Focus - Leo Babauta [30]
This is summed up very well by something Charles Dickens once wrote, "He did each single thing as if he did nothing else." This is a life lived fully in the moment, with a dedication to doing the best you can in anything you do -- whether that's a work project or making green tea.
If you live your life this way, by this single principle, it will have tremendous effects:
Your work will become more focused.
You will become more effective at your work.
You'll become better at anything you do.
Your time alone will be of better quality.
Your time with your family will be much more meaningful.
Your reading will have less distractions.
You'll lose yourself in anything you deem worthy enough of your time and attention.
how to live a single-tasking life
It sounds nice, but how do you live a life like this? Is it as simple as saying you're going to do it, or is it impossible? Somewhere in between, of course, and like anything worth doing, it takes practice.
Here's what I'd recommend:
Become conscious. When you start doing something, become more aware you're starting that activity. As you do it, become aware of really doing it, and of the urge to switch to something else. Paying attention is the important first step.
Clear distractions. If you're going to read, clear everything else away, so you have nothing but you and the book. If you're going to do email, close every other program and all browser tabs except the email tab, and just do that. If you're going to do a work task, have nothing else open, and turn off the phone. If you're going to eat, put away the computer and other devices and shut off the television.
Choose wisely. Don't just start doing something. Give it some thought -- do you really want to turn on the TV? Do you really want to do email right now? Is this the most important work task you can be doing?
Really pour yourself into it. If you're going to make tea, do it with complete focus, complete dedication. Put everything you have into that activity. If you're going to have a conversation, really listen, really be present. If you're going to make your bed, do it with complete attention and to the best of your abilities.
Practice. This isn't something you'll learn to do overnight. You can start right now, but you're not likely to be good at it at first. Keep at it. Practice daily, throughout the day. Do nothing else, but practice.
single-tasking productivity
While the above tips will apply to work tasks as well as life in general, here are some tips focused more on productivity at work:
Pick just a few tasks each day. While you might keep a longer master list of things to do, each day you should make a short list -- just 1-3 things you really want to accomplish. Call this your Most Important Task (MIT) list. These should be extremely important tasks that will have a high-impact on your life.
Don't do anything else before doing the first thing on your short list of MITs. Don't check email, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, online forums, news sites. Start your day after making your short list by working on your first MIT.
Clear distractions. Shut off phones, close the browser if possible, close your IM program if you have one, even disconnect your Internet if you can stand it.
One task at a time. Keep things simple, focused and effective by single-tasking. Focus on one task until it's done, then move to the next.
If you feel the urge to check your email or switch to another task, stop yourself. Breathe deeply. Re-focus yourself. Get back to the task at hand.
Keep on your MITs until you're done. Then you have time for email, paperwork, routine tasks, etc. Or if you have the time, pick another set of MITs.
If other things come up, note them