A few weeks ago, I shared with you my love of single-tasking.
Why do I love it so much?
Because science continues to prove, time and time again, that single-tasking is markedly more productive than multitasking.
You see, it takes at least 20 minutes to “get in the zone” when starting a project, so when you bounce from task to task, you’re essentially spending all of your time in transition. This, in turn, prevents you from reaching your peak productivity zone.
I’m telling you, if you want to crush your to-do list, start this practice today.
Maintain Your Focus With This One Simple Strategy
While single-tasking is an incredibly effective strategy, however, for many people just starting out with the practice, it can feel quite challenging.
We’ve trained our minds to run at a million miles a minute, and we race the clock to keep up with appointments, meetings, social media updates, email pings, children’s soccer practices, etc.
Therefore, when we suddenly shift productivity tactics, and we start focusing on one specific task at a time, it’s challenging to quiet that racing mind.
Have you ever struggled with this? I know I have.
In fact, when I first started single-tasking, a typical day would look like this:
- Sit down to work on a big project.
- Clear my desk of distractions, and even disconnect my Wi-Fi to deter the allure of Facebook.
- Get distracted anyway, because I can’t turn off my chatty mind.
Seriously, about two minutes into my work, I’d start thinking about all of the different tasks I forgot to include on my to-do list.
I’d then brainstorm where my husband and I should go on vacation. This was usually followed by a mental inventory of our refrigerator so I could plan dinner.
And then I’d suddenly remember that I need to schedule Bruno’s vet appointment. 🙄 Ridiculous, I know.
Do you ever have a chatty mind like this? It’s so frustrating, isn’t it?
Dealing With A Chatty Mind
So, what’s the secret? How can we quiet that talkative mind and focus on what’s important instead?
Fortunately, the answer is simple.
Write it down.
Yep, that’s it.
Before you begin your single-tasking project, take five minutes and do a braindump. Write down anything and everything that’s on your mind. The idea is to get it all down on paper, so it’s out of your head.
Then, get to work.
Of course, if you’re anything like me, that one braindump is not enough, because there are plenty more thoughts that manage to pop into my head as I work.
If you’re the same way, here’s what I suggest:
Keep that same notebook by your side. Then, each time a random thought pops into your head, jot it down and get right back to work. It’s as simple as that.
Why is this an effective strategy?
I know, this sounds like such a simple suggestion. And it is!
The reason why it is so effective is that writing down our thoughts tells our brain, “don’t worry, I won’t forget this (seemingly) important thought.”
You see, most of the time when these ideas flit through our mind, we focus on them right away. Because if we don’t, we worry that we might forget them.
By writing down those runaway thoughts, however, you stop the process in its tracks. You tell your mind you won’t forget, and you move on. And best of all, you have one less thought distracting you from the task at hand.
Easy, huh?
[bctt tweet=”Are you distracted by your chatty mind? Keep a notebook at your desk and write down those thoughts. Then, get back to work. #productivity #productivityhack #productivitytips #focus” username=”BusyBeingPaula”]
Look it Over
Of course, it’s not enough to simply write these thoughts down. You also need to give them some consideration.
So once you finish your big tasks for the day, take 20 minutes to read over your list. (I like to save this for the last hour of my workday)
Break that list into four categories:
- Do today
- Do this week
- Do someday
- Not important
As I mentioned, I save this task for the last hour of my workday, because it allows me to address the “do today” list during work hours. This list might include: post to my LipSense facebook group (join here!), get groceries for dinner, call the vet for Bruno’s teeth cleaning etc.
After completing the “do today” tasks, I transfer the “do this week” items to my schedule and find times throughout the week when I can tend to them. These tasks might include: get a haircut, write a student’s letter of recommendation, finish Love Warrior etc.
I then add the “do someday” tasks to a list in my bullet journal. This is where I keep all my “someday soon” goals. These items include: start a vegetable garden, practice my trumpet again, read The Alchemist etc.
The “not important” thoughts are often things that pop in my mind simply to distract. While completing this blog post today, my “not important” thoughts included: Are quest bars Keto friendly? When does the next season of Game of Thrones come out? I wonder if Cat Stevens is coming out with a new album?
Needless to say, these last items can either be completely ignored or looked up on my own time outside of working hours.
TLDR:
So friends, if you find yourself distracted by your chatty mind, and you struggle with practicing single-tasking because of it, start writing down your thoughts.
Before you begin your big task for the day, do a braindump and spend five minutes writing down everything in your head.
Next, start working. Any time a random thought pops into your head, write it down and get back to work.
During the last hour of your day, read over your thoughts and divide them into four categories: Do today; Do this week; Do someday; Not important.
Tend to the “do today” tasks during that hour.
Schedule the “do this week” tasks.
Record your “do someday” tasks.
Discard your “not important” tasks.
And that’s it! All it takes is one simple step to maintain your focus and start crushing your to-do list. Give it a try today!
Question:
How do you maintain your focus? Have you ever tried this approach before? Do you ever get distracted by a chatty mind? Let me know below!