How I (Try To) Focus

With the semester starting back up for me, it’s time for me to have to once again consider all of the ways I intend on keeping my focus on the school work, clubs, and writing that I have to keep track of.

Spoiler alert: I’m not very good at it.

Now, I won’t try to decipher exactly why focus is so often out of reach for me, because that wouldn’t be a very entertaining blog. But, since I need to be a functioning human being, I’ve gathered some techniques that tend to work for me.

ROUTINE

Part of the reason I love the semester more than the summer is the routine. But that doesn’t stop with the introduction of classes and meetings to my schedule.

Creating a schedule for everything from readings to days set aside for club work has helped me make sure to set aside both the time and the energy for what I need to do and what I want to do. Of course, it helps that my classes have mostly been good about posting all of the material and assignments ahead of time, so I generally won’t have curveballs once my schedule is set.

This extends into the weekends, too, when I do much of my work (as I won’t do schoolwork after dinner on any day). I always start off my day with a walk and a chai latte, and when I sit down to do work, I put on music I associate with being productive and pace my work using pomodoro timers.

REDUNDANCY

My mother raised me to appreciate the art of a good list. But for me, one list isn’t always enough. My brain will sometimes just forget that the list exists, or I may miss an important task on that list.

So, another list never hurt anyone. Or maybe three or four.

Having constant reminders of what I need to do helps me ensure everything gets done on time. Especially as I’m currently juggling multiple leadership positions, a job, school work, and editing my novel, these reminders are essential.

ACCOUNTABILITY

In high school health class, I was taught to avoid peer pressure at all costs. But, being gently threatened by friends to get work done is sometimes needed for me to get things done.

This most often happens in the writing-sphere of things for me, especially since I can give my friends a teaser of what I currently have, so they have extra motivation to beg for more. But, I also will work with my friends to have check-ins over work that needs to be done, and body doubling techniques are remarkable.

Back to the writing-sphere, though, it’s also nice to have that little confidence boost to know people want to know what happens next.

TREATS

I’ll admit it: I’m a food-motivated person.

Generally, I don’t like spending money on myself. But I’ll usually be able to bend my will when I feel like I’ve worked hard, and especially when that spent money goes toward food. So, what better way to get through a tough assignment or a writing milestone than to get some food?

Sometimes, I may get some ice cream or candy, and other times, I may decide to make myself a nice dinner. In general, though, it’s about having something nice to look forward to when the work is done.

Even with these techniques, focus doesn’t always come easy. I’ll have days where I stare at an assignment and just be unable to start, and other days I may pace for hours instead of writing.

I won’t stop trying, though. I’ve got too much to get done.