april2022 - 22

THE LEADERSHIP ADVISOR
6 Tips to Maintain Focus
Throughout the Workday
WE ALL KNOW the feeling: Some days, you have too much to do and too little time. You
bounce from task to task, trying to complete what you can, but you find you didn't get
nearly enough done by the end of the day. That could be because of a lack of focus.
With technology and social
media, it is so easy to get distracted.
For your business to run efficiently
and for your team to thrive, leadership
needs to set a good example
with time management. Your staff
notices when you are engaged,
focused, and organized, and those
traits can motivate your team to
follow suit.
The number one killer of focus
is multitasking. Numerous studies
show people who multitask
are more easily distracted, less
productive, and make more errors
than those who focus on one task
at a time. If unfocused, it can
take several minutes to get back
to the thought process you had
before an interruption. The brain
isn't designed to work on multiple
tasks at once.
Monotasking-focusing on
one task at a time- cuts down
on mental errors while increasing
productivity and creativity. The
success of monotasking revolves
around better time management
and blocking distractions.
Listed below are some easy
ways to maintain focus throughout
the day and watch your productivity
soar:
LIST YOUR TOP TWO
PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY
Give the most important
tasks for the day the
attention they deserve by
making a list of your top
priorities. Then identify
your top two priorities
and make sure you
accomplish them above
all else. This way, you
know what you can deprioritize
and only get to
it if you find yourself with extra time.
PLAN YOUR DAY
People notice if you're organized and
efficient, and they definitely notice
when you aren't. Creating a daily
to-do list can help keep you on track
throughout the day. To manage your
time better, you can use many methods
to outline your day, whether you
prefer paper or electronic.
USE YOUR PHONE TIMER
Notifications can be constant, which
can mean constant interruption, making
it hard to get the work you need to
be done-done. Setting a timer on your
phone for activities you need to finish,
even if it's just 10 to 15 minutes, helps
you stay fully engaged in
the task at hand.
A timer creates
a barrier against
distractions since
you know the clock is
ticking. This kind of
self-discipline can be
contagious, especially
when others see how
well this works for you.
TAKE SCHEDULED
BREAKS
Research suggests we work better
when we schedule breaks throughout
the day. Following a work-rest cycle can
keep you focused and help you avoid
online temptations and distractions.
Block time in your schedule and
respect the time you block. It should
be sacred to you. Setting time aside
for these little breaks in our day-
even just five or ten minutes-on
our
calendar
can significantly
increase mood and productivity.
USE SOFTWARE TO
BLOCK SOCIAL MEDIA
Turning off notifications on your
devices can prevent distractions.
To make it easy, you can use many
types of software to block out sites
for a specified timeframe, including
Freedom, Cold Turkey, or RescueTime.
22 APRIL 2022 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
AMY VETTER, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Mindful Technologist &
Keynote Speaker
@AmyVetterCPA
Another option is being intentional
about checking notifications.
Turn off all notifications from social
media and other distracting apps or
sites completely. That way, you only
see notifications when you choose.
Social media notifications will be
waiting for you even if you check
hours later.
LISTEN TO MUSIC
Listening to music, nature sounds, or
white noise can block outside interruptions
and increase focus. Rock,
electronic, or dance music can get your
blood flowing and motivate you when
you need extra energy to prep for a big
presentation.
In the fast-paced daily world
of business, bouncing from task
to task has become the norm. But
if you want to work better (and
smarter), remember to monotask.
It's not how much you get done
that matters, but instead how well
you do it. You'll become a more
focused and efficient worker, and
the kind of professional people want
to work with. ■
http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
april2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of april2022
