Admit it.

You’ve identified your most important task (MIT) for the day, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down to work on it. Ten minutes in and the urge to check your email, send a text and visit news sites kicks in. You do your routine check and get back to your MIT and, after another 10 minutes, you are on your routine check again.

Sounds familiar?

Most people think this is normal and this way of thinking forces them to spend way more time on a task than it actually requires. No wonder why work weeks aren’t 40 hours anymore.

On Focused Attention

The ability to focus for a long time on a single task is diminishing in 21st-century knowledge workers despite it being one of today’s most valuable skills. It’s not something you put on your resume but it’s something you actually use on a daily basis to get stuff done.

I’ve always wondered how come I can complete my tasks well ahead of the other people at work. I noticed that most of them allow all kinds of distractions while working so they end up spending way more time to complete their tasks.

We all know what these distractions are and they aren’t going anywhere soon. So, instead of talking about distractions, we will focus on the solutions to help you get more things done in less time.

Today, I am going to share three powerful strategies that I have implemented and tested in my personal and work life. These are the strategies that taught me how to improve concentration.

Redefine Your Friendship with the Internet

The Internet is the core of all distractions, so let’s start with it.

These days, most of us have social media, emails or instant messaging apps open while working on a task that requires a lot of brainpower.

Most people think they can focus on a cognitively demanding task while surfing the internet and receiving constant notifications. It’s a huge misconception and research has proven it, too.

If you want to improve your focus, you need to look at how you are using the internet. Is it making your life easier or is it distracting you from your most important task (MIT) on most days?

If it’s the source of distractions, then you need to set new terms. This requires three elements.

A. Get notified on your own terms

Don’t let an email message from a coworker or social media notifications ruin your flow.

Turn off notifications from all social sites as well as your email on your smartphone. If you really want to get notified, choose to receive notifications only for emails or messages that are extremely important.

If you can’t turn off all notifications on your phone, at least minimize them. Decide what is important in your life.

B. Acknowledge FOMO (Fear of Missing out)

While working on a task, we all have a tendency to check social media or news sites because we feel like we are missing out on something important if we don’t. Millennials are badly impacted by FOMO and it really disrupts their ability to focus.

Instead of checking social or news sites 633 times during workday, have a couple of times during the day when you can go all in on it. Try it out for a couple days and notice how liberated you’ll feel.

C. Build a cave

If you have an option to work in a separate space, such as in a closed door office or just away from your colleagues, then turn that space into a focus cave for a couple of hours. Here’s how cave environment looks like:

· Tasks to be worked on has been identified already
· No distraction (electric or human) allowed
· Brain music (ex: brain.fm) for focus is on with earphones
· Coffee/Tea is ready to be sipped

Schedule Your Training Sessions

Learning how to improve concentration is like going to the gym to lose weight or build muscles. To improve focus, you need to have training sessions throughout the workweek as well.

The best way to do these training sessions and get stuff done at the same time is to use the good old Pomodoro technique. No one can beat Pomodoro technique when it comes to focusing.

If you aren’t familiar with the Pomodoro technique, here it is in a nutshell:

· Select your MIT.
· Set the timer for a specified time (example 30 min).
· Work on one task for the set time period with no distractions allowed.
· Take a quick break of 5-10 mins and then get back to another session Tip: Take a break away from your

Tip: Take a break away from your workspace.

You can download a Pomodoro timer easily from the internet. I use a tool called Tomighty.

If you can do 4 to 5 sessions of 30 to 45 minutes a day, you can’t even imagine how much stuff you can get done. Beginners find it hard to complete 4-5 sessions, so if you can’t, don’t get discouraged. Just start with 2 or whatever is comfortable for you.

If you are a beginner, you won’t be able for focus for 30 minutes straight on a single task because your brain isn’t used to it yet. Just start with a small number and increment from there.

See Also: Hack the Pomodoro Technique to Boost Your Productivity

Learn to Multitask

So far, hundreds, if not thousands, of research papers have proved that multitasking is bad for the human brain. Am I stupid to recommend multitasking then? No.

Even with all the research and literature proving multitasking is bad, more and more people are getting into it every day. One common complaint people have is that they have so much to do so they have to multitask.

To make a better use of it, learn how to differentiate your tasks. Some of them can be done simultaneously but others require intense focus.

For example, you can easily fill out a status report while chatting with your colleague on an instant messaging tool. On the other side, there are tasks, such as writing software design documentation, that require 100% focus and can’t be done effectively while multitasking.

So, the takeaway here is to look at your list of tasks every day and decide which tasks require intense focus and use Pomodoro technique to go through them.

Pro Tip: Use afternoons for multitasking and morning for tasks that require focus.

