How To Stay Focused To Achieve Your Goals

Do you find it difficult to stay focused?

If so, you aren't alone. Research shows that our minds typically wander anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of the time.

If you are constantly getting distracted, you cannot expect to get anything done. It's fair to say that focus drives everything, which is why I believe it is one of the most important skills to learn.

Are you ready to learn 4 ways to stay focused so that you can achieve your goals?

Watch the video below:

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Do you know how to stay focused?

Let's face it, we've all had days where, no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to focus. Unfortunately, these days are the norm for a lot of people. The ability to focus has become a luxury. We live in a world where we are bombarded with distractions, so much so that we've become addicted to constant stimulation. It cannot be denied that technology is largely to blame for this epidemic.

It's no wonder that so many people fail to achieve their goals. They simply can't pay attention to one thing long enough before they lose their focus altogether. To make matters worse, your brain loves distractions. In his book, Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long, David Rock suggests that “Your brain's reward circuit lights up when you multitask, meaning that you get an emotional high when you're doing a lot at once.” Fortunately, you can train your brain to slow down and focus.

If you want to be successful in life, it's important that you avoid life's distractions as best as you can. As an entrepreneur, I know all too well how challenging it can be to stay focused. In the beginning stages of growing a business, it's easy to chase shiny objects and jump on every opportunity that arises.

However, this is exactly what gets entrepreneurs into trouble. By putting too much time and effort into doing too many things, they risk becoming an expert at nothing. Luckily, I learned this lesson early on in my business. Over the years, I've consistently practiced and mastered the art of focus to ensure that I never get derailed from my goals.

A master is someone who commits to everything that they do.

Whatever they start, they finish. Instead of getting distracted, they train their mind to stay focused on one path until they have achieved their goals. Unfortunately, I see a lot of people fall into the dabbler mentality. A dabbler loves the initial rush and excitement of starting something new. However, as soon as something gets difficult, he or she gives up. As a result, they are never able to achieve their goals in life.

Be honest with yourself… are you a dabbler or a master? If you feel like you've been dabbling your way through life, the good news is that you can create a system for staying focused on your goals so that you don't veer off track. I want to share with you 4 strategies that will help you stay focused.

1. Monotask

In today's world, multitasking has become the gold standard for success, so much so that people pride themselves on it. However, how effective is it? Neuroscience shows that multitasking actually decreases productivity. One study found that just 2.5% of people are able to multitask effectively.

Instead of doing multiple things at once, I'm a bigger believer in monotasking, which involves focusing your attention on one thing at a time. It's a simple idea but it can be really hard to do because we have been conditioned to multitask. Even though it may feel like you are getting a lot done when you multitask, you actually aren't. Your mind can only focus on one task at a time. 

Instead of trying to accomplish a lot of things at once, try focusing all of your attention on one task. Doing so will ensure that you are able to go deeper with your work, and, in turn, make more progress towards the achievement of your goals.

2. Learn To Say “No”

Learning how to say “no” is a huge part of being successful in life. As an entrepreneur, I still struggle with this at times. If you've got a big vision like myself, you will naturally get excited about the prospect of collaborating with other influencers or starting new projects of your own.

Don't get me wrong… opportunities are great, but there comes a point when you need to draw a line in the sand and stop taking on so many things. If you work on too many projects, your attention gets stretched and you end up falling into information overload. In this state, you can't get anything accomplished.

I believe that a lack of focus is the reason why most people fail in business. Think about what is currently on your plate right now. Write these things down on a piece of paper. How does this list make you feel? If you're overwhelmed, then you are most likely taking on too much. You've got to remember that opportunities will always exist.

By saying “no” to something, you aren't losing anything. Quite the opposite. You are actually gaining time and energy, which are two of the most important assets that you have. Productive people know when to close a door. It's all about being aware of your limits and sticking with them.

Steve Jobs said it best – “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”

3. Remove Distractions

If you're trying to get a task done, while looking at your phone and eating lunch, it's going to be a lot harder for you to concentrate. The more distractions that you have, the less likely that you will be able to focus. As Tom Kite says, “You can always find a distraction if you're looking for one.”

If you want to achieve great things in life, the first thing that you need to do is remove all distractions. The trick is to eliminate the possibility of temptations occurring altogether. When I am working on something important, I rid my environment of all forms of digital technology for a set period of time.

Text messages, social media, and emails all have one purpose – they take your attention away from something that needs to get done. Don't fall into the trap of becoming addicted to distraction. Rather, carve out specific blocks of time when you turn off your phone or computer. By putting yourself into a flow state, you will surprise yourself how much you can accomplish in a short period of time.

4. Reset  

We live in a world where relaxing is sometimes viewed as lazy. As technology progresses, everything gets faster, which means that we are expected to move faster as well. More and more people feel pressured to overperform, so much so that their work and personal life becomes blurred. In order to stay alert and keep going, people slam back coffee or energy drinks.

Unfortunately, stimulants like these only serve to further diminish your energy reserves. When your willpower starts to dwindle, so does your concentration and ability to focus. I think you will agree with me that this isn't a productive or healthy way of working or living.

If you don't give your brain a rest, your mental and emotional health will suffer. Even the most successful people in this world take breaks. Nobody can be on, 24/7.  In a study that examined the phenomenon called “vigilance decrement“, psychologist Alejandro Lleras found that participants who were given short breaks during a 50-minute task performed better than those who worked straight through.

If you know that a task is going to take a long time to complete, take mini-breaks so that you can reset and recharge your mental battery. More importantly, get up, move your body, and give your eyes the rest that they need.

If you can stay focused, you will achieve your goals.

Your ability to focus is like a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger it will become. If you are someone who struggles to stay focused, I encourage you to start practicing one of the above strategies and build your way up. Over time, you will notice how much more time and energy you have to focus on achieving the goals that matter most to you.

What action will you take today that will help you focus on your goals?

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