Do you have trouble being productive? Do you ever wonder how to focus better in school? Work? Live in general?
Productivity is sometimes hard for me. I’ll wager the hipster coffee I’m sipping right now that it’s hard for you too.
This week has been fairly productive for me, by which I mean that I have gotten up early and managed to pound out some work for six to eights hours or so before my eyes go numb from staring at the computer screen.
Because I often have problems focusing, I have developed some behaviors to help tame the ADHD monster inside me.
I am a writer, and as such most of my workday is focused on creativity. But I have a problem:
I can’t focus.
Now, I’ve had trouble focusing for most of my life, but in my profession and in my work building my own online business, I need to have tremendous focus to help me achieve my goals within set amounts of time.
Want to know what helps?
ROUTINE. I set a routine for myself that I try to stick with every day:
- 8 a.m. Wake, coffee, emails
- 9 a.m. shower, dress, and get ready for the day
- 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. write
- 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. lunch
- 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Edit
- 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Icarus Editing office work
Keeping a routine helps me stay focused because the things that cause me to lose focus (chiefly my worry about other things that need to be done) are scheduled for a different time, so the only thing I need to worry about in this moment is this task. Everything else will be done in its proper time.
I also maintain small routines throughout my day:
- I make some coffee right before I sit down to write so that I can have a hot cup to help me with inspiration.
- I listen to classical or meditation music when I write because it heightens my creativity.
- I take five to ten minute breaks every hour to stretch, walk around, watch a silly video, (or write a blog post) because the controlled break in focus helps me be more productive when I return.
What do you do to keep you on track? Share in the comments below!