Welcome new subscribers! So happy you’ve joined the newsletter family. Let’s encourage each other today.
On Monday, I posted about living in the moment. (You can read it HERE.)
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What is your best advice for focusing? Share a tip that might help the community experience deeper work, deeper relationships, and deeper daily meaning. I’ll start:
Work - I try to be ruthless with my mornings. They are my most productive times, so I limit interruptions by only scheduling appointments or meetings in the afternoon. I also do not look at email until after lunch (most days).
Relationships - If I meet with someone or I’m with the girls, I do not set my phone on the table or nearby. At home, I keep it in the office or away from what I’m doing. I’m outside a lot, so my daughters interact with me a lot in the garage, in the yard, by the fire, or on walks.
Daily Meaning - I try to have the first things that hit my imagination be the natural world (eyes), the supernatural world (prayer), and inspiration (Bible study). Keeping in this rhythm keeps me grounded, focused, and thriving—and, generally, stoked.
For work, the best way I can focus is to START. Just dig in on the big project and set aside everything else mentally. Otherwise, dilly-dallying to get things lined up right takes half the day.
For relationships, I have a priority. God first, then people over everything else. That requires some uncomfortable adjustments sometimes but keeps me from many regrets.
For daily meaning, Scripture! and time to meditate and pray first thing. Also, lunchtime walks whenever the weather allows. Keeping my eyes up!
I will place the things I need to focus on first in the chair where I have my morning coffee before I go to bed at night. My Bible, my iPad, my planner so I see my appointments, etc. I also have an art studio/office that is a separate building so the walk over helps me focus. I like the idea of no email till noon. May steal that one!
OK, this is fun!
For work, the best way I can focus is to START. Just dig in on the big project and set aside everything else mentally. Otherwise, dilly-dallying to get things lined up right takes half the day.
For relationships, I have a priority. God first, then people over everything else. That requires some uncomfortable adjustments sometimes but keeps me from many regrets.
For daily meaning, Scripture! and time to meditate and pray first thing. Also, lunchtime walks whenever the weather allows. Keeping my eyes up!
I will place the things I need to focus on first in the chair where I have my morning coffee before I go to bed at night. My Bible, my iPad, my planner so I see my appointments, etc. I also have an art studio/office that is a separate building so the walk over helps me focus. I like the idea of no email till noon. May steal that one!
I am a visual soul. Usually writing a list on monday helps me to keep focused.
A very loose list, not too detailed. Short, and long term goals on this scratch paper with lots of doodles keeps it from being stale or formidable.
Someone’s birthday this week? A doodle birthday cake with their name.
Goals can be transferred to next week or eliminated as needed.
Setting an intention for my health and spiritual being helps me too.