Focus Your Mind... With A Stopwatch
Do you find it quite difficult focussing on doing simple tasks?
If you've got a few things you should be getting on with, do you
seem to jump between them - never really getting any finished?
This is a very common problem, especially with tasks that you
don't really want to do (like housework, tax forms or paying
bills). You start one thing then, as soon as you hit a problem,
you move onto something else. Suddenly, it's the end of the day
- and you've not completed anything.
Here is a simple way to dramatically increase your effectiveness.
Take a task that you have been meaning to get done. Decide how
long it will take you. Now, get a stopwatch and set it to that
time. It may be 5 minutes, 15 minutes, an hour. Just set the
stopwatch and get on with it.
If you try this out, you will find that your mind is far more
focussed than normal, and far less open to distractions. As you
see the numbers counting down, you'll constantly be aware of
what you need to do. As a result, your chances of getting the
task done in the time you have set increase dramatically.
This works for a number of reasons:
1. Because you have a limit, your brain places extra importance
on the task. It becomes urgent for you - even though the task
itself may not need to be completed for weeks. Other tasks can
be put off until after the time limit is up. 2. It releases your
competitive side. Like playing a video game, you'll get a
feeling of satisfaction when you complete this challenge. 3.You
will become better at judging how long things really take to get
done. At first, you may assign to much or too little time for
the tasks. But, very quickly, you will become an expert at
working out how long tasks will really take.
You can use the same technique for virtually any task that you
need to designate a period of time to. Writing e-mails, picking
up your groceries... even walking the dog.
By purposefully limiting the amount of time you are able to do
things, you will find yourself with fewer tasks left at the end
of the day - and more time to do the things you enjoy.