Staying focused in today’s world is hard. Everywhere you turn, you will definitely encounter one distraction or the other. There was a time I was preparing for my final exams. I had bought chinchins and biscuits, I love to eat while reading or writing. I had arranged my books according to which is next, I picked one up after telling myself I wouldn't allow any distractions whatsoever. A few minutes later, a notification popped up on my phone. I looked at it and said, “Let me just check it quickly, and put my phone in flight mode .” That “quickly” took me about four hours of chatting, watching reels and all. By the time I looked up, my chinchin had finished, my phone battery was battery down, and my book was there....reading me. To focus is not easy, you need to be very determined and disciplined, you need to fight for it atimes.
So how do I go about it.....
Firstly, I studied the environment I am in. If I want to read and need to concentrate, I change my setting, I go to a quiet corner, or just lock my room and keep my phone away. And it does help. If a distraction is not near you or within reach, there's no way it would distract, drag or affect you.
Secondly, I don’t try to do everything at once. I do things one at a time...just finish this chapter, just assimilate this part, just write the one article.... That is what I tell myself. I don't go hard on myself. Doing it one at a time has never given me room to postpone or procrastinate, rather it gave me the strength to do more.
Thirdly, music. I love listening to music a lot, even when I write. It helps in blocking surrounding noises. You can be doing anything in your room or outside, you can shout all you want. But once I am ready to get busy, I enter my small room and blast music. That is one of the reasons why I own a Bluetooth speaker and an earpod, in case there's no light. It really does help in keeping me going. I find it hard to concentrate, read, work or write without music.
Another very strong weapon I have is remembering myself...Why. When I think about where I’m coming from and the kind of life I want to live, believe me, I can’t afford to let distractions set in. If I don't focus, hunger will either help me focus or focus on me. And, nothing motivates me more than that fear.
As I would always say, "I'm still a work in progress." I'm not perfect, I still get distracted sometimes, but I always pull myself back. Success is not just good, it is sweet. And, that realization always keeps me going and that's how I stay focused, while doing my best to survive this thing called...Life.
All pictures are mine.
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