Developing my short term focus muscle

I am very good at getting things done when I have two hours or more ahead of me.

Conversely, I struggle to be productive with shorter pockets of time (20 minutes - 1 hour).

These days, with family in town, I only have short pockets of time.

I think, “Oh, that’s not enough time to complete my main task for the day, so I’ll do it later”.

Instead, I do inconsequential things that don’t move the dial, and my main goal for the day remains incomplete.

I’ve been reflecting, and I think the key is building my short-term focus muscle.

Even if I can focus for ten minutes out of thirty, that’s ten minutes more spent working on my main goal.

Here are some of the tactics I am trying:

• Having a go-to “focus” song. I’m trying to train my mind to get into a focus mode whenever I hear it.

• Using a Pomodoro app starting with just 15 minutes at a time with a five-minute break in between. During this time, I’m not allowed to do anything else.

• Not having any expectations for outputs, so that I am pleasantly surprised with any progress made.

The worst thing I can do is to discover a problem and not do anything about it.

So, let’s see if these experiments work. Otherwise, it’s time to think of new ones.

Today’s Prompts

Discovering and solving weaknesses

Think about a recurring issue in your life. What deeper root cause might you be avoiding? What happens if you continue to ignore the issue?

Reflect on a problem that seemed overwhelming but manageable once you started working on it.

When have you felt most proud of yourself for solving a problem?

Quote of the day

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.” – Tim Ferriss

The 'If you don’t have time’ Prompt

What’s one area in your life that you are not happy about?

Get the most out of your journalling:

• Choose one prompt: Focus on just one prompt each day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Be brutally honest: Reflect openly and honestly. This is your safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

• Take your time: Sometimes it takes a few days to clarify your thinking. Here’s permission for you to take your time to unravel a prompt and not take on any new ones during that time.

• Journal your way: Whether you prefer writing, audio recording, or video, choose the method that suits you best.

• Don't stress about streaks: If you miss a day, don't worry. You can always revisit a previous prompt.

I’d love your feedback

What was your favourite prompt of the day? Is there any specific challenge you want prompts for? How can I improve the content of the newsletter? Reply this mail and let me know!