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I’ve written a lot on this blog. I guess that’s a good thing, since it’s in line with what I set out to do. And recently, I decided I was going to devote more time and energy to maintaining this blog, including learning about what I like to talk about, writing about it, and promoting it so people will actually see it.
These are noble endeavors and I think (hope) I will be successful in accomplishing them, ultimately. Of course, it may take many more weeks, months, or years than I plan right now (it already has taken a lot longer than the original plan), but I am okay with that.
I want to talk about focus, which ties in with productivity, balance, and passion. I think focus is one of the major tenants of productivity and becoming superman, but it maintains its mystery and elusiveness. People don’t write about how to definitively find focus – at least not in the same ways and volumes that they write about how to get organized, plan your goals, and meditate. It could be written off as there being no one way to get focused that works for everybody. That’s a start. But there’s another issue at hand: they don’t know.
I don’t want you to have any false hopes: I don’t know either. But I have some speculations and thoughts about achieving focus which has led me to one conclusion:
If you’re trying to find focus, stop. Completely. Don’t give up hope, but give up your method.
I want you to think of the last time you were taken away with something – a flight of fancy, a really engaging movie, or work on a project that mattered dearly to you.
For me, it was an attempt at programming a shopping assistant service that would simplify my life, and hopefully the lives of others. I was in love with the idea of saving myself (and others) time and money. I spent at least eight hours a day on the project, which lasted about a week or two (Time kind of lapsed on me).
Even now, months later, I can still feel the rush of happiness that working on that project gave me.
Why did this happen?
Because it mattered.
If you’re trying to focus yourself on tasks – any tasks – and it’s simply not happening, then you need to stop.
Focus happens organically. You don’t force it. Forcing it is what results in otherwise healthy people choosing to abuse Adderall in order to succeed.
We spend a lot of time trying to systematically eliminate distractions.
I didn’t get distracted when I was in love with my project. I’m willing to bet you didn’t either.
You cannot eliminate distractions. You can turn off the phone, unplug the router, and otherwise lock yourself in a dark closet with nothing but a pen and paper. You’re going to distract yourself with the pen, or you’re going to get lost in thought.
Stop trying to eliminate distraction. Stop trying to force yourself to focus. Stop trying to make productivity happen. If it’s taking effort, even if you manage to eke out some form of product, you’re still wasting too much energy to feel good about it.
Solution
I propose a simple solution: fall in love with what you have to do.
Of course, you can also outsource some things – and I encourage you to do that with many things. But sometimes, tasks are too personal or esoteric to outsource.
In that situation, you need to fall in love again.
Some personal development specialists have hinted at this by encouraging you to build things like dream boards, motivational posters, and subliminal messaging systems. These aren’t necessary, though they could help.
You just need to figure out how to love what you do again.
If you love it, you’ll focus. It will happen easily and naturally. You won’t be distracted. You’ll be productive.
There are a couple problems with this solution, though, and the major one is if you can’t love what you do. That’s what dream boards and posters are for – getting yourself to tough it out and finish your tasks at hand so you can achieve some end.
There is not another easy solution for this.
If you do find yourself consistently miserable in everyday tasks, then it is a sign that something is wrong, and it’s not your productivity system. It probably means you’re not finding your work fulfilling. In that situation, you will need to change your perspective or else change the end you are working for or the means you are fulfilling. If you hate your day job, you could need a bigger reminder of why you’re there. If you continue to find yourself distracted, it could be time to find a new day job.
If you have found your focus, I’d love to hear your methods in the comments section.
