goal-setting

Find your Focus

/ Ritamarie Hensley / Leave a comment
Photo by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels.com

I recently read an article that suggested that we each should spend time being in our flow. From what I’ve read, being in your flow is about enjoying a creative endeavor.  I thought about the many times I’ve enjoyed being in my flow while writing. Enjoying creativity is a flow we all need. 

Can we create this same kind of flow during our work or school day? Work or school may not feel like a creative flow, but it can be a way to get lost in our tasks by being completely focused.  Yet, maintaining focus in today’s fast-paced world can be challenging.  With some effective strategies on hand, you can enhance concentration, be more productive and then get back as soon as possible to your flow. 

Set Clear Goals for the Day

Clearly define your goals for the day and create a list that contains what you want to achieve. Knowing what you want to achieve helps you prioritize tasks and stay focused on what truly matters. You can break down your tasks into a list of actionable items. This not only helps you organize your work but also provides a sense of accomplishment as you check off completed tasks. Try to tackle the most important items first, which will help minimize the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Time Blocking

Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities. This strategy can help you avoid multitasking and ensure dedicated focus on one task at a time. When I find myself getting distracted in the middle of a task, I use the Pomodoro technique. It emphasizes working in short intervals (typically 25 minutes) followed by short breaks (typically 5 minutes). All you need is a timer to get started. Give it a try to help improve concentration and prevent burnout. 

Minimize Distractions

Identify and minimize potential distractions in your environment. Turn off notifications, create a quiet workspace, and let others know when you need uninterrupted time. You may need to hide your phone and shut down all of your tabs on your computer. I don’t find the phone distracting, but I usually have about 15 tabs open on my computer. I use the tabs as reminders of what I need to get done during the day, but they often distract me when I’m trying to focus on one topic. Determine your distractions and work to eliminate them. 

Sleep, Exercise, Hydrate

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps with focus. Lack of sleep can significantly impair your ability to focus, so prioritize a consistent sleep schedule to ensure you are well-rested and alert during the day. Regular exercise boosts your energy level and brain health, which helps with your concentration levels.. Dehydration and hunger can negatively impact your focus and energy levels. Ensure you stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet to support cognitive function. 

Stay Organized

It’s hard to keep your focus when your workspace is cluttered. You may have a system where you know how to find everything, but if your workspace looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in a few months, clean it and organize it. A tidy environment can help reduce mental clutter, decrease distractions, and enhance focus.

Set Realistic Expectations

Each morning when you create a to-do list, be sure to be realistic about what you can accomplish within a given timeframe. You don’t want to overcommit yourself and then end the day feeling like you failed. Instead, create a list of what you know you can accomplish and then at the end of the day acknowledge and maybe even celebrate your productivity. The positive reinforcement will help keep you motivated as you continue making progress.

A New Start, A New Semester

/ Ritamarie Hensley / Leave a comment
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Although the leaves on the trees are gone and everything outside looks stark and bleak, this time of year can be a time for growth. Personal growth can begin at any time of the year, but a new semester is the perfect time to refocus goals and a commitment to learning. Setting learning goals can begin with a simple reflection about your last semester. Did you achieve deep learning? Did you prioritize learning over other parts of your life? Did you finish the semester feeling proud of the work you completed? 

If the answers to the above questions satisfy you, then you have nothing to change as the new semester begins. However, if any of your responses cause you pause, then you have the opportunity to make some changes before the new semester begins. The first step to making a change is to decide on one or two long term goals. A long term goal can last for several months and it takes small incremental steps to achieve the goal. Focusing on just a couple of goals will help you prioritize and make progress. 

You can begin by setting a long term goal and then making a plan on how to best achieve it. For example, if you know that you tend to procrastinate with assignments and would like to change that habit, you need to create a plan that will motivate you to complete assignments early. Perhaps you can create your own due dates that allow for extra time to complete the assignment days before it is actually due. And, if you succeed, create a reward system. Rewards can come in any form. You know what you like, so make a list of some of the rewards that might motivate you to complete your assignments by your “own due date.” 

Create a daily schedule, one that is reasonable and therefore doable. Sticking to a schedule will help you form a habit. Daily habits will help you reach your long-term goals. You can begin by doing an examination of how you spend your time each day. Many believe they have no time in their day to add another task; they already feel overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. Yet, if you take some time to examine each minute of your day, you may begin to see things that need to be changed and where you might consolidate your time. Maybe you spend too much time scrolling on your phone, watching TV or hanging out with friends. These activities do not need to be eliminated, but you can begin to put a time limit on how long you do each one. 

Once you’ve examined how you already spend your time and understand where you can add opportunities to work on assignments, create a schedule. Write it down and make it visible. You are in charge of creating the schedule, so create one that makes you happy. A schedule that allows you to take short breaks throughout the day. One that allows time to focus and accomplish and time to refresh and relax. The schedule does not need to be to the minute, but you should set aside blocks of time to work on school work. Time when you are energized and ready and open to new learning. Do you work better in the morning? Would you rather work after dinner? Or do you prefer short increments of school work throughout the day? 

Only a very small percentage of people keep their resolutions throughout the year. But, don’t look at setting a learning goal as a resolution. A learning goal can become a way of life if you create one that motivates you. A goal that will make you feel proud of yourself if you keep it. Taking small steps towards the goal can be a simple change. Focus on one course or just one assignment. Any small change will benefit you.