“My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things.” — Bill Gates
Finding focus is not always easy to do. We have what seems like a million things vying for our attention every day. From busy inboxes to weekend plans, life can be insanely hectic, and finding the energy to commit to just one thing seems impossible some days.
The role technology plays in our lives doesn’t make it any easier. There’s always a temptation to scroll or check notifications, even when we know it’s not doing our health or productivity any good. Studies have found that our brains are now wired with a need to check our phones every 12 minutes. It’s a wonder we get as much done as we do.
Sometimes all it takes is a little reminder that the distractions are just that. That notification can wait for later. Scrolling never helped anyone ace a test or score a promotion.
Whether you’re trying to find focus in your day-to-day tasks or in the grand scheme of your life, take some time to figure out what’s keeping you from your priority. Is it a lack of direction or passion? Is it burnout? Is it the FOMO keeping you glued to social media?
How to find focus
- Ditch your phone. Even if it’s just for 30 minutes, setting your phone on airplane mode or, better yet, putting it in another room, can help get you on track. You won’t be tempted to take frequent breaks if your phone isn’t buzzing (or in arms reach). Make rules for yourself and your technology. Create gadget-free zones or commit to social media breaks throughout the day and hold yourself to them.
- Just start. It sounds harder than it is. Tell yourself you’ll do a task for just 5 minutes; set a timer and tell yourself you can quit once it goes off. This will almost always get you over that hump of procrastination and you’ll probably end up working for longer than 5 minutes. This tip works well for those small tasks you just can’t find the motivation to finish. Remember that the little things add up to big things.
- Make a list. Try breaking up your to-do list into the must-dos and the could-waits. If you’re having trouble finding focus, it might just be because you have a lot of tasks to complete and a little bit of organization can help it feel more manageable.
- Take a walk. It’s okay to clear your mind. Spend 15 minutes outside and take a stroll around the block. A short break will help you reset and allow you to focus when you return to your work. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever is next.
- Stop doubting. Oftentimes, it’s fear that keeps us from something. If you need to find some focus, stop gravitating toward the thought that you can’t do something and put your energy toward the outcome of following through. Imagine yourself finishing successfully. A perspective change can be a helpful boost.
- Remind yourself why you started. Keep reminders of your goals around you: notes, powerful quotes (like the ones below!), and visions of your goals. It’ll be the motivation to help you regain focus.
15 powerful quotes to inspire focus
If you’re looking for some inspiration on finding your focus, whether it be a small task in front of you or choosing a life path, look to the people you admire or people who have been trailblazers in their industry for wisdom.
The advice is pretty uniform to some degree. Unfortunately there isn’t a secret sauce. Success always takes hard work, and focus is very much a part of that. But success doesn’t look the same for everybody. Progress doesn’t either.
Finding your own focus and success will take trial and error, and that’s part of the process! Don’t be afraid to make your own rules, take time to plan and move past the fear of failure.
Here are some powerful quotes on focus from the pros:
- "Opportunities don't happen, you create them." — Chris Grosser
- "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." — Maya Angelou
- "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." — Albert Einstein
- “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” ― Arianna Huffington
- “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." — Thomas Jefferson
- "Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor." — Truman Capote
- “Doubt is a killer. You just have to know who you are and what you stand for.” — Jennifer Lopez
- “You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.”― Sheryl Sandberg
- “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
- “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” ― Ginni Rometty
- “Go through some difficult experiences. If you can live through them and learn from them, you have a much better chance of knowing what to do when the chips are down, and everyone else is freaking out.” — Debra A. Cafaro
- “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” — John D. Rockefeller
- “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
- “You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.” — Shonda Rhimes
We hope that with a little imagination, motivation, and inspiration you’ll find your focus and great success. Just as the writers, politicians, social justice advocates, and business leaders in the powerful quotes above have.
What is one of your favorite quotes that remind you to find focus? Share with us on Facebook and Instagram!
