How Do You Guys Keep Focused?

32 replies
Hi everybody.

I have a big problem with focus. I lose it very easily

If I had the ability to be focused longer I would be making more money for sure!

Any suggestions?

Thanks
#focused #guys
  • Profile picture of the author lukyjoe
    Make a check list, of the tasks that needs to be done, the night before. the next day do one thing at the time and don't do anything else until its done. always take 5-10 min break in between tasks and make sure you get out and breath some fresh air.
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  • Profile picture of the author scortillion
    If you have a problem with moving from project to project one way to help combat that is to have 3 or 4 projects running at the same time and moving between them when your focus begins to weaken on the current project.

    This is something people do that have ADD. Now you still have to have goals for each one and a step by step plan. What needs to be flexible with this method is the time frame to accomplish the goals.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Barboza
      This can certainly work.

      Originally Posted by scortillion View Post

      If you have a problem with moving from project to project one way to help combat that is to have 3 or 4 projects running at the same time and moving between them when your focus begins to weaken on the current project.

      I have my own system to keep myself focused and organized and to get rid of procrastination. I have outlined it in other thread in the contest forum where I am participating to win a US$100 prize if I am the most thanked

      The link is in the signature
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      • Profile picture of the author scortillion
        Originally Posted by AlexBarboza View Post

        This can certainly work.




        I have my own system to keep myself focused and organized and to get rid of procrastination. I have outlined it in other thread in the contest forum where I am participating to win a US$100 prize if I am the most thanked

        The link is in the signature
        Read your post, fantastic! Like what you had to say and the technique you shared with us.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alex Barboza
          Originally Posted by scortillion View Post

          Read your post, fantastic! Like what you had to say and the technique you shared with us.
          I'm glad you liked it!

          It's very simple and can really work. I used to procrastinate a lot and now I am much more productive. I am working focused on my long-term goals which is very rewarding in itself
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  • Profile picture of the author Juan Esteban
    Thanks everybody for their advice.

    I have read the system in the other thread and it certainly seems that can work.

    I think I have to set priorities and goals and then start a timer

    Can timers really get you in a productive mood? I'm gonna try
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  • Profile picture of the author RachelCorrine
    what about your nutrition? I know that when I eat clean and keep up with my vitamins I have more energy and more focus. True Focus by NOW Foods is a great supplement, one I regularly take.

    Oh...and exercise too
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    • Profile picture of the author Juan Esteban
      Originally Posted by RachelCorrine View Post

      what about your nutrition? I know that when I eat clean and keep up with my vitamins I have more energy and more focus. True Focus by NOW Foods is a great supplement, one I regularly take.

      Oh...and exercise too
      Thanks for your reply.

      Can I become addicted to those supplements? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author scortillion
    Supplements aren’t addictive but you should be very careful with supplements that are beyond the normal vitamins, amino acids and proteins. Even large amounts of protein and fat soluble vitamins are bad for you and can be deadly.

    Before you take any supplements you should research them and see what the historic use of them are.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dave Espino
      Getting focused is a habit that you build over time.

      Being a home based business owner for more than 15 years now, I am fortunate to say that I have developed this focus and it is a great thing.

      You have to get yourself to the point where you are uncomfortable when you notice yourself losing focus or spending too much time on Facebook, for example.

      The key to focus is having an intense goal that is aligned with your main purpose.

      So, you need to reverse engineer focus a little bit.

      Start with your main purpose and determine how your purpose / mission / passion can be turned into mini-goals.

      When I am feeling unfocused / overwhelmed, I bring out my giant pad of paper and start writing all my thoughts / ideas / goals / to dos on that page.

      I then organize them into clear objectives and rank them in 1, 2, 3 order.

      (The ones are the highest priority)

      You'd be amazed at how well just doing this little exercise can work for you.

      Often, I will do the exercise and then not look at the paper for a week or so. When I do, I am often amazed that many of those items got done and I had a very productive week.

      Try these things and I think you will be on your way to gaining focus.

      Dave
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      • Profile picture of the author scortillion
        Originally Posted by Make It So View Post

        Getting focused is a habit that you build over time.

        Being a home based business owner for more than 15 years now, I am fortunate to say that I have developed this focus and it is a great thing.

        You have to get yourself to the point where you are uncomfortable when you notice yourself losing focus or spending too much time on Facebook, for example.

        The key to focus is having an intense goal that is aligned with your main purpose.

        So, you need to reverse engineer focus a little bit.

        Start with your main purpose and determine how your purpose / mission / passion can be turned into mini-goals.

        When I am feeling unfocused / overwhelmed, I bring out my giant pad of paper and start writing all my thoughts / ideas / goals / to dos on that page.

        I then organize them into clear objectives and rank them in 1, 2, 3 order.

        (The ones are the highest priority)

        You'd be amazed at how well just doing this little exercise can work for you.

        Often, I will do the exercise and then not look at the paper for a week or so. When I do, I am often amazed that many of those items got done and I had a very productive week.

        Try these things and I think you will be on your way to gaining focus.

        Dave
        Love your method, I tried using paper to write everything down but I found index cards work better for me. I write one idea down on each index card then group the ones that are related and then out of those I stack them in level of importance with the most important one on top.

        I then arrange them in a row with the most important stack to my left. I begin working on the far left stack from top to bottom, but if I get frustrated and bored with that stack I'll move onto the next stack for a while until I'm ready to move back to the first stack.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Espino
    Thanks! I think it's about engaging your subconscious mind in the process.

    My theory is that the subconscious mind anchors / links the writing of the tasks on paper to the creative action of actually doing the work somehow.

    Whether it's a big pad of paper or index cards really depends on which works best for you!

    Dave
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    I make several $1000s a month (passive income) on Udemy and here's how YOU can, too...

    Get your FREE UDEMY MINI-COURSE here:

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  • Profile picture of the author JakeRhodes
    I have a written routine of things that I do each day. I try to make every day different so that I don't get bored. Then every couple of months I shake up the tasks I do, dropping some old ones and adding new ones.
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  • Profile picture of the author browse15
    I usually watch motivational vidoes on youtube to stay focused.
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  • Profile picture of the author BlogPiG.com
    Others have shared their methods so here's one which has helped me massively:

    Share your ideas, projects and tasks with another human being. Tell them what you are going to deliver and when. Give them the remit to check up on your progress and to give you constructive levels of 'grief' if you're heading off track. This can be a mentor, coach, business partner, friend, spouse...whoever, but they have to commit to checking up on you.

    All of a sudden you are then accountable to someone else and you are also sharing the mental burden. Has helped me a lot.
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  • Profile picture of the author imkazu
    a online todo google doc I access.
    Have a few daily routine I put in it everyday + building new campaigns/lps, etc
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  • Profile picture of the author donhx
    Originally Posted by Greg Wildermuth View Post

    I always set timers when I'm working. Even if I don't need to worry about time, when the timer's running I feel like I'm "on the clock."

    This is also my "secret." I have a count-down timer on my computer desktop, and I set a time limit for every project I work on and every forum/site I visit. The "race against the clock" keeps me focused. It's kind of a game, but it works for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zero
    Originally Posted by Juan Esteban View Post

    Hi everybody.

    I have a big problem with focus. I lose it very easily

    If I had the ability to be focused longer I would be making more money for sure!

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks
    Same with me. My mind wanders far too easily. Its wanderin right now actually - i should be working./

    I find writin down what u need to do bfore you do it. Have every little detail written down - break it down as much as u can. That way u can be absolutely clear what u gotta do. If u find urself gettin distracted keep repeating over and over again to urself "Do it now" or "back to work". I dunno if they actually work - but i learnt that from good ol Brian Tracy's Time mangement course "How to Master you time". It really is fantastic.

    I've tried 1 or 2 things already to great effect. Once i get serious about actually doin the excercises he laid out - i know it'll have a huge impact.

    You can find the course over at Nightingale-Conant. Money well invested imo. Its definitely the best time mangement course i've ever gotten. And there's just somethin about the way Brian Tracy teaches u stuff...
    he's a really great teacher & mentor.

    Here's the link:
    How to Master Your Time by Brian Tracy

    [Obligatory "Not an Affiliate link" disclaimer]
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    • Profile picture of the author Nic Oliver
      I switch off the internet when I have to focus - too many distractions.

      Focus is my theme word for the year (I don't do New Year's resolutions) and I'm finding all sorts of challenges!

      Here's a link to a video on focus, from an IM viewpoint. Hope it helps

      Nic
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  • Profile picture of the author miawallace
    I stay focused by working on projects that I love. I also have multiple revenue streams that I'll work on for a week or two at a time, then I switch. I have major attention issues, and this seems to be the perfect system for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Raiel Schwartz
      It's easy to lose focus when we are
      not seeing the results we we're hoping
      for. Usually, when we feel like quitting
      is when we are closest to making a
      breakthrough.

      The internet will never die, maybe
      you are just bugged down into the IM
      business, and need a week off for
      remotivation.

      Brain storm new ideas, see if you can
      think of a new valuable product to the
      market place, etc, and create a solid
      action plan for it.

      If you aren't focused it's most likely b.c
      you are lacking motivation (no results
      from your efforts) or direction (no solid
      action plan).

      If you take a week from it all, and come
      back with a new perspective, you may
      surprise yourself.

      Truly,
      Craig Michaels
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    • Profile picture of the author Raiel Schwartz
      Originally Posted by miawallace View Post

      I stay focused by working on projects that I love. I also have multiple revenue streams that I'll work on for a week or two at a time, then I switch. I have major attention issues, and this seems to be the perfect system for me.
      Yes, I find that if I have multiple projects I am working
      on during the same time period I won't find myself
      as bored as easy.

      Once you start feeling drained off of one project, you
      can take a small breather, and get-going on a new
      project you were previously working on.
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  • Profile picture of the author addison146
    you should check your work quality list to focused.
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  • Profile picture of the author securelogy
    Great posts from everyone. I had the problem of staying focused myself in the past, even after I had tried many ideas. The ideas helped me to organised but not focused. Now I simply have a large hard paper with the text "Stay Focus Today" It is right next to my monitor. Every week I renew it so I don't get used to it. When I am at drift I take a look and obey the note. You can say, I am conditioned now to obey the note. This works for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheTroglodyte
    Write out your goals for the day on a giant white board and commit to getting them done no matter what.
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  • Profile picture of the author indyguy
    A couple of things that I find help people:

    1. Have a goal and review it every day.
    2. Have a list of what you want to accomplish that day.
    3. I used to have attention issues, and one thing I found that helped me a lot was to "guesstimate" how long a task should take. Then I set a timer for slightly less time and played "beat the clock". It really helped me a lot. Some people need a little more pressure to keep from being distracted.

    or

    Do you doubt you're going to be successful at what you're trying to do? No one likes to waste their time. I would start there is that's the issue.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stephen Ayer
    Loads of good advice in this thread. I find that I need to have a (short) list of tasks planned for each day or I wander from thing to thing and never get anything done. I like to keep the list short and get everything done, rather than a long list that I don't complete. I feel great when I complete the list and I can always add more tasks to the list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Carol_A
    I agree with prioritizing, writing a daily plan of focus and old fashioned kitchen timer, ticking away beside me as I do my free marketing . . . it prevents me from going overboard!
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  • Profile picture of the author WAWarrior
    Here's my suggestion. Create a checklist of the things you should do daily.
    Break it into two categories : Action / Research & Development. At least 50% of what you do daily should be on Action. Give a point for each item managed to do daily.Give yourself a daily target ( say 10 points overall) . This becomes your KPI for success.
    Track and do this daily and I assure you will quadruple your results in 3 months!
    You got to try it to believe it. The checklist will have the items on the left column, and the 31 days column for each day you are tracking.

    To your success. X=Y
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  • Profile picture of the author Sharon Lai
    Just define your goals, prioritize them and keep track of your progress. Stay positive
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