| From someone who struggles with focus, here are the strategies I use on myself (some subconsciously now, because I've been doing this for 15 years). They don't all work 100% of the time, but I haven't been fired yet ;) 1) Know myself. So much can be unpacked here, but this boils down to a couple broad categories. First, I need to be realistic with myself about what I am capable of, what tends to distract me, what my needs are, etc. Second, I have to be in tune with myself in the moment. Am I drifting? What do I need to do right now to stay on track? 2) Have a plan. This isn't so much a commitment to "prep" for each day as it is being willing to learn and employ strategies that I can combine with #1 to meet my needs and accommodate for my weaknesses. Sometimes this means having a way to limit noise around me. Sometimes it means ready access to coffee or a snack. Sometimes it means turning off email/chats/etc. Sometimes (ironically) it means taking a break. 3) Have a "why". I am the sole income-earning in a family of 6, so the "why" for me is pretty strong. If I don't make it happen, we all suffer. I have to be careful, though. Workaholism isn't that much better than being a chronic procrastinator in terms of its ill effects on my life/health. 4) Eliminate distractions. Sometimes this means using one of my strategies to find a quiet place. Sometimes it means going and doing that chore my wife keeps bugging me about so I can just focus on my work. 5) Don't white-knuckle it. In other words, don't be religious about work. Usually when I'm feeling burned out or unmotivated it's because my mind and body are being deprived of something. It's better for me to understand what that is (even if it means taking a day off) than to keep pushing myself. That just leads to more burn-out. It's important to have grace with myself so I don't just feel guilt and shame when I need a time-out. Feelings of shame often perpetuate procrastination anyway. 6) Make healthy choices. This is touched on in several of the other points, but it's important enough to be its own bullet. Sometimes it takes effort just to know what the healthy choice is. Having someone who can help you (like a spouse or close friend) is huge here. This also covers everything from sleep to eating to other things you consume, screen time, social time, etc. In my own life, lack of motivation and my mental health are closely connected. I could write on this subject for a long time, mostly because I've spent a lot of time studying the nature of mental health and addiction in order to help myself. Hopefully this helps someone else add to their own regimen. |