| Switching context from, for example, focusing on a specific programming problem to taking a macro view about what you should be doing next in business can be challenging. Over about ten years, I've come to a solution that works for me. My context is that I'm working on a startup. It's my third and I've had success previous ones (millions of dollars in annual revenue though not billions). - Every morning, I spend 25 minutes outside my office to plan my day which includes asking questions about what I should be working on that brings value. Because it's the first thing I'm doing, I start with a clear mind. Once I know why and what I should be doing, it's pretty easy to get into focusing. The reverse is harder to do. - Once a month, I take a day off outside the office to focus on strategy. I stay in a hotel though I recognize not everybody has the budget for it. Took a while to figure out this worked. I originally started with the idea of doing it when I think I needed it. Problem is that when you feel under pressure to complete something, is when you don't want to take the day to clear your mind and strategize but is precisely the thing that helps the most. - Still trying to figure out the best for this, but 2-4 times a year I'll spend 3-5 days on big picture strategy. It took a long while to have the discipline to take the time to clear my mind and strategize. The idea of I'll take it when I need it didn't work well but scheduling it did. Eventually, I realized that not wanting to spend time to clear my mind and strategize is a signal that I should be doing precisely that. It's helped to force me to take the time. That said, I don't think it's necessary to force oneself to do this as a hard rule. I do break the guidelines under situations, but when it becomes extended, it's a sign to take the time. |