We all have those weeks, where it seems like everything and nothing is happening at the same time. Your mind is fuzzy, small tasks feel like uphill climbs and your concentration is lackluster at best. You’ve been hit hard with a case of mind-clutter and your razor-sharp focus is eluding you. We all go through lulls where things that once mattered don’t seem as important and the projects we so desperately want to complete seem to be jumping like hot potatoes out of our grasp.
In a world where new information is coming at us a mile a millisecond, it’s easy to lose sight of your priorities and misplace your focus. The great thing is that your focus doesn’t have to be lost forever and while it can be difficult to get realigned, there are quite a few things you can do to clear your mind and the path to being productive again.
Get some Rest and Relax
If your thoughts are constantly spinning off into space or you can’t concentrate on a single task, it could be that fatigue is contributing to your mental drain. Our bodies and minds are easily exhausted and need to be restored and taken care of if we want them to function well. Healthy eating, exercise and deep sleep all contribute to a sharp brain.
Meditate
There was a reason your teacher put you in time out (or maybe that was just me) Over-activity and over stimulation can send us in so many different directions and having quiet time alone with your thoughts is essential. Meditation, whether spent doing yoga or in religious prayer, calms our thoughts and helps center them on what’s important.
Make a List of Priorities
When things seems to be going awry, one of the best ways to get organized is to make a prioritized list of your goals. Putting your priorities down on paper can show you exactly what you want and what still needs to be done. And when distractions enter, you can refer to the list to get back on track.
Aside: As much as I want to be on the multi-task train, I had to get off at Overwhelmed-ville. Multitasking is a lot of action and not much completion and can cause unnecessary distractions as you’re trying to complete 5 things at once. Slow down and Single Task (note to self)
Limit Distractions and Energy Drains
There’s no faster way to lose focus on a task or goal than distractions and energy killers. You know like Twitter, your whiny friend that calls at inopportune times and even your internal fear. All of these things can derail your focus and either have you doubting your purpose or take you completely off task. Do your best to limit these issues. Be cutthroat is removing unnecessary distractions if you have to.
Join Forces
No woman is an island and when you’re getting overwhelmed it is the perfect time to link up with a like-minded friend or someone who motivates you. Instead of wallowing in your fuzziness, getting a pep-talk from your personal cheerleaders (Mom, girlfriend, stranger on park bench) can bring a unique perspective and help you get back in the saddle.
It’s natural for your motivation to dip from time to time. We’re not machines and sometimes our bodies and minds are signaling us to take heed and relax. If you pay attention to those times when your focus seems to be wavering and take steps to clear our minds (and calendars), you’ll gain even more clarity than before.
I like your tips! Meditation and talking to others definitely keep me sane. It’s a bit of an irony, but deliberately shifting my focus to something Else other than work actually helps me regain my mental clarity. This year in particular, I’ve discovered that walking away from my to-do list now and then to have a great conversation or to do something spontaneous (including a day trip to NYC in the middle of a crazy week!) actually keeps me inspired and productive.
You’re also right on with the timing- with finals coming up, people at my school are pulling all-nighters left and right, and it makes me sad because they would actually work better with rest + regained focus. We’re DEFINITELY not machines!
Avoidance – but that isn’t a very good tactic.
Lol, it’s effective though! I’ve missed you Licia!