Focus is one of the most important qualities of professionals. In this article, you will read why focus matters so much, and why you can probably gain a lot from it.
"Energy flows where attention goes. When you focus on something, it expands."
By focusing, you save precious time, work more effectively and achieve better results. It sounds logical: if you can't focus, you can't think clearly. And if you can't think clearly, you can't deliver the quality needed to be successful.
Every time your attention is distracted, you lose your concentration. Research by Gloria Mark of the University of California shows that after an interruption, people need an average of around 23 minutes to return to their original task. Mark et al. People who are interrupted often start working faster to catch up, but experience more stress and time pressure as a result. Mark et al. So the colleague who quickly asks you something, or that notification of a new email, costs you more than you think.
How to focus better
How do you make sure you stay focused at work, so you are more productive and get better results?
1. Clear your head
When your head is full of unfinished tasks, it is hard to really focus. You get stuck and think too much about everything that still needs doing. So create calm and structure in your head. Make a priority list of all the open tasks and mark which ones have the highest priority. Then schedule those tasks, delegate them or cross them off your list. Good focus starts with good structure.
2. Create a pleasant working environment
A pleasant workplace is a plus for everyone: a place where you feel at ease and can do your work without worries. But a pleasant working environment is not always an effective one. A tidy workplace helps. Clear away what you don't need. And make sure you can work in silence when you need to concentrate. Our brain is very sensitive to distraction, and without noticing we like to listen in on colleagues' conversations. Sit in a quiet room, work from home or put on your headphones.
3. Master technology
Software can greatly improve your productivity and focus. At the same time, we are on our phones all day. Notifications and messages fly at us and keep pulling us out of our work.
Many people think they are good at multitasking, but it is disappointing. Researchers Jason Watson and David Strayer had 200 people drive in a simulator while doing a difficult memory and arithmetic task. Only 2.5% of them performed as well on two tasks at once as on one task. Watson & Strayer Simple work such as washing up or gardening can easily be combined with thinking, but doing two things at once that both demand a lot of brainpower is something almost nobody manages. So switch off your phone or notifications regularly. That greatly improves your focus and productivity. Use technology to help you instead, for example with a calendar in which you schedule fixed blocks for concentrated work.
4. Eat your frog first
Start the morning with the task that is important but that you dread or don't feel like doing. It clears the decks wonderfully. You are proud of yourself that it's done, you don't have to spend the whole day thinking 'I still have to do that awful job', and usually the mountain turns out to be much bigger in your head than in practice. You often have hours left for other important and enjoyable tasks. Read more about this in eat the frog.
Take control
Good focus means you see opportunities, make better use of them and work more effectively. Keep a tidy head and a tidy workplace, and master technology. Take control of your daily work. You decide what you do every day and at what pace. Decide where your priorities lie and what you want to work on each day. And use the strength of your colleagues: focus on the things you are good at and that give you energy. By working together, you get further. That way you can focus on what really matters.
