Have you put “Focus” on your to-do list?

Multitasking has gotten way too much credit over the past few decades. Lately, I’ve discovered that when I focus on something exclusively and get it “done,” I feel better and much more satisfied.

How can we focus more and as a result, become more successful hour by hour, day by day?

For me, because I am a WAHM right now, it looks like this:

• Focusing on work: Create a work environment that allows me to focus. If I can just get a table to myself or sit at my desk in my room for awhile (alone), that helps tremendously.
• Focusing on the kid: When I’m playing with my kid, I’m playing with him and doing nothing else. I don’t mind letting calls go to voicemail or emails go unanswered while I’m focusing on that part of my day.
• Alternating. I’ve stopped trying to do both at the same time anymore. Sometimes, if I get going and my son is needing a lot of attention, I simply stop working. I know that’s not possible all of the times – and when deadlines approach, it’s really difficult. But most of the time, it’s doable.

Simple Ways to Focus Better

I have a hard time focusing on things. Even using the above method of focusing on one thing at time, I still need additional help. Here’s how to get it done and right the first time. These tips range from the tiniest, practical detail to larger philosophical changes I’ve made.

• Make sure nutrition is properly balanced. For me, this means eating, taking supplements, and then taking additional supplements when I haven’t eaten properly, and drinking adequate amounts of water. I also snack during the day on either foods with whole grains, fruits, or small portions of leftover balanced meals. For supplements, I either take balanced meal-type supplements (such as a nutritional shake) or add in L-Theanine for focus and a good B-complex vitamin to help my body manage stress. I also make sure my iron level is sufficient and that digestion is healthy. Believe it or not, those seemingly minor things make a huge difference in your ability to focus.
• Close extra windows/tabs in my browser. This small thing has improved my focus dramatically. I used to think I was doing myself a favor by having a million and half tabs going. But the truth is that I get a lot more done keeping one or two open at a time than I ever did with a bunch open. Especially email. When I close my email tab, the world quiets and my ability to focus seems to be magnified 1000x.
• Be okay with not getting it all done. I want to be as successful as the next person. But I also want to live a healthy, long life. So my personal decision to be a healthy success as well as an entrepreneurial success has led to better focus. I just focus on finishing what I start, rather than starting everything.
• Tell people the truth about timing. There are only so many hours in the day. I never over-promise anymore. I used to, and no amount of chanting “under-promise, over-deliver” was going to change that. It was in my DNA to just do, do, do until I would make myself sick. Now, if I can’t get something done, I simply say that. I’m much more realistic about time lines. I wish I had been that way from the beginning. If the post office can get away with charging extra for overnight delivery, than so should I.

What steps do you take to focus better? What side of the multitask camp are you sitting on right now?