"Genius thinks it can do whatever it sees others doing, but is sure to repent of every ill-judged outlay."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Focus is the disciplined return to what matters when everything wants to pull you away. It does not mean rigidity. Paths shift. Methods change. Timelines bend. But the thing being made - The Project - is seen to completion.
Activities
- Work one project at a time
Multitasking is a myth. When I try to do multiple things at once, I end up doing all of them less well and not finishing any of them. The only way for me to create high-quality work is to immerse myself in the project and see it through to completion.
- Keep a someday-maybe list
There are many projects I want to do. Unfortunately, I can't do them all at once. To keep my ideas from being lost and keep me from feeling I need to act on them immediately, I will maintain a someday-maybe list. This is a place to capture all of the projects I want to do in the future. I can return to them when I'm ready to start something new.
- Create a distraction-free workspace
Environment has a huge impact on focus. To support my ability to focus, I will create a distraction-free writing space. This environment excludes common distractions – social media, messaging apps, news, and general Internet connectivity. This also includes environmental cues such as always writing in a specific location, specific lighting, specific music, or even scents that I associate with focused work. The goal of this all is to help my mind to enter a state of focus more quickly.
- Prevent fatigue with the Pomodoro method
Specifically for longer work sessions, I will use the Pomodoro method to prevent fatigue and maintain focus. My exact flavor of this method is to write or edit 45 minutes, then get up and rest for 15 minutes. After four cycles, I will take a longer break of 1 hour.
- Define 'done' for each project
To ensure that I see each project through to completion, I will define what 'done' looks like for each project. This will help me stay focused on the end goal and avoid getting lost in the weeds. This definition can be changed later, particularly if I decide to abandon a project; I should still define what 'done' means in that context and achieve it.
- Practice concentration meditation
Concentration meditation is form of meditation with the goal of focusing the mind on a single objection of attention - one's breath, a flame, a mantra, etc - and return to the object of attention whenever the mind wanders. This form of meditation is a workout for the focus muscle. By practicing it regularly, I can strengthen my ability to focus and return to what matters when distractions arise.
- Write weekly reflections
At the end of each week, I will write a reflection on what I did and didn't accomplish. This will help me stay focused on my goals, identify areas for improvement, and support a focus on growth.
- Avoid energy drains
Certain activities and environments drain my energy and make it harder for me to focus. I will identify these energy drains and do my best to avoid them, particularly when I'm working on a project. This includes certain social interactions, news consumption, and unstructured time on the Internet.