How To Focus And Get Things Done

How To Focus And Get Things Done

Here are some tips to help all of us.

1. Plan In Advance.  There is NO substitute for planning.  If you sit down and work logically through a project and create a list of all the tasks you need to get done, it just makes life so much easier.  All you need to do is consult the list and take the next task.

2. Batch your Tasks. Do similar tasks at the same time without interruptions and you will halve the time you spend doing them.

3. Turn off Automatic Email Downloads. Research has shown that “email notifications” break our concentration even if we don't actually go and check what they are.  In fact you probably take 60 seconds or so to refocus and continue with what you were doing.  The easy thing to do is simply to decide when you want to look at your email and download “chunks” of email all at one time and then spend some time reading and replying to them all there and then.

4. Use Lists.  A to-do list is a great way to focus your mind.  You can scan it and decide which tasks have priority and get those done first.  You don't have to keep reminding yourself to do something – just write it down and know it won't get forgotten.  To-do lists clear mental clutter and allow us to be much more focused.  Your list shouldn't just have the tasks that you are hoping to get done today – it should have everything you need to do – even long term projects.  The general rule of thumb is that if it is on the list – it will get done. Once you get used to working this way, you will NEVER go back.