Improving Focus
As a knowledge worker, the main value you provide is your focus. Focus on creating, deconstructing, analyzing, debugging, solving, listening, etc.
The challenge as a knowledge worker is focusing on mental tasks are different than focusing on physical tasks.
Sleep
This is the most powerful predictor on how I will focus for the day. When I get enough sleep, I focus well. When I lack sleep, my focus is not there and I do everything except the desired task.
Study sleep and get enough of it.
Tooling
Focus tools are ample - everyone has a system to help focus.
The most important is that you explore what tools are available: old, new, simple, complex, etc. then try them out.
Try the systems when you’re tired, when you’re fresh, under a deadline, with nothing on your plate, etc.
See what systems “feel” good and adopt those. Create a system of your own with the single goal of improving focus.
Accountability
No matter which tool you choose, find a way to keep yourself accountable to the task at hand.
Your mind can defend itself from you - so whatever you use, keep it simple.
So simple that it’s just writing down what you intend to do for how long, then write down what actually happened. The most important part is NOT to judge - create another time to see your system’s effectiveness.
Know Thy Limits
Focus is hard - especially mental focus because unlike the body, when your brain is at its limit, there’s no “pain” - you just don’t focus.
Be kind to yourself.
Step by Step
Build up focus slowly, take an iterative approach - learn new things, try it, evaluate its effectiveness, repeat until you hit your limit - then repeat again to push the limit.
Future Posts
I will share my experiences in each of these categories in future posts and have links here.
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