GTD: 2006.48: rediscovering focus

Given the sheer number of things you are probably trying to achieve right now, and the torrents of information/media/data coming your way each and every day, it's ultra easy to misplace the ability to focus.

You remember focus, right? You would sit at your desk and concentrate on exactly one thing for a set period of time or until it was completed. Kind of like taking a test in school - you take the test, and then you were done. Done feels good.

I miss focus.

In fact, I miss focus so much that I've decided to start a routine to start getting back into the habit - the productivity habit mind you - of taking a block of time and focusing on exactly one thing for that period.

Here's my Getting Back Focus Routine (GBFR):

1. Carefully pick the 1, 2 or 3 things today I am going to focus on. Not 27; not even 5. 3 things that if done with the best I can muster I can feel like was time well spent.
2. Decide how long to focus. Most productivity experts advise 90 minutes - give or take 30. Since I know I'm out of the focus habit, I'm going for 60 minutes.
3. Then, after I've dealt with email, voicemail, forum mail and yesterday's mail, after I've gotten all settled into my workspace, I turn off everything: email, phone, music, nagging issues, other projects, everything.
4. I then spend a minute thinking about what I want as the Desired Outcome. I get a good clear fix on it.
5. Then I start a kitchen timer, set for 60 minutes. Until that timer goes off or I reach the Desired Outcome, no interruptions whatsoever. No "just a quick check of email", no "what's new on Digg", no nothing. One subject, one hour, one worry, one Desired Outcome.

I'm finding that I'm getting caught up with all the projects I've got open - and less stressed about it. You might want to give it try too!

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Comments

[Greg]

I like the 'taking a test' analogy!

[speaker]

Bob,
Your routine should work well for next actions on the hard landscape, as these important actions deserve the focus that is often missing in our hyper multitasking environments. I'll give GBFR a try next week.