As a small business owner, you probably already know that focus is essential to success – not only in your business life but it is just as important in your personal life as well! It can be tough to stay focused when you have so many things on your mind. That’s why it’s important to develop habits that will help you focus better.
So, to make it easier for you, here are four habits that can help you learn to focus better:
- Have a daily plan
Knowing what you need to accomplish each day, allows you to stay focused easier. Take some time each evening to plan out your next day. This doesn’t have to be a detailed schedule, but it should give you a general idea of what you need to do. Consider grading the tasks by what is most important to least important so that you have an easy guide to help you figure out what to tackle first.
- Take breaks
It may seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks actually helps you focus better. When you are working for long periods of time without taking breaks, your brain starts to tire making you more likely to make mistakes. Taking short breaks throughout the day will help you stay refreshed and focused.
- Do something that you enjoy
It’s important to take some time each day to do something that you enjoy. This will help you relax and destress, which can make it easier to focus on your tasks and projects later on. Even a short break to do something you enjoy can make a big difference.
- Get enough sleep
When you’re well-rested, you’re better at focusing and concentrating. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Not only does it help with focus and concentration, but too little sleep has also been shown to have other health risks including diabetes and heart disease.
Following these habits can help you focus better and be more productive. So if you’re struggling to focus, give these habits a try.
In addition to these four habits, here are a few other things that you can do to help you focus better:
- Eliminate distractions.
Eliminate as many distractions as possible. This means turning off your phone, closing your email, silencing notifications from social media and interruptions from your team, and finding a quiet place to work.
- Take care of yourself.
Eating healthy, getting exercising, and getting sunlight (or in bad weather, sun lamps can help too!) can all help you focus better. When you take care of yourself, you’re better at focusing on the tasks at hand.
- Reward yourself.
After you complete a specific task, feel free to give yourself a small reward. This will help you stay motivated and keep working hard. In Brian Tracy’s book “Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time,” he says to do the things that you least want to do first and then move on. This is a key idea and allowing yourself to get through the worst or least desirable tasks first and rewarding yourself after getting that done may be enough of a motivator to help you through the process.
Focusing better is a skill that takes time and practice. By following these habits though, you can improve your focus and be more productive.
Here are some additional tips for small business owners who want to improve their focus:
- Set clear goals and priorities.
When you know what you need to achieve, it’s easier to stay focused. Set realistic goals and priorities that you can actually achieve using the SMART goals system.
- Break down large tasks into smaller ones.
Large tasks can seem daunting and overwhelming. Break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks that you can focus on one at a time.
- Delegate tasks.
If you have too much on your plate, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to others. This will free up your time so you can focus on the most important things. Consider looking at engaging the services of a virtual assistant to free you up to do the big picture items and let an assistant handle the tasks you hate doing.
- Take care of yourself.
As a small business owner, it’s really easy to neglect your own needs. But it’s important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. As mentioned above, make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly.
- Get help when you need it.
If you’re struggling to focus, don’t be afraid to get help from a therapist or life coach. They can help you develop strategies for improving your focus and productivity.
Improving your focus is an important skill for any small business owner. By following these tips, you can improve your focus and be more productive.
With that said, what are you going to do now?
