Personal Steps for Great Focus

Is it crazy out there for you? It seems really crazy out there for me. Turmoil seems to roil every area from our economy to sports, from business and finance to politics, healthcare and global warming....And with all that turmoil comes anxiety and worry, depression and fear. And opportunity. But can you see that opportunity, much less take advantage of it, without focus? If you can, share your secret.

In the meantime, here’s some steps I find helpful to keep focus and perspective in times of stress, turmoil and opportunity:

1. Go to bed early. Seriously. It's a marathon we're running here, people. A rested mind and body are a clear and energetic and positive and consistent pair of tools to work with. All other tools effectiveness depends on these two working together. They work better, and better together, I work better, when I’m rested.

2. Drink Caffeine. Yes. I drink it. It’s a stimulant. I just stop drinking it before I go home, so I can...see previous point.

3. Eat lunch. Seriously. It's the best time to consume food because it's the peak period for digestive power. I also sleep better with a big lunch and a light dinner. See previous point.

4. Go home on time. Too many problems arise from a tired mind. Go home, kiss the spouse, play with the kids. Be happy. Relax. There's when the solutions start popping up.

5. Exercise. For goodness sakes, exercise. I do it because: A. it's healthy. B. I want to see my nieces and nephews and family grow up. C. I think clearer with a little adrenaline.

I'm talking 30-45 minutes on a regular basis, giving the effort I can. Some days I run hills. Other days, I walk those same hills. I call it a run either way. I take what the body gives. I’m 53; I can do that, now.

6. Keep a routine. It keeps my mind settled and focused.

7. Take an offline weekend. Just say no to email, blogs (mine, yours, theirs, reading or writing), phones of any type, testing, im’ing.  I’m always surprised at the solutions and ideas that come at the end of one of these

8. I tell my spouse I love her.  There's something about doing that that just makes me more focused. Maybe it's the contentment of making her smile. I don't know.  And tell your kids, too. Try it. Tell me I'm wrong.

9. I help somebody every day. Open a door for someone, smile at someone, let someone go in front at the grocery store, mentor someone, read to kids at your library, read to your kids,  foster homeless dogs, help at a homeless shelter, volunteer at a children’s hospital, volunteer at a residential care facility, rake the leaves off your neighbor’s lawn...why? It keeps you out of your head and in perspective. I’ve got problems, challenges and obstacles. Others do, too. The difference is I’ve got solutions, more than I know; I share ‘em. And doing that, I discover them.

These are steps I follow, if I follow, bring greater clarity and focus to my day, help me manage change and deflect stress and together bring solutions every day.  I’m not perfect in following them. But when I do, they deliver results.

Let me know if there’s tips or steps other than these you find helpful. Together we can help each other and our community.

Comments

[Sarah Cook]

Reducing our personal stress and focusing on the things in life that truly matter DO make a huge difference. I love the idea about helping others more, because there is always someone less fortunate. When we are focusing on them, we are focusing less on our troubles – and we are making a difference all at the same time.

In keeping with changing our focus, I would add one other thing: gratitude. It is impossible to be negative and grateful at the same time. Most of us have plenty to be thankful for, even when times are hard. We can be thankful small things and big things like . . . our body parts function, we have shelter, food, running water, a friend, family, patriotism, a joke, paper and pen, internet . . . and the individual lists go on. I think that changing our focus to the positive is one of the healthiest things we can do.