Focus Is Everything

So I’m sitting here at approximately the half-way point of my day. I’m able to look back and what’s been done and forward to what’s left. I never get as much done as I want, but it’s nice to see progress.

I’m pausing for a moment to keep things from falling behind on my blog and reciprocal comments, responses and blog parties/carnivals. And I’m realizing as I do it how important focus is. My day has only been satisfactory to me because I’ve been shifting my focus on things with purpose. I looked at the list of household chores and organized them in order of the ones that would really make me feel good when done. Then I tackled the list with that direction. I also found that by allowing some focus on other tasks, a much needed balance was created for me. I can’t spend as much time as I’d like in any one area today without tipping over my productivity basket. Some days are just like that. Once and a while I find things caught up enough in any one area to spend a little more time in another, but on days like today when there’s a certain amount of catching up to be done, I find that a purposeful dibble here and dabble there make a very happy me at the end of the day. If everything goes to one area I feel robbed and miserable at day’s end.

Focus really is everything. I was determined when I woke this morning not to let my productivity give way to procrastination, laziness or negative feelings of being overwhelmed. I knew there were a few things that I just have to get done today and it was easier to tackle them knowing I’d given myself a break on Saturday. I find that what we feed grows so the focus takes on new meaning with this view. So far, the charged batteries are holding out. I started with one of those back burner projects that’s been neglected for a little too long and that’s been both satisfying and motivating. Sometimes starting where you’ve been holding off the longest can work in your favor.

Then I moved onto maintenance, which brings me here to my computer. I can’t let thing build up here and Monday’s are always that way for me because I’m rarely here on weekends. I won’t get around to reading my Google Reader blogs today, but at least I can keep up with a post and responses to comments. Then tomorrow I’ll feel like I spend more time reading and keeping up with blog events like the Ultimate Blog Party going on now and the Carnival of Family Life. It’s all about steps, and having a purpose and focus to each one makes all the difference in the world.

Next, it’s back to my list of household chores that I really feel need to get done today. Motion, constant motion seems to be the name of the game.

So at the end of the day, when you’re really needing to feel good at the end of the day here’s a few tips:

• tackle a back burner project that’s been bugging you for a while
• maintain ongoing and current tasks or projects with a small amount of time
• make sure you can see the progress of your efforts to keep you motivated
• remember that tomorrow is another day and it doesn’t all have to get done today
• starve the problems and feed the solutions - it’s such a better use of your time and energies
• keep moving

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