Having a Hard Time Staying Focused and Motivated Lately?

 

If you’ve been having trouble getting work done lately, you’re not alone. There’s a lot going on in the world and with all of it weighing on your mind,  staying focused and motivated on your work and other goals can be hard. I realized it was having an affect on my own performance, so I decided to do a bit of research on how I could reclaim my brain and get to work when I needed to—because I do have people that rely on me to be there for them!  Out of all I read, I compiled a list of the methods that I found worked best, or were recurring suggestions throughout, to save you time, because you’ve already got enough on your plate. 

 

Take a Break from Social Media and the News

First, I want to acknowledge that it’s nearly impossible to avoid social media and the news. But if you’re finding it distracting (I know I do) and it easily derails your focus and motivation, you may need to come up with a plan to deal with it. 

Here Are Some Tips 

• Don’t let news and social media be the first thing you engage with in the morning. Schedule a time for it. It may be best to just wait til the end of your work day, or when you’ve checked your main goals off your list. It can be hard to ignore it, especially if you like to keep up with all that is going on in the world, or if you’re trying to stay informed so you can know how to help—which is good! But unless current events relate directly to topics you write about, or pertain to your brand, you don’t need to know everything at every minute.
• When you do check in, make sure it’s at a moment when you have the time and energy to take it in and reflect. I like to use weekends and the end of the day to do this.
• A good way to make sure you’re not missing anything you really care about, or that may be relevant to your work is to set Google alerts on the topic—as I’ve mentioned before—because it keeps you up-to-date and saves you the time of searching for information. Plus, you won’t get distracted in your search and end up down a rabbit hole that saps your motivation. 
• As far as social media, schedule your posts in advance. That way, you don’t have to log on to Facebook or Twitter, or whatever your platform, until you have the energy and focus to engage with your audience. Tools like Hootesuite and Buffer can help with this.  

Make A List and Track Your Progress

A great way to stay focused and motivated is to make a daily priorities list. You can start with your weekly goals, informed by your more long-term goals of course, and break them down into these smaller daily goals so you don’t feel overwhelmed. I like to start with the most important at the top of the list, and then add those of less importance as I go along. 

This makes it obvious what your biggest priorities are for the day. I compile a list with my “absolutely must get done” at the top, then on to my supporting or minor goals that can potentially be delayed, etc. 

Some Ways to Track Your Progress

• The easiest way to track your progress is to simply check them off, or cross them out when you’ve completed them. This gives you a nice visual sense of organization and a great feeling of accomplishment, both of which keep you focused and motivated!
• I used to employ hand-written lists because I enjoyed the satisfaction of physically crossing items off, but this got messy and I found myself constantly rewriting my lists, which was a waste of precious time. Now I use a Reminders Application that comes with my Mac, and you know what? It’s just as satisfying, and it allows me to drag and drop my priorities easily so nothing gets missed!
• If you want to get really fancy you can use a color coded system such as a bullet journal or software and apps like Any.do and ToDo reminder on Google Play are pretty awesome too.

 

There’s just something about seeing your goals listed, knowing your priorities, and being able to check them off that makes you feel more confident and together. It says, “You’ve got this!” And it’s true, you do! 

 

Take a Regular Break So You’re Able to Keep Your Focus and Motivation

I love to take long walks in my neighborhood to clear my head. Outside of my regular workout routine, this gives me some needed movement, some lovely fresh air, and helps me free-think and clear my head.

Some of you may be into meditation. Take a break midday to meditate for 5-10 minutes. If meditation isn’t your thing, take the time out of your day to regroup and have a quiet moment with a cup of tea. Just sit and sip and let yourself enjoy the moment and the delicious smell and taste of your tea.

As some of you may already know, I’m a tea lover and this ritual really helps me when I’m struggling. A dear client recently sent me a box of the most delicious tea from Magic Hour , which I highly recommend. I filmed the unboxing if you want to check it out.

Sometimes just getting up and moving around and having a good stretch gets your mind refocused and your body relaxed. As I’ve probably mentioned before, we like to set alerts at MCM to remind us it’s time for a stretch! There’s an awesome App called Calm that you might enjoy (my healthcare provider offers this App free, maybe yours does too).

Remind Yourself Why You Do What You Do

Sometimes, the stress of things can start wearing on you. Especially lately. It can make you really start to rethink your plans. It can make you question why you’re doing any of this in the first place. But to keep yourself motivated, you just need to remind yourself why you do what you do. 

Stay Focused on the Right Stuff

• Remember to read stuff that inspires you. Look to the authors and thought leaders you admire or aspire to be, and read their work. It’s a nice way of reminding yourself of why you started on your journey and it can re-energize you! 
• Another way to keep yourself motivated is to look back on the progress you’ve made over the last year. Think of where you were a year ago, and how much you’ve accomplished since then! It may seem small, or maybe you’ve made a big leap. Either way, reflecting on that change and progress helps you forget any small failures and allows you to focus on the positive. 
• And let’s not forget about reaching out to others in your community or audience and sharing your thoughts and ideas in meaningful ways. It’s not just a heartwarming reminder of why you’re doing what you do, it will create a sense of belonging and purpose, and that there’s a whole lot of people who support you and your endeavors. Be proud of yourself and what you’ve done. You make a difference!

Do Good and Give Back

Right now, a lot of us feel powerless to change anything. And that can result in us losing our focus and motivation. As much as self-care is essential, so is the idea of caring for others.

• Call your friends and family and send love.
• Share positivity. Support others that are struggling.
• If you’re able to, donate your time, money, or skill set to causes that are important to you.

And there are plenty right now! I am passionately in support of Black Lives Matter and seeing a more just and equitable America, so I joined the mailing list, I am donating, and I am reaching out to my local politicians to add my voice to the conversation. It’s not much, but it’s something. 

When we take action, we feel less powerless. Our actions can make a difference. It not only does good for the world and your community, it’s empowering! When we do what we can, when we can, for the greater good, it keeps us focused on the things that matter. It’s fulfilling. And when we feel fulfilled it’s so much easier to stay motivated and focused!

 

So, in conclusion, this is not an easy time for anybody. Staying focused and motivated is extra hard right now. But we aren’t doing a service to anyone by just giving up. Have an action plan. Taking time for self-care and remembering what matters most makes us better people, and better people make better communities. You just need a few tools to help you get by. So let’s support ourselves and others in these unique times! 

 

I’d love to know how you are coping and taking action. Join the conversation and leave a comment on my website—you’ll have to click over to my blog to leave your comment at the bottom of this post. 

 

Stay safe, stay positive. And thank you for all that you do! We are in this together.