Sources of Insight

Better Insights, Better Results

Focus Checklist

Here is a checklist of key strategies and tactics for improving your focus.

 

Key Strategies

  1. Get clear on what you want.
  2. Start with your “why.”’ This is the key to making your focus compelling and sustainable.’
  3. Align your focus and your values.’ Once you get clarity on what you want, you need to reduce your internal conflict and deal with competing priorities.’
  4. Use time frames to scope your focus.
  5. Expand your attention span.
  6. Use 20-minute intervals to focus with skill.
  7. Reduce distractions.
  8. Spend your attention with skill.
  9. Structure for success’. One of the best ways to structure your success is to make it easy to pick up from where you left off. You can also structure your success by structuring your information – have one place to look and one place to write things down, including your goals, tasks, and actions.’
  10. Chart your progress.

Action

  • Carry the good forward, let the rest go.
  • Create routines to help you focus.
  • Focus in batches.
  • Make it work, then make it right.

Attention

  • Change your focus by asking a new question.
  • Choose one project or one thing to focus on.
  • Direct your attention with skill.
  • Find a way to refocus.
  • Focus on what you control and let the rest go.
  • Hold a clear picture in your mind of what you want to accomplish.
  • Use mantras and one-liner reminders.

Clarity

  • Keep it simple.
  • Know what’s on your plate.
  • See it, do it.

Distractions

  • Clear away external distractions.
  • Clear away internal distractions.
  • Delay gratification.
  • Don’t chase every interesting idea.
  • Have a place to dump distractions.
  • Shelve things you aren’t actively working on.
  • Write down your thoughts.

Effort

  • Apply concentrated effort.
  • Batch and focus.
  • Make it relentless.
  • Reduce friction.

Energy, Enjoyment, and Inspiration

  • Enjoy the journey and the destination.
  • Keep your energy up.
  • Link it to good feelings.
  • Music everywhere.
  • Put the focus on something bigger than yourself – for the greater good.
  • Reward yourself along the way.
  • Start with why.
  • Take breaks.
  • Take care of the basics
  • Use metaphors.

Goals

  • Use milestones for checkpoints and progress.
  • Use mini-goals.
  • Write down your goals.
  • Write down your steps.
  • Write down your tasks.

Limits

  • Limit your starts and stops.
  • Limit your task switching.
  • Set hardline goals.
  • Set time limits.
  • Set quantity limits.
  • Stop starting new projects.
  • Use the Rule of Three

Priorities

  • Know your priorities.
  • Learn to say no – to yourself and others.

Scope

  • Bite off what you can chew.
  • Do less, focus more.
  • Narrow your focus.

Self-Awareness

  • Know your personal patterns.
  • Master your mindset.

Task Management

  • Finish what you started.
  • Make it easy to pick back where you left off.
  • Pick up where you left off.
  • Reduce open work.
  • Single-Task.
  • Use lists to avoid getting overwhelmed or overloaded.

Time

  • Find the best time to do your routine tasks.Give it the time and attention it deserves.
  • Have a time and place for things.
  • Set a time frame for focus.

Visual

  • Use reminders and visual cues.