5. Alternate two focuses. Instead of alternating between focus and rest, you could alternate between two different focuses. For example, you could work on two different projects at once, or study for two different classes at once. I?d suggest not switching too rapidly, because there?s a short period of adjustment each time you switch. But you could work for 10 minutes on one thing and then 10 on another, or stay focused on one as long as you are interested in it, then switch when your interest lags. The great thing about this method is that switching to a new project can help give your brain a rest from the other project, and it can keep you creating for much longer before getting distracted.
6. Communicate first, then blocks of focus. Set a timer and give yourself 45 minutes to do email, Twitter, Facebook IM, and any reading you would normally do. Then use an Internet blocker to block these distractions for a couple of hours (up to 3-4 hours if you like) while you focus on creating. Then another 45 minutes of communicating 28
and reading, followed by another block of distraction-free focus.
7. End of day. At the end of each day, you might review what you did, think of what can be improved, remind yourself to disconnect for the rest of the evening, and think about what you?ll focus on tomorrow.
It?s a good time to reflect on your day and your life in general.
8. Weekly focus rituals. While it?s not necessary to do a complete weekly review of everything you?re doing, have done and plan to do, it can be useful to schedule 10 minutes every week to quickly bring your work and life back into the right focus. I suggest you review your projects to make sure you?re not letting them get out of hand; simplify your to-do list as much as possible; review the focus rituals you?ve been doing to see what?s working and what isn?t; and basically reflect on what you?re doing with work and life and whether anything needs to change.
9. Other ideas. The rituals above are just some of the ideas I like best
? you should find the ritual that works best for you. There are an almost infinite number of possibilities. Just a few other ideas: taking 5 minutes every hour to refocus yourself; taking a walk every hour to get fresh air and get refreshed; yoga or meditating at the beginning of each day; running or other exercise after work; giving yourself a
?focus and disconnected hour? in the morning and afternoon where you?re disconnected and completely focused on creating; breathing and self-massage techniques for relaxation and better focus.
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section ii.
clear distractions
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1: limiting the stream
?Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.?
? Henry David Thoreau
The stream of news, information, and messages we get these days is enough to drown us. It?s staggering in its volume.
It?s a wonder anyone can find any focus with an information stream like that.
The Stream of Distractions
The more connected a person becomes on the Internet, the more distractions they face in their day. Just a couple decades ago, most people?s distractions consisted of the phone, the fax machine, incoming memos and paperwork, solitaire, and actual people in their offices.
These days, people who work online face much more than that:
» email (perhaps the biggest problem for most people)
» instant messaging
» online forums
» blogs
» other social networks
» news sites
» phones & cell phones
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» text messages
» Skype
» podcasts
» Google alerts
