by Larry Leech @LarryJLeechII
Focus can be one of the most … Did you just see that? That gray BMW almost rear-ended the car in the drive thru at Starbucks. That would have been a heckuva way to start the day.
Focus. Focus. Focus.
Sometimes that one word can be as elusive as a running back slipping through a hole en route to a long touchdown run.
Oh, yea. Football season is coming up. I’m rooting for the Forty-Niners. Well, they are my favorite team, although I grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pa. area.
Back to focus. For as long as my mind can stay on topic. For the moment, that’s writing this blog. Limiting distractions as a freelancer is something I had to learn when I left the corporate world more than 15 years ago. I struggled at first, and at times, I still do, but my mantra now is “If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.” Getting paid can be a great motivator.
Staying focused is important, even if you aren’t getting paid. I learned a few things along the way. Some of them seem simple:
Minimize or close the Internet
Close Outlook so I don’t see the new email notifications
Others haven’t been as simple.
When I work at a nationally known coffee shop, a lot of people came through each hour. Being a people watcher is a hobby of many writers, this one included. I’ve had to force myself to keep my head down and not pay attention to what is going on around me.
Let my home office remain a mess until quitting time each day
Avoid my phone, which I now place face down while working
Other things to consider:
Set a timer to work 55 minutes each hour and then take a 5-minute break
Get up and stretch
Set a timer to pray twice a day during your break
Hang a Do NOT DISTURB sign on your home office when you must stay focused
Eat well (For some, this may mean limiting the amount of sugar or, gasp caffeine.)
Establish a reasonable list each day of things to accomplish AND break each into a smaller task with a deadline
Reward yourself when you make your deadline
Those are just a few things that can help you stay … Oh, look at that pretty butterfly. Isn’t it beautiful? Dang, it just fluttered away.
Focus. What a wonderful thing, when achieved. Productivity increases. Peace replaces anxiety.
Your editor will be happy. Your family will be happy. You will be happy.
And you’ll have plenty of time to watch butterflies because all the work will be done.
Writing coach of award-winning novelists, Larry J. Leech II has spent nearly 40 years working with words. After a 23-year journalism career that began in 1981, Larry moved into freelance writing and editing in 2004. He has ghostwritten nearly 30 books and edited more than 250 manuscripts. Larry teaches at numerous conferences nationwide and can be found online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and his website, www.larryleech.com.
The Conversation
Great advice. Your humor is priceless and accurate. A person doesn’t have to be labeled adhd to be distracted. It’s human nature. Degree is another thing entirely. Timers are amazing- if I only remember to set them.
Thank you for sharing great practical ideas this butterfly watcher needs to use more.
Larry, these are great ideas to help with focus. I’m going to try the timer method, too. 🙂 Blessings! 🙂
Larry, I cannot focus unless I start my day with the Lord. Unless my focus is centered on Christ, nothing comes into focus. He has such jewels for me. When I lay down at night to rest, the enemy is ready to attack. My mind races on all the things undone. Just last night, I panicked and wondered if I should have sent a message on LinkedIn to another author mentioning her two grammar mistakes. I buffered my message with quirky humor but wrestled with the fact that I may have hurt her feelings. I grabbed my phone, turned on the light, and searched for the message. To my surprise, she wrote me a lovely note saying she loved my sense of humor and shared her email. God blessed me with a new friend! I emailed her, apologized anyway, and shared more about myself.
I look forward to getting to know her.
As for focusing while I write, I positioned my writing desk in front of a window to hide distractions. Although I can see my neighbor’s house, I have a great view of the sky and woods. There is no better place than trips to the beach or mountains to write!