How to focus better

Want a quick productivity tune-up?

Take a look at the tasks you need to accomplish today.  Going down the list one by one, label each task according to its level of importance.  If it's urgent, make sure to give it a number close to one. 

Urgent tasks usually have a deadline, such as a chore or an errand someone else needs with a day and hour attached to it.

Even if the deadline is ambiguous but you know it needs to get done, list it as your Most Important Task (MIT).

Allow "important" to take precedence even if there is no immediate reward.  Some important tasks might not have a strict deadline yet will move your life forward in a meaningful way.

Such a task might be writing that novel you’ve been putting off or constructing a business plan for the new company you want to launch.  They might provide immediate financial returns yet will give you a sense of accomplishment for moving a step closer to your vision.

Prioritize those tasks.

Recognize Your Priorities

How are you prioritizing your time so that your MITs are completed?

Urgent tasks tend to supersede important tasks.  Life gets in the way.  You feel like such tasks matter now even though focusing on menial duties might be stealing your time.

Let's flip this around and make a change.

Begin by doing your MITs during your most productive time of the day.

Consider this time sacred—a block of an hour or two where you're not interrupted by life. Focus completely on this important, life-changing work.  Block it off in your calendar, like you would any appointment or meeting.  Then make sure to honor this time.

It doesn't matter if it's not going to change the world right now.  If it's important to you, that's enough. 

How you value and treat your MITs could mean the difference between living the life you desire or the one others want you to live.

Life is defined by how you spend your time.  If you focus on what's important instead of what feels urgent, you’ll likely achieve more of your long-term goals.

That's a tune-up we can all use.