Find Focus
Is there just too much to do? Are there too many calls on your time? The sensation of overload can be tangible and leads to paralysis. This stagnation is often compounded by the inability to finish anything, while continuing to attract more challenges, it is overwhelming.
It’s okay. We have all been there, myself included, and I do return.
The ability to ‘get things done’ isn’t only a function of having less to do, but a skill. The discipline of organising yourself, your time and your approach, finding your focus.
But exactly how do you start becoming focussed?
The journey begins, as with any other challenge, with awareness, recognition and acceptance.
Start with a list, a list of things that need to be done. Lists can be daunting, lists can become their own challenge. This isn’t a master control list to manage, more a cleansing of your mind Marie Kondo style. A de-cluttering of the inner voices clamouring for attention. Revisit this ‘dump’ from time to time, if it’s written down it counts as sharing, sharing with your future self, and they do say a problem shared is a problem halved.
We all have a finite capability for thinking. If part of that capability is constantly recalling, anticipating and worrying about challenges less of that capability free to focus on the present.
Finding your Focus begins by knowing
what activities there are to do
the importance of each activity
the urgency of the activities
the pip elements required for resolution of each activity (people, items, places).
Over the course of this series we will look at various ways that will help you finding your style of focus allowing you to take control.
I will reference time management systems, techniques and philosophies. My style has been influenced by several time management systems and philosophies over the years from a tickler (1960’s), Water Logic (1990’s) GTD (2000’s), to Bullet Journaling (2010’s) among others.
I will look at tools, from software and devices, both digital and analogue, and how I blend these to suit. I use Midori Traveller Notebooks, Hobonichi diaries, Supernote, iPad & Remarkable tablets alongside MS Office, Microsoft ToDo and iOS. In the analogue world I predominantly use fountain pens but more of that and why in time.
As mentioned earlier, this journey begins in the mind. Your frame of mind will be pivotal in your success. I will touch on this during the series.
No one size fits everyone, we are all different, I hope you will, in time, develop your own unique style but we do share at two characteristics.
1. We can’t do everything
2. If we don’t start, we will never finish.
Being able to narrow your attention and focus on delivery is the aim. Starting tomorrow is not an option, there is no time like the present. For those that have worked alongside me the phrase ‘time is an illusion’ will be familiar.
Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time — past and future — the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.” ―Eckhart Tolle
The series will be tagged FF to make navigation on the site easier. For those keen to look forward here are some links to my influences and tools today and below this article those weeks Excel tip.
Links to some of the things I will be covering, to help you find your Focus style.
Water Logic (debono.com)
Getting Things Done® - David Allen's GTD® Methodology
Bullet Journal
TRAVELER'S notebook Story - TRAVELER'S COMPANY USA
Hobonichi Techo 2021 (1101.com)
Supernote - For Those Who Write
Home | reMarkable
Fountain Pen Specialists: on-line and in-store - The Writing Desk
Excel Tip 2 - Repeat the last command
After making a change in a cell, or any other action, want to do the same again? There is a simple keystroke that repeats the action.
Windows PC - press F4.
Mac - press Command+Y
It is possible to move the Mac keystroke to F4 by customising the keyboard.