Fulfilling Days are Focused Days

Do you ever feel exhausted at the end of the day? Like you did so much, but nothing got done. You flit from thing to thing not completing any.

That scattered way of being, if we do it all the time, leads to less energy and a wearing away of feelings of self-worth.

Our lives have enough multi-tasking with interruptions, 3 kids talking at once, and getting exercise in while watching our favorite shows. And often when we do two things at once, either one thing gets the focus or neither gets our focus.

At a recent conference I sat by someone checking her email and playing on the internet on her laptop during the speaking. At the end she confessed she didn’t hear a word of the talk. Have you ever been doing something and your kid comes up to talk to you. You nod and make ‘I’m listening’ noises, but in reality you didn’t hear anything they said?

The important things in your life need your full focused attention. Doesn’t it make you feel great when you can tell someone is really listening to you?

My doctor is so great that even after we moved, we still travel to see him. What makes him great? He listens, asks questions and asks if you have any questions. Without acting like he is trying to get you out the door.

Being with another person, getting your writing to flow, mentoring someone, making music, working on a complicated and demanding work project all need that singular focus to get your best. If you find yourself never focusing, maybe you don’t have enough important things to you on your list. Or maybe you just need practice with focusing.

Here are a few practice tips:

• Turn off all computer applications except the one you are working on
• Put away all papers except the project you are working on
• Practice really listening with full attention to at least one person a day
• Even if most days when you watch TV you need to clip coupons, clean during the commercials or sew, try watching one movie on the weekend and really get into it
• Eat at least one meal a day without a book, computer or TV
• Drive one day without music or the radio
• Cook using your senses and enjoy it
• Sit and listen to one song without doing anything else

We can get into the habit of always doing more than one thing at a time. It feels slow and unproductive to be doing just one thing. You will unfocus, allowing in thoughts of all the other to do’s you have. Let them float away as you bring your focus back to what you are doing. Soon you will find your flow.

And your days will seem more fulfilling, peaceful and accomplished.