip away
everything that isn’t crucial.
It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. If your task could
easily expand to have new features or ideas, use a deadline to keep it
under control.
To avoid procrastination. A tight deadline can save you if you are worried about procrastinating.
7) Break Down Roadblocks
Roadblocks occur whenever you hit a tricky problem in your work. This
can happen when you run out of ideas or your focus wavers. Break down
roadblocks by brainstorming or planning on a piece of paper. Writing
out your thought processes can keep you focused even if you might
become frustrated.
8 ) Isolate Yourself
Become a hermit and stay away from other people if you want to get work
done. Unless your work is based on other people they will only break
your focus. Create a private space and refuse to talk to anyone until
your work is finished. Put a sign on your door to steer away drop-ins
and don’t answer your phone.
9) Healthy Body, Sharper Mind
What you put into your body affects the way you concentrate. Nobody
would expect peak performance if they showed up drunk to work. But if
you allow yourself to get chronic sleep deprivation, overuse stimulants
like caffeine or eat dense, fatty foods your concentration will suffer.
Try to cut out one of your unhealthy habits for just thirty days to see
if there is a difference in your energy levels. I’ve found even small
steps can create dramatic changes in my ability to focus.
10) Be Patient
Before I write an article, I often sit at my desk for a fifteen or
twenty minutes before I put finger on the keyboard. During this time I
feel a strong urge to leave or do something else. But I know that if I
am patient, I’ll stumble upon an idea to write about and enter a state
of flow. Without a little patience, you can’t take advantage of flow
when it rushed through you.
If you need strong concentration I recommend periods of 90-120 minutes.
Any less than that and you will waste too much time getting started
before the flow can continue. More than this is possible to sustain
focus, but you will probably benefit from a quick break.
