Lost your focus? Look in here

You’ve been blinded by all those shiny objects. Ready to get your focus back to what really matters? You can. Here’s how.

That’s interesting.

Whether it’s the latest news or Facebook or your Twitter feed or the neighbors arguing next door, there are many “interesting” calls for your attention at any given moment.

And if you had nothing to do, those things would help you get through your day, flitting from one shiny object or thought or idea to another, from the time you wake until your head finally hits the pillow at night.

But you do have things to do. And while you may not find them all that enticing, avoiding what is essential will only make you feel worse.

What really matters?

You do realize, don’t you, that time will eventually or suddenly run out for you? Whether you are young or old, your days will end. And when they do, you won’t want to regret that you wasted whatever time you had.

So ask yourself right now: What is most important to me? And don’t cop out. Don’t say, “I just really don’t know what is most important to me.” That’s a bunch of hooey. You say it to protect yourself, but it’s not true.

You know what is essential if you will stop long enough to think about it.

So stop and think.

Writing is the best way to get what is inside your head out into the light of day, so you can actually do something about what’s on your mind.

Start with a simple prompt:

“What do I care about most?”

You’ll be amazed at what you write, if you will take a moment to do it. And there it will be, right on the page in front of you: What Really Matters.

Don’t worry about how to write. For example: you could wonder, “What is the best way to write down what is in my head? Should I use Evernote, or my Apple program, or Google Docs?” Resist the temtation to think: “I’ll do this once I go to the office supply store and get myself a decent journal.”

Just do it.

Before this day ends, get out whatever is easiest for you to write with and write. It was W.H. Auden who said it best: “How can I know what I think till I see what I say?”

With that in mind, make time to write. Remember our prompt:

What do I care about most?

To regain your focus.

I like a plain sheet of paper and a pen. I sit down with that simple media and write. When I’m finished writing for 10-15 minutes, I put the pen down, and read what I’ve written. Then I pick up the pen again and circle and underline what seems most relevant.

Then I get out my calendar, and write on that calendar some practical way, in real time, to do something about what matters most to me. You can too.

The question is: Will you?

The takeaway:

When you lose your focus, sit down for 10-15 minutes and write down what matters most to you. Then go, do something about  it.

Read more.

I can help you focus on — and then do something about — what matters most to you.