Focus & Flow
PWR TIP: Work is not laborious if you’re in the flow. It goes back to self-awareness and self-control. Here are some ways to maintain clarity and boost productivity:
Stay in synch. Understand your body’s circadian rhythm so you can schedule prime mental work time during peak “think” time. For many people, this is 6am – 9am for creative/strategic writing and 9am – 12pm for logical/planning work. Complex decision-making skills are generally at their peak between 11am – 12pm.
Eat brain food. Stay alert with a protein-rich meal. Eating protein, which encourages the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, is the best way to boost alertness. Go for a cup of low-fat yogurt or three to four ounces of lean skinless chicken.
Strategically multitask. When you try to do everything at once, you dilute your efforts and compromise the results. Only multitask when both tasks do not require your full creative energy, such as running on the treadmill and watching the news.
Take a “mini-escape.” Studies have shown that it is important to take a break every 90-120 minutes for peak performance. Even if you simply take a walk around the block – get up and change your environment.
Practice meditation. Learning how to meditate can help you harness your energy and increase your ability to focus. There are a variety of techniques. For example, you can focus on your breath, a candle, a word or phrase, a picture or a sound. The key is to practice focusing on one thing. Over time, your mind will become more familiar with this mode.
Keep your eye on the prize. Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. Hopefully, it ties into a greater vision which becomes your motivating force. If not, maybe you should re-evaluate what you’re doing!
Contributed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Ph.D., MBA. Part of the Power Living® Empowerment Series.
ADD YOUR VOICE: Share your stories about maintaining clarity and boosting productivity by posting a comment below.
Photo Credit: Graur Razvan Ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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