{"id":11256,"date":"2012-08-22T00:36:55","date_gmt":"2012-08-22T08:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=11256"},"modified":"2013-10-02T10:32:35","modified_gmt":"2013-10-02T18:32:35","slug":"5-crucial-steps-for-staying-focused-on-any-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/5-crucial-steps-for-staying-focused-on-any-project\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Crucial Steps for Staying Focused on Any Project"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Have you ever sat down to work on an important report at work, or a long-term project at home, only to find yourself getting distracted every few minutes?<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re reacting to new emails, answering the phone, being interrupted by colleagues \/ family members, or simply responding to the urge to get up and make a cup of coffee, you\u2019re not focusing on what you originally set out to do.<\/p>\n

And while we all have days when things just don\u2019t go smoothly, if you\u2019re regularly struggling to make progress on major projects, you need to take a few simple steps to make sure you\u2019re in a good position to focus.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n

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Step #1: Make a Plan Before You Begin<\/h2>\n

Planning has so many benefits \u2013 and one of these is that a good plan can help you focus.<\/p>\n

If you sit down to \u201cwrite an article for the company newsletter\u201d and start straight away with a blank page, you\u2019ll probably run out of ideas after a paragraph or two. It\u2019s then all too easy to check your emails instead, or to move on to some easier piece of work.<\/p>\n

With a plan in front of you, you\u2019ll always know the next step \u2013 meaning that you\u2019ll be less tempted to simply stop.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Step #2: Gather Everything You Need<\/h2>\n

Some projects don\u2019t require anything more than a notebook and pen, or a computer. Often, though, you\u2019ll need specific items before you start \u2013 perhaps the materials for a craft project at home, or important data for a project at work.<\/p>\n

Before you dive into the task at hand, make sure you\u2019ve got everything you need.<\/strong> Planning also helps here, as you\u2019ll be able to identify the things that will be necessary at different stages of your project.<\/p>\n

Step #3: Give Yourself a Set Time Period<\/h2>\n

No-one can stay focused for hours at a time \u2013 and it\u2019s counter-productive to try to. Instead, decide how long you\u2019re going to work on this particular project: perhaps 30 minutes or an hour.<\/p>\n

Set a timer running, and promise yourself that you\u2019ll stay focused until the time is up.<\/strong> If you\u2019ve not done this before, or if you know you really struggle to focus, start with a very short time period \u2013 perhaps 15 minutes. You might be surprised how much you can get done.<\/p>\n

Step #4: Reduce the Chance of Interruptions<\/h2>\n

Some interruptions can\u2019t be avoided \u2013 but many can. Instead of leaving yourself open to them, take proactive steps to reduce the number of interruptions you\u2019re likely to receive.<\/p>\n