Focus: You Can Build It Too...
2 October 2011
Read by 1630 persons
Back in school, we were always told that the secret was focus. Even then, it was hard not to giggle with our neighbor while solving the math problem on the board… Yes. Basically, not much has changed. However, it remains clear that multitasking is the biggest obstacle to completing our tasks well.
Here are some quick reminders…
1/ Think about eliminating distractions.
At the office, as at home, it's true, we face a thousand distractions at the same time. It seems essential to distinguish between those that are unavoidable and those that can be avoided. So, is it really necessary to write notes while phoning, glancing at Facebook notifications, chatting with a colleague or rereading emails from your loved one…? Without being dictatorial, we are well aware that there is "a time for everything and everything in its time." Thinking you can split your attention across multiple things at once is the surest way to exceed your limits. This can lead to situations of intense stress and, ultimately, deep exhaustion. Therefore, to an absolute inability to be effective.
2/ Think about setting priorities.
Making the effort to build your schedule means creating a hierarchy in your imperatives. Of course, everything will need to be done. But distributing tasks according to their urgency, importance, value and your own objectives is common sense rather than some form of tyranny. Being effective is above all knowing how to improve your performance. To be at your maximum potential, it seems essential to allow yourself ease and comfort physically, emotionally and intellectually.
3/ Think about giving yourself life-saving breaks.
Working continuously is not at all a guarantee of increased productivity. Sometimes even the opposite happens. The brain is a muscle. Let's give it moments of respite and recovery. In addition, breaks have this exceptional power of providing necessary perspective on the actions taken. Making a list, even mentally, of what has been accomplished during an hour, a week or a month allows you to tap into your optimization potential. And knowing it is to multiply your strengths.
4/ Think about setting limits for yourself.
Concentration is directly linked to the ability to limit oneself. There is no point believing, for example, that you can help a colleague write their report while reviewing your own… There's also no point in being "a jack of all trades, master of none" in front of your computer which has decided, today, to malfunction. Instead, call IT. This will save you a few hours of calm work. Knowing your limits and setting some for yourself also means giving yourself the possibility of focusing on your own skills and getting to the heart of your current topic.
Thus, there's no need to be a stress management expert or career coach to know that, while it is true that everyone has a duty to find their own solutions to improve their concentration, there are, however, recurring practices that are good to put into practice to counter fatigue and wasted time…
Article written by The ReKrute.com Team
Posted on October 2, 2011.
Here are some quick reminders…
1/ Think about eliminating distractions.
At the office, as at home, it's true, we face a thousand distractions at the same time. It seems essential to distinguish between those that are unavoidable and those that can be avoided. So, is it really necessary to write notes while phoning, glancing at Facebook notifications, chatting with a colleague or rereading emails from your loved one…? Without being dictatorial, we are well aware that there is "a time for everything and everything in its time." Thinking you can split your attention across multiple things at once is the surest way to exceed your limits. This can lead to situations of intense stress and, ultimately, deep exhaustion. Therefore, to an absolute inability to be effective.
2/ Think about setting priorities.
Making the effort to build your schedule means creating a hierarchy in your imperatives. Of course, everything will need to be done. But distributing tasks according to their urgency, importance, value and your own objectives is common sense rather than some form of tyranny. Being effective is above all knowing how to improve your performance. To be at your maximum potential, it seems essential to allow yourself ease and comfort physically, emotionally and intellectually.
3/ Think about giving yourself life-saving breaks.
Working continuously is not at all a guarantee of increased productivity. Sometimes even the opposite happens. The brain is a muscle. Let's give it moments of respite and recovery. In addition, breaks have this exceptional power of providing necessary perspective on the actions taken. Making a list, even mentally, of what has been accomplished during an hour, a week or a month allows you to tap into your optimization potential. And knowing it is to multiply your strengths.
4/ Think about setting limits for yourself.
Concentration is directly linked to the ability to limit oneself. There is no point believing, for example, that you can help a colleague write their report while reviewing your own… There's also no point in being "a jack of all trades, master of none" in front of your computer which has decided, today, to malfunction. Instead, call IT. This will save you a few hours of calm work. Knowing your limits and setting some for yourself also means giving yourself the possibility of focusing on your own skills and getting to the heart of your current topic.
Thus, there's no need to be a stress management expert or career coach to know that, while it is true that everyone has a duty to find their own solutions to improve their concentration, there are, however, recurring practices that are good to put into practice to counter fatigue and wasted time…
Article written by The ReKrute.com Team
Posted on October 2, 2011.