Steps On How To Improve Concentration

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to apply these three strategies to increase your concentration:

1. Before you start anything else at work, look at your tasks and identify those that require 100% focus and which tasks can be completed while multitasking.
2. Select your MIT (most important task).
3. Make sure all notifications are turned off, except highly important ones.
4. Set your Pomodoro timer to your desired working time.
5. Work through that time and resist the urge to give up, browse the internet or check your phone.
6. Once the time is over, take a break for 5 to 10 mins. Step away from your desk and get some fresh air if possible.
7. Return to your desk for another intense session. Continue with your existing task or start a new one.
8. After you are done with your most important tasks, you can continue completing the other tasks on your lists which you can do even while getting interrupted.

Conclusion

It sucks to be late for deadlines or to stay late at work just because you can’t finish your tasks due to all the distractions. However, if you follow the methods outlined above, I can promise you that you can accomplish your tasks in half the time. Now, imagine having extra time for things you love to do because you learned to curb distractions and save time due to improved focus.

What are the common barriers that prevent you from focusing on a single task for more than 30 minutes?

See Also: 4 Habits That Will Improve Your Focus And Destroy Procrastination

The post 3 Powerful Strategies On How To Improve Concentration appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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According to statistics, about fifty percent of children will experience the pains of divorce before their 18th birthday. Unfortunately, I happened to be among those who made up that statistic.

The common fear of those coming from a broken home is a lack of motivation. Don’t get me wrong. I have learned to retrieve some hardcore business lessons from my broken home that could motivate even those with the faintest of hearts.

To give you an idea, here are five hardcore business lessons that helped me build the successful business I run today. I believe these could be great inspiring factors for you.

The Desire for Independence is An Asset

Most often, the desire for freedom is a primary motivator for entrepreneurship. Having grown up without handouts, I didn’t find it difficult developing an independent mindset. Although it seemed a bitter pill to swallow, it helped prepare me for the entrepreneurial adventure I saw myself in a few years later.

Just like me, make sense out of your desire for independence. See your freedom as an asset for development and not a burden. Your ability to properly utilize this freedom is what will build your foundation.

See Also: Taking Ownership: Are You Taking Full Responsibility For Your Life?

Give Maximum Attention To Customers

While growing, I knew what not being welcomed felt like. I found it better to stay out because I didn’t feel I was treated right most of the time.

This made me realize that if I wanted to satisfy my prospective customers and turn them into repeat client, I needed to treat them like the kings they are. People love attention and will do everything to ensure they get it. In a broken home, I have come to realize that treating people well means directly growing your business.

Treat Your Employees And Customers Well

My first-hand experience of a broken home opened my eyes to the benefit attached to treating people well. One of the biggest mistakes many small businesses make is not treating their employees well.

They wholeheartedly believe in the saying that the customer is the king so they make their employees go out of their way to make customers feel favored. However, what they fail to realize is that, eventually, the overall customer experience is going to depend on how their employees respond to the leadership and the business.

Now, let me tell you a secret. If your employees are treated with dignity, trust, and respect, they will indeed show these things back to your clients. They would treat your customers the way you would, value your business’ goals and may even go the extra mile and make some personal sacrifices for the greater good of the company.

See Also: 6 Benefits of Motivational Training for Employees

Leaving A Great Impression On Your Customers

Growing up with a bad impression and constant depression pushed me to aspire to leave a better impression. This is repeatable in business and unless you have a million dollar marketing budget, word-of-mouth marketing is going to be crucial to the success of your business.

Leaving a great impression may well come down to your ability to get personal with your customers. If you’re the typical salesperson, you may be shown the door in no time.

However, if you take the time to learn their problem, get familiar with who they are and what exactly they are looking for, you would certainly be able to pitch to them in a way that appeals to them.

Hard Work Would Always Have the Upper Hand Over Talent

I used to believe that if you’re talented or are a little more intelligent than the “average entrepreneur” out there, the journey to success may turn out to be an easier one.

But, let me put it without any sugar coating: NOTHING beats hard work!

When you’re an entrepreneur, there’s no shortcut to success, even if you have some unique talent or a higher IQ.

Conclusion

In all situations and circumstances, your ability to reason is what will make you successful. Like me, don’t ever back out and become a chicken wing. Draw out the positives, work hard and relate every instance with your ideal business projection. The truth is anyone can be successful irrespective of the circumstance.

The post 5 Hardcore Business Lessons Growing In a Broken Home Taught Me appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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You may have no idea what your reason for being is. You’re annoyed, dissatisfied and unexcited by everything. It’s monotonous, tedious and frustrating.

And if you think you’re alone, think again.

In fact, you’re part of the largest group of people on Earth. You don’t know what to do with your life and, worse, you don’t know how to find out.

People are not born knowing their role in the world. In fact, we’re all born with endless possibilities and therein lies the problem. How do you even begin and, if you begin, how do you choose?

