(From
Lifehack.org)
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.
