5 Steps to Regain Your Focus

There are times when work seems overwhelming and we feel like we can’t possibly manage all the tasks on our to-do list. It can be particularly easy to lose focus at times like these.

Here are five steps you can take to regain your focus at work and reduce your stress and anxiety, too.

Identify tasks. Be clear on the things you need to accomplish by writing them down. If you’re a pen and paper type of person write them down in a planner or on a sheet of paper that you post nearby. Otherwise, create a list to access from your laptop or phone. You’ll also want to identify due dates for each task to help you with the next step.

Prioritize and align with company goals. Evaluate your tasks and rank them according to due dates and importance. You will also want to consider how your tasks align with your company goals. It’s possible to get distracted by tasks that are not really a priority for your company. If you’re unsure about which tasks should take priority seek out help from your manager or supervisor.

Delegate when possible. If it’s possible to hand off some tasks to other people, do so. Look through your tasks and determine whether one or more might be better handled by someone else on your team or should be moved to another department.

Remove distractions. This should be part of your every day routine but turn off your social media notifications, avoid surfing the internet, turn off your phone, and turn your attention exclusively to the task at hand.

Avoid multitasking. Notice I just wrote “the task at hand”. Singular. Not plural. Trying to multitask not only slows you down but it distracts you and makes it more difficult to get something done.

And it’s important to start small. You don’t have to tackle the biggest, most difficult task on your to-do list first. Complete one task. A small one. Gain a quick victory to start your day and propel you onto the more important work.

4 Tips for Work-Life Balance

What is work-life balance and is it even attainable? For many people the stresses of the day-to-day job can impact home life and make it difficult to focus on anything other than the demands of work and career.

If you are one of those struggling with how to maintain a healthy and stress-free personal life consider the following four tips for achieving a healthy work-life balance:

1. Identify and set priorities and boundaries. Be sure to be clear about your priorities. If you need to get in a daily run ensure that you go to bed at a reasonable hour so you can get up early and get that run in before the busyness of the work day hits. Determine the things you want to get done in the morning--exercise, meditation, breakfast, time with family--before you check in with your job. Are evenings just for your family? Do you need to schedule a weekly date with your partner? Identify the things you need in your life and block off the time, preventing work and job demands from infringing on this time.

2. Turn off communication. Once you've determined your priorities and boundaries be sure to turn off your work phone or log off your email. Set yourself up for success, rather than making it easy to fail by checking your email when you should be focused on your personal time.

3. Recharge on the weekend. Set aside your weekend for recharging your batteries. Do the things that you enjoy and that increase your energy. If you need to do a work-related activity limit it to a specific task that you can complete in an hour or two. Take care of yourself on the weekend, avoiding late nights and excessive caffeine or alcohol.  

4. Reduce stress with meditation and sleep. Even a simple and brief practice of meditation in the morning can bring significant benefits to your work and personal life, and can greatly reduce stress. The importance of adequate amounts of sleep cannot be overstated. Focusing on those two area--adequate sleep and a meditation practice--can set you up for greater success throughout your day.

How to Be More Productive

We have a family tradition in our home of asking each other a simple question while we're having dinner: "How was your day?"

Often, when it's my 4-year-old son's turn he will say, with a mischievous smile and a slight wink in my direction, "Oh, I had a productive day."

Apparently I often answer the "how was your day" question in terms of productivity so it seems

appropriate to highlight some tips to help you (and me) be more productive with our time.

1. Having a productive day starts the day before. Before you leave work for the day or later that evening during some quiet time at home, set your priorities for the next day and list the tasks you need to accomplish. You'll find this enables you to focus more quickly on them the next morning.

2. Get enough sleep. You'll be much more productive if you're not tired and using coffee or sugar drinks to provide you with some temporary energy.

3. Start your day with some exercise. Get moving early and you'll find you have the energy to tackle that list of priorities you set the previous evening.

What suggestions do you have for increasing productivity?

For more tips check out this article.

Identify Your Motivators to Clarify Your Priorities

I have had a week of bad news. On top of the tragedies that have happened in our nation this week, I have learned a relative I love very much is terminally ill and that someone I am close to is on the verge of a divorce that will impact two young children. It has been a week where I have felt the need to evaluate my personal priorities.

You don't need to wait for a week of bad news in order to define your motivators and evaluate the priorities in your career. Most people have more than one motivating factor. However, evaluate these five motivators and rank them in order. It is a good idea to know what motivates you in order to ensure your decisions - both every day and momentous decisions - align with those priorities.

Challenge
Challenge can be defined as being engaged, having your abilities stretched, and being constantly tested. If challenge is your number one motivator, it is important to you that you are never bored. The person who selects challenge as their top priority is someone who is valued for their ability to learn quickly, think on their feet, and make a significant contribution to a team. This person will become bored, unhappy, and unproductive if they have to do menial or repetitive tasks as part of their career.

Location
The person who selects location as their top priority has very particular preferences about where they work. It may relate to an inside or outside work environment, or it may be about what part of the country or world in which you work. Travel - and how often they have to be away from home - may also be a factor to the person who selects this as their top priority.

Advancement
Advancement also means many different things to different people. It could be about recognition, status, or climbing the corporate ladder. However, advancement can also be seen as growing and developing a skill set or becoming an expert in your field. This priority can definitely impact the size and status of the company where you choose to work.

Money
We all have bills to pay and different ideas of how much it takes to maintain their desired standard of living. Before you make a career decision, it is important that you define your personal financial requirements. Even if money is not your number one motivator, it is still important to make this determination so you can make decisions that support your needs.

Security
Job security refers to your need for familiarity and could possibly be about how feel in regards to change. When a job is predictable and familiar, some people feel stifled. However, if this is your top priority, you feel comfortable and secure in that situation. Your need for security, and where it falls on your list of priorities will likely change as your life situation changes.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Setting Priorities

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this Fast Company 30 Second MBA video, author and entrepreneur Peter Shankman recommends starting your day a half hour earlier to prepare to tackle your priorities for the day.

Watch the video below for more: