Everyone has sound reasons for not getting things done and sometimes I am the worst! And the truth is, external forces usually work against you most of the time. Your child may get sick. You may have to get out of work unexpectedly. You may have a conflict with a family member. Things happen, and that’s life.
However, you are not powerless in any situation. Instead of letting external factors dictate how you act, you can take control of your life. Recognize which external circumstances are worth your attention and which aren’t. That will often mean saying no to things that aren’t necessary or don’t add value to your life.
Focus on the most important things to you, and you’ll feel like you have more control overall. At other times, external factors aren’t the issue. We are. We stand in our way and refuse to see things. When we do this, we miss many opportunities to change our circumstances.
Taking control of your decisions, even small decisions, is a way to step out of that blind
walk and into a more empowered life.
How, then, can you get out of your way? Try these:
1. Maintain focus on why you’re doing it. Whatever action you decide to take, tie it to the goal you have in mind. Set yourself up for success by knowing what you want and why you want it. Ensure that you’re not pursuing something just for the sake of doing it.
Human nature doesn’t like doing things without reason. It doesn’t matter whether it’s dishwashing, sending your CV out to potential employers, or learning a new skill. As long as you know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you’ll be able to focus with purpose.
2. Concentrate on the important stuff. You can’t do everything at once. To be in control of anything, you have to focus on one thing at a time. If you want to get better at something, set a goal and spend all of your time practicing that skill.
If you’re going to make more money, focus on working harder. Once you know what you need to do to succeed, you’ll be able to stay on track. Nothing drains your physical and mental energy faster than spinning your wheels on unnecessary tasks or activities.
So, when you find yourself procrastinating, stop. Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and stop surfing the Internet. Focus on the task at hand, and you’ll feel better afterward.
3. Start from a clean slate. A big part of getting out of your way is starting from scratch. Unless you have a clean slate, you can’t take yourself out of the way. So, before you get started, clear your desk, organize the mess, start fresh, and put away
everything that doesn’t belong.
You’ll feel a lot better once you’re working with a clean, organized space. On the mental side, let go of times in the past when you set a goal and failed. Focus on the present and the future instead.
4. Throw away habits that keep you from moving forward. Over time, you may have acquired many bad habits that cause you to procrastinate. Some practices have to do with your environment, others have to do with who you’re with, and still others have to do with the way you interact with the world.
For example, if you’re always working from home, you’ll find yourself constantly procrastinating. You’ll feel like you should work longer hours. But, if you make an effort to find a co-working space to work, you may find that you become more productive.
Sometimes you might not realize you’re standing in your way. You may tell yourself you’re working hard, but it’s obvious something’s not right. Asking for help and becoming more organized are some of the best things you can do to start working smarter and achieving your goals.
If you really want to create calm and get rid of chaos, check out this 21 Day Chaos Crusher Formula.
Here’s to Finding your Focus!
With Grace and Grit,
Whitney