29/05/2024
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👉 How to be More Focused or minimize your distraction from something and Improve your productivity 💥
In the modern world of digital distractions, the ability to focus has become super valuable. But it’s also becoming harder to access and develop. At its core, focus is the ability to direct our attention to what truly matters, filtering out the noise and distractions that surround us
Before we dive into debunking these myths, it’s worth bearing in mind that everyone's brain works differently, and strategies that improve focus for some might not be as effective for others.
This doesn't mean there aren't techniques out there that can work for you; it just goes to show the importance of personal experimentation and adaptation.
Let’s dive into the 5 myths.
🧠 Myth 1: You either have it or you don’t
Being good at focusing isn’t something you’re just born with - it’s actually something you can get better at, kind of like levelling up in a video game. Recent studies show that meditation - an act where you’re deliberately focusing your attention on one thing like your breath - improves your ability to focus. (Btw, all references at the bottom of this email if you’re interested in checking them out).
The science behind this is something called neuroplasticity - the idea that our brain structure can change through deliberate focus and practice. Our brains are made of billions of tiny cells called neurons. These neurons talk to each other through something called synapses. When we focus on something, these neurons get activated and start firing together. The more they talk to each other, the stronger their connection gets.
As we practice focusing on specific activities, the neural pathways in our brain become stronger, reinforcing the principle that focus is a skill that can be cultivated through persistence and practice.
📱Myth 2: You’re a victim of distractions
There’s a common belief that distractions are external forces that we can’t control, making you the victim of endless distractions. You hear your phone ping and suddenly, you’re off track.
It's easy to blame those little dings and buzzes, but here's the twist: the real distraction culprit is inside your head. Research in psychology shows that distraction “is a passive coping strategy in that the person copes without directly confronting the situation or trying to solve the problem.”
Getting distracted isn't just about all those notifications popping up. It's more about how we deal with feeling bored, unsure, wiped out, lonely, or stressed.
🥱 Myth 3: You can’t focus because you’re lazy
Labelling ourselves or others as "lazy" is a quick judgment that skips over the real reasons behind why we might struggle to buckle down and focus.
Thinking that laziness is the cause of a lack of focus overlooks the genuine challenges that many of us face when trying to focus - digital distractions, taking ineffective breaks, unrealistic expectations and more.
On top of that, studies show that labelling yourself and others as lazy might end up lowering your motivation and worsening your performance because that stereotype becomes self-fulfilling. So when you catch yourself saying “I’m just lazy”, remember that you’re making the mistake of focusing on the symptom rather than the cause.
✅ Myth 4: You need motivation before you can focus
It’s true that motivation is important. It acts like our inner cheerleader pushing us to get stuff done. And it’s undeniable that feeling motivated makes chasing goals and finishing tasks feel easier. But waiting around for motivation to show up before we start focusing is the wrong approach. Rather, motivation follows from our actions.
As Jeff Haden argues in one of my favourite books "The Motivation Myth", motivation isn't a magical spark that ignites action; rather, it's the result of taking action first. I made a video about this book back in 2020 if you fancy checking it out.
I find it very powerful to think of motivation as being the product of action instead of the other way around. All of a sudden, you have the agency to build motivation rather than wait for motivation to come.
👨💻Myth 5: You need the perfect environment to focus
While having a tidy and quiet space can help you focus, the perfect environment isn’t necessary for focus. And too many of us use the “the environment isn’t right” excuse when we’re struggling to focus and that excuse gets in the way of us focusing.
This message really hit home for me when Ali Abdaal interviewed teacher and prolific author Matthew Dicks on his podcast.
In the interview, Matthew shares a story of him waiting at McDonalds to meet an aspiring author that he was mentoring. When the aspiring author arrived late, Matthew asked her how much of her writing project she’s completed.
She told Matthew that she hasn’t started writing anything yet.
“Well, you were seven minutes late today,” Matthew responded. “My point was not that you were seven minutes late and I was upset. My point was I used the seven minutes that you were late to write some sentences”.
The takeaway is that while a nice environment might help you focus better, optimal focus comes from within. And it ultimately doesn’t matter whether you’re in greasy, noisy McDonalds or a beautiful quiet library.
Tomorrow, I’ll share how the best strategy to access your hours of optimal productivity each day.
Have a great day!
Omor Evna Noman ❤️
