Focus
Ok, so I am not the first person to write on the topic... and I doubt I will be the last. I have read articles, books, and blogs touting the importance of focus. More and more every day I have realized the criticality of this precious asset that is being stolen from us every day.
Take a minute to think (if you can get a moment to think) about how much time per week you get to focus on what you are doing. And, I mean really focus. How much focus time do we really get in the swarm of interruptions, conversations, calls, txts, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, e-mail, appointments, obligations, chores, and if you're lucky... sleep? We've gotten used to it. We act fast and move to the next thing. We multi-task as much as possible to fit more in. The consequence is that it is easy to forget how to focus. When I have time to focus, I often feel compelled to add distraction. I need to txt or tweet, or see what's happening on Facebook... just because it feels weird that there isn't something going on.
I'm not going to talk about the psychological effects of focus-deprivation; there are plenty of resources from smart people out there on the topic. I simply offer a concern that we are losing the ability to generate substantive value and realize our potential because we just don't get the opportunity to really get into it. Obviously, I'm generalizing the population here... but that's also part of the point. How much further could we be if that general population had time and space to contribute meaningful things instead of shifting from one thing to the next 3 at once?
Reclaim your sacred focus. Make the time and space. Decide what you are not going to do. It's worth it.
