Is your focus muscle flabby?

Focus is a muscle.  And chances are yours could use some toning!

You need to lift some focus weights.

Do you find yourself easily distracted when working on assignments or studying?

Do you feel like you HAVE to check your phone every time it pings?

Do you know it takes you longer to complete assignments than it really should?

You need to think about focus as a muscle.  Just like with any muscle, the more we work it, the stronger it gets.  If you want to have stronger focus, you need to work it out.  Focus is the single most important skill I see lacking in my students and is a complete game changer for working smarter not harder.

Why Focus is so important?

Because if you are able to focus and get shit done, you won’t have to spend as much time working.  If you can increase your focus, by decreasing your distractions and the number of times you start/stop working, you will dramatically decrease the time spent on finishing your work.

Each student in the class needs to accomplish the same work. 

Would you rather spend 2 hours on an assignment, or would you rather spend 45 minutes?  I know what my answer is!

But, the choice is yours.  If you work on your focus muscle, you can get your work done in a shorter amount of time and then have more time to do what you want.  That’s the goal!

The only way to reduce the time spent is to increase the intensity of the work.  You do that with better focus.

You get better at what you practice.

You need to practice focusing, just like you practice anything else you want to get good at.  Spend 20- minute time frames working with no distractions.

You need to eliminate ALL distractions!

• Turn phone on airplane mode.
• Put it somewhere you can’t see it.
• Make sure workspace is tidy.
• Go somewhere you won’t be interrupted. (Cubicle in basement of library)

Decide where you will work out your focus muscle.  Then pick a time everyday to exercise your focus muscle.

Do this every day.  It doesn’t have to be hours.  But a couple of 20-minute sessions will go a long way!

Work on what is MOST important first.  When you really put your mind to it, you’ll be shocked how much you can get done in a short period of time.

Then, take a break, get a snack, and do it again!

There are HUGE rewards for those that learn to focus.

• Less time doing assignments!
• Less time studying!
• Less time in every single thing you have to do!

Focus is a muscle and like any muscle it will be stronger the more you use it.  You need to have a strategy to increase your focus, just like you have a workout plan or healthy eating plan.

Apply a little bit of focus strategy to your days, and watch your productivity dramatically increase!

What is the one thing you can do or have already done to increase your focus?

Wishing you your best semester yet,

Dr. Dagny Rearden