What to do when you can't focus...
Distractions.
They are everywhere.
They will always be everywhere.
But not being able to focus isn't just a thing that happens to you.
It feels like it does.
"Nope. I can't focus today, must be in the air."
"It's out of my control."
"It just is what it is."
But what determines if someone can focus?
Have you ever really thought about it?
What determines if you can stay focused on that critical work project?
Whether or not your phone rings?
How much sleep you got the night before?
Other people interrupting/distraction you?
The "universe"?
What if our ability to focus is a decision that we make?
Sound like BS?
What if your boss told you he'd pay you $20,000 if you completed a project in 2 hours?
You, for sure, would find a way to limit distractions and put every ounce of your focus on that project.
So it is something we control.
It is up to us.
Let's say you felt distracted all day at work, couldn't focus, and just go through the day doing busywork.
How is that when you get home, you're magically able to focus all of your energy on Tiger King?
Or RHONY? Especially the episode at Ramona's place in the Hamptons when Leah goes off the deep end? 😂 A tornado couldn't distract me during that episode.
How is that?
It's important to you, and you want to focus on it, so it comes easily.
So how do you handle it when the focus doesn't come as effortlessly?
You make a decision.
You decide to focus on the task at hand because you want the result.
No matter what.
Let it be okay that it doesn't come easily.
It won't always come easy.
Assume it won't come easily 50% of the time.
Showing up and forcing yourself to focus when it doesn't come easily is how you move the needle.
You already have the results from doing what comes easily.
“It’s soooo hard to focus when you’re not in the mood” is something I hear often (and used to think all the time.)
But what if forcing yourself to focus when you're not in the mood is actually the easiest option?
Half-assing a project, procrastinating and doing busy work all day is significantly harder.
You think about it all day, wonder why you always procrastinate, beat yourself up, etc.
This is way harder than just sucking it up and getting it out of the way.
It can be hard now and easier later (imagine how good it feels to check that box).
Or easy now and hard later when the project continues to loom overhead and you think about it all day and night?
Challenge yourself to not use the easy out of not being able to focus.
Remind yourself that it's not actually the easy out.
For your benefit.
One hard has a payoff.
The other hard keeps you stuck.
Take ownership and "force the focus" next time because doing so is actually taking the easy out.
Play around with it.
Pretend someone was going to pay you 20k to finish it.
How would you force yourself to get focused?
If you are plagued with this problem and don’t have the energy to figure out where to even start, hit me up. I can help you.
You can schedule your free call here
Best,
Machele
Machele Galloway is a Certified Life Coach through The Life Coach School. She's based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and specializes in helping her clients manage their time and their minds. She firmly believes that you can't manage one without managing the other. She virtually coaches women nationwide. If she isn't coaching clients, she is studying concepts and techniques. And if she isn't doing that, she's probably playing with a dog or watching the Real Housewives of some city. - “Life is short. Play a little.”