Can you move past the idea that there must be so much more? What are the ways to  move on?

The Future is Yours—You Just Can’t See It

Life has many things in store for you. Family, friends, health, work, society—all of them change considerably during your lifetime. It’s unlikely that you will enjoy all these changes as not all of them will be positive.

Know this: your life’s journey is your masterpiece.

As you work in life, your purpose unfolds in front of you and your role in the world becomes clearer. Stop trying to meticulously plan your life. Planning is the antithesis to the adventure and improvisation that life requires. You’re in charge and that’s a great thing. A little scary maybe, but still a great thing. Remember that the best way to plan your future is to go out and create it!

Your default mode should be action. Doing [things] is honest philosophy. Stay positive and avoid criticizing others. Above all else, avoid negativity. Work to be helpful and try to look for ways to help other people.

At your job, help your boss. In your community, help your neighbors. For the rest of the world, help those less fortunate. Don’t enter the ugly fray that’s become so prevalent in our society. Always be on the side of positivity.

When you approach life this way, people seek you out and opportunities find you. It’s the law of attraction (http://ift.tt/1Rh8yjp).

See Also: 12 Mind-blowing Tips for Increasing Your Overall Positivity!

Don’t Do What Makes You Happy

“Do what makes you happy” is a terrible advice from well-intentioned parents and teachers.

In fact, you should embrace discomforts and frustrations and move beyond your comfort zone. This is the only way to learn. To focus only on that which makes you happy means you avoid a great deal of life and the learning that comes with it.

Every time you move outside of your comfort zone, you learn more. Your role in life and your true happiness become clearer and you have more focus. You find out who you are and everything that you can endure. Each period of great discomfort teaches you about your preferences and that your limits are probably lesser than you imagined. Push your mind and body and then adjust. Do that again and again for that is the journey.

See Also: The Call for Change: Time to Step Out of the Comfort Zone

Investment In Your Mentality

ROI or Return on Investment (http://ift.tt/2cT3YZS) is when you get back what you put in.

You already know about moving beyond your comfort zone – that’s the fun, adventurous part. However, sacrifice is tougher. It is the boring and frustrating part where most people choose to stop.

Note to self: “Don’t stop here.”

You need to understand that there is a long road to travel and that life is a marathon. Chances are you’re just beginning.

Humans are hardwired to want things now. It’s called immediate gratification and it’s a very powerful force. You should be smarter than everyone else, so think! invest in your future and reap your returns as you move forward.

Creating your future most often means sacrificing time with family and friends, working for long stretches in jobs you don’t enjoy (http://ift.tt/2rfsRpg), studying and saving your money. We all have limited time, energy and funds, but you must invest those limited treasures so that you can create a future of greater abundance.

Teach Yourself

Stop waiting to be trained! The truth is that you can’t gain knowledge without seeking it. Nobody can teach you anything anyway. They can only help you learn so understand that going through the process alone is one of the effective ways to move on.

When you don’t know something, read about it, work at it or ask questions. Read about new places, research careers that interest you and speak to people with more experience.

The more you explore, the closer you come to understanding who you are and what you’re supposed to be doing. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty because that’s the only way to know if you’re enjoying something. Keep in mind that you are your best mentor.

Big questions that can be helpful:

• What are you most passionate about?
• How can you give back to the world (http://ift.tt/2sdrcxK)?
• What would you prioritize if money and time were no objects?
• Can you speak another language?
• Is travel important to you?
• What professional experience do you want to gain?

Today, hundreds of companies all over the world will allow you to travel, learn and give back while you continue to explore your passions, develop new skills and discover new interests. Start by helping in disaster relief abroad through All Hands Volunteers (https://www.hands.org/), offering your time to provide a better future to the kids in Latin America with Maximo Nivel (http://ift.tt/2kXdo86) or help orphaned and abandoned children in Africa and Asia through (http://ift.tt/2fFsNGT). Your role in the world and your preferences continue to evolve over time, so continue teaching yourself and keep learning!

There Is No Right Time

Time waits for no one, so utilize the time you’ve been gifted. As much as possible, avoid falling trap to time wasters, like TV, social media, people who don’t like you and being negative. Instead, try reading, traveling and being with the people who like you.

Your path in life and your role in the world are only discovered as you work at it. So, work hard! A lot of people miss the idea of fulfillment and happiness because opportunity always looks like hard work.

Instead of thinking that way, engage your mind and body in creating your life’s journey. It won’t be easy and it won’t be perfect. That’s completely fine as it’s not supposed to be.

Thinking about it, waiting, being nervous or scared—these are all personal choices. If you want to move out of a rut, move beyond those choices. You will never regret your adventures if you’re learning new things.

The post How To Get Out Of A Rut: 5 Ways To Move On appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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