Are you struggling to find that “flow state” and focus at work? Are you finding it difficult to stay on top of the seemingly never-ending barrage of emails, phone calls, social media alerts, and client meetings?
In this article, we give you some tips on how to block out distractions and stay focused when building or managing your business.
Dealing with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Running your own business is hard work. It is even harder when you are not seeing the results you want. And when your friends, family, and others around you are doing better than you, you are bound to start feeling FOMO – the fear of missing out.
Even your own thoughts can be your greatest enemy of progress and get in the way of you doing your best work.
The first thing to do is to assess the situation. Ask yourself: how long will it take to complete the interruption or distraction and get back to your core business? If it is a quick task, then see if you can get it done in five minutes or less to avoid being pulled away further.
If it is a longer task, you may want to create a “to do later” list to ensure you will get to it later when your schedule is more open.
Consider your needs and focus on your own goals
It is easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day of running a business. When you are responsible for all the important details, it is hard not to feel a sense of panic when you are in over your head. But it is also important to step back and look at the bigger picture, focus on the needs of your company, consider the opportunities that are out there and how you can take advantage of them.
It’s also helpful to think about your personal goals and what you hope to achieve in the business world. This will act as an anchor and root you to a single cause.
This may help to galvanise you and give you a sense of motivation, which you can harness to propel you forward during the most challenging of times.
Focus on your strengths and your own progress
Most people are a mix of strengths and weaknesses.
Some of our strengths are innate, while others are acquired over time. No matter the source of your strengths, it is important you know what they are — and even more important that you understand how to use them.
Think of your favourite sports team, each player is unique and contributes to the team in a different way, so not all players are equally valuable. The players who are best at what they do are those who play to their strengths.
The same principle applies to any organisation, from a small business to a global conglomerate. They need to figure out what their strengths are and then do everything they can to leverage them.
Take a break, get a change of scenery
You have been working around the clock burning the candle at both ends. And now you are caught in the familiar cycle of feeling like you cannot leave your office. Perhaps you are too busy and feel in your absence the business will all fall apart if you let go for even a moment.
The modern business climate puts a premium on productivity, and the culture of working longer hours to get more work done has become the norm. But you will be better able to focus and solve problems – not to mention be happier – if you take a break from your work every now and again to recharge your batteries..
Celebrate your own successes
There is a lot of advice out there about how to improve at work, from how to become a better leader to how to stay competitive in a news environment.
However, there is little advice about how to celebrate your own successes, whether they are personal or professional.
If you find it hard to celebrate your own successes, make a note of what you are most proud of achieving, and then try to build a new habit of celebrating them. Showing gratitude to yourself is an important way of recharging yourself for the next challenge.
If you would like experienced business experts to assist you with the day-to-day management read our get in touch today and set up a chat, get in touch via our contact form, email us directly or call us on 0203 815 8005.
