XMind

Focus

1. Howto

   1. Clear your head

      1. shut off information flow

      2. shut off all communications

      3. write down every tasks/ideas/projects

   2. Focus on essential task

      1. Figure out which task is the most essential

   3. Eliminate the rest

   4. Do essential tasks first

   5. Eliminate distractions

   6. Use simple tools

      1. Don't worry about gadgets

   7. Do one thing at a time

   8. Find quiet

      1. Set time of your own

   9. Simplify some more

2. Why unfocused

   1. Activities not interesting

      1. Making it interesting

         1. Break down to smaller chunks

         2. Resist the impulse to overdo

         3. Look beyod the actual job - find interesting points

         4. Use your prime time

         5. Set time limits for tasks

         6. Challenge yourself - e.g. less time to finish

         7. Add variety

         8. Learn more details

         9. Accept help

         10. Engage in enough exciting tasks within the rest of the day

         11. Pump up the enthusiasm with music

         12. Eliminate negative self-talk

         13. Reclaim your sense of humor

   2. Too many concurent tasks

      1. Caused by trying to be nice

         1. The problem with this

            1. Stressing over a lot of things you shouldn't be stressing

            2. Fail to deal with a problem

            3. Unwilling to speak for yourself

            4. Blind you for the fact that you are being manipulated and exploited

         2. Overcoming people-pleasing mindset

            1. Accept that you can't make everyone happy

            2. Focus on your own best interest instead of avoiding conflict

            3. Don't wait, stop looking and let go

            4. Stop and ask the question: what do I want?

   3. Interruptions & distractions

      1. Physical

         1. Hungry

         2. Sleepy

         3. Not well

      2. Mental

         1. Boring tasks

         2. emotionally draining dilemma, worry & fear

      3. Environmental

         1. Family

         2. Staying 'connected'

         3. Workspace distractions

   4. Difficulty in managing work balance

   5. Emotionally drained

      1. Recover from setbacks

         1. Shift your viewpoints. Will it matter on the next 10 years?

         2. When everything goes wrong, make something else goes right

         3. Recognize the importance of attitude

         4. Acknnowledge what you have learned and your effort

         5. Keep a record of setbacks overcome

         6. Pray

         7. Don't Lose belief

   6. Too tired

      1. Revive your Body

         1. Exercise

         2. Cold Shower

         3. Having Breakast

         4. Listen to some upbeat songs

         5. Get fresh air

         6. Have a good laugh

         7. Choose a scent

      2. De-Stress

         1. Talk your problems with someone

         2. Ask for help when you need it

         3. Eliminate energy drains - negative people

         4. Tune your mind to positive

         5. Stop being idealist / perfectionist

         6. Say no

         7. Get more sleep

         8. Massage

         9. Meditation

3. Why procrastinating

   1. Doing chores we don't enjoy

   2. Doing activities we aren't goot at doing

   3. Doing what isn't in our agendas

   4. Solving situations that are likely to be messy

   5. tackling a task that is high energy and low return

   6. Stepping into things we don't understand

4. Howto (2)

   1. Deep focus, no multitasking

   2. Wrap up task that easily completed

   3. Now

   4. Respond to important, not react to urgent

   5. Find a job with meaningful purpose

   6. Distinguish between important and urgent

   7. Viusalize your day

   8. Practice single pointed focus

   9. Practice mindfullness

5. Focus at Work

   1. Use offline tools

   2. Take more breaks

   3. Smaller tasks to check off

   4. Keep a steady pace

   5. Keep daily purpose card

   6. Develop the mindset that compute is only a tool

   7. Plan your day in detail - with breaks and small todos

   8. Notice your lazy times

   9. Plan the night before

   10. Turn off extra inputs (IM/email, etc)

   11. Set the limit for tasks

   12. Keep a journal of what you did throughout the day

   13. Use programs to track where you spend your time (e.g. RescueTime)

   14. Visualize the day in the morning, before it starts

   15. Start the day right (breakfast, quiet time, exercise)

   16. Clean yourself up