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Today is not like any time in history. There have never been more possibilities and opportunities for you to achieve your dreams and goals. You have a plethora of resources at your disposal.
The Internet has made information and instruction available at the click of a mouse. Mobile devices connect you to the world at any time and location. We live in a world overflowing with options.
The costs of multitasking
As you struggle to make a decision with the acquired information, indecision seems to be the best choice. Because of the plethora of choices you have, you can become easily sidetracked.
With all the available information in our technological world, it becomes difficult to focus on one task at a time. The abundance of information overwhelms people with too much to do and too little time do it. The struggle to a make decision leaves many making no decision or trying to multi-task between several choices.
Many people have this idea that if you accomplish more things, then that equates to better work. Doing one thing at a time often feels inefficient, so why not multi-task?
Multi-tasking is the lie that tells you that you can juggle many things at once and succeed. It is one of the fastest ways to lose your focus.
I fell into the trap of multi-tasking when I started my blog. I tried to do too many things. I listened to the experts who said you need to blog three or four days a week to generate steady traffic. Some experts said ‘you need to be on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ and several other social media outlets’.
I got caught up in the expert opinions. I was blogging three times a week. I was on three different social media outlets. I was trying to coach, consult, podcast, write and speak. I was doing too much. I believed the hype that I could do more without giving up something.
Several months after going at this pace I hit a wall. I was not getting the traffic I wanted. I was not completing tasks. I was not enjoying what I was doing. I was burned out.
I put the website on pause. I stopped blogging and shut down the website for nearly six months. I was discouraged and disappointed because things did not work the way I wanted. I had to take a big step back and realize I could not do everything.
I realized I did not have to do everything. I could focus on a few things and move from there. I restarted my blog and instead of trying to post three or four days a week, I started posting once a week. Now, I am able to focus on writing better content.
I stopped trying to do five social media outlets. I now focus on Facebook and Twitter as my primary social media outlets. I may add LinkedIn and Pinterest later, but one at a time. I even cut back on some of my offerings so I can focus on the ones that are in line with my passion.
Focus on what matters
Multi-tasking will keep you busy. But, don’t believe busyness equals progress. It could mean the opposite. It could mean that you are farther away from living out your vision. It could mean you are headed down the path of insignificance.
Don’t think because you are not diverse in many areas that you are missing out. You may have several skills, but don’t be duped into thinking you have to do something with each of them in a significant way. Sit down and write out the one or two prominent skills that stand out from the others and work on them.
It is great to know that you do not have to do everything. You are more energized when you are focused. If you have multiple skills do not worry that they will go to waste if you are focused on your one or two major skills. The opposite happens; your other skills enhance your most prominent skills.
When you try to do more, you may end up accomplishing less. When you multitask, you not only say many things are a priority; you dilute your focus.
Confucius once said, “Man who chases two rabbits catches neither”.
Which rabbit do you need to stop chasing so you can focus on catching the right rabbit?
Staying productive is important. But being busy for the sake of being busy robs you of the gift right in front of you. Busyness distracts you from the most important things in life and often steals your joy.
Don’t let trying to do everything get in the way of you living your best life. Instead, learn how to pay attention and find the freedom that comes from focusing on what matters the most.
Eight-step assignment
What if today you stopped trying to do everything and focus on your best skills? What will happen in your life or those connected to you, if you stop trying to fit more things into smaller blocks of time, but instead took your time doing the right things?
You need to find creative ways to keep your focus. Here is an eight-step assignment you can implement to help you focus and stop trying to do everything.
- Pick one task you need to accomplish today and write it down.
- List the distractions that stand in your way of accomplishing your task.
- List the possible success opportunities for accomplishing your task.
- Share your list with one person who can hold you accountable.
- Turn off your mobile devices, television and other pieces of technology.
- Do not start anything new until your core task is done.
- As you work towards completing your task, look at your lists and remind yourself what really matters.
- Take breaks and reward yourself.
These eight steps can help you remain focus on your main tasks. This is not a magical formula and it is not the only way. You were meant to do great things, but not everything. Your main thing is what must motivate you and keep you centered on the things that are important.
“Decide upon your major definite purpose in life and then organize all your activities around it.”
Brian Tracy
Question: How can implementing the eight step assignment help you become more focused? Leave a comment below.
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