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  • How do you get back to work when you lose focus?

    Ezgi Aydın
    109 replies
    It is the thing I struggle with the most. I usually get up grab a cup of coffee and get back to work but it doesn't always do the trick for me. So what are your tactics?

    Replies

    Matt Li
    Seasons Journaling for iOS
    Seasons Journaling for iOS
    It's always starting that is the hardest part, and it's almost always a challenge! To make it easier, I try to have some notes or reference to remind myself what is currently important. Then, I just like to focus on one simple thing I can do to get the ball rolling.
    Garland Coulson (Captain Time)
    I use a focus timer to bring my focus back. I also have set up my systems to have almost no distractions from my focus.
    Aju G
    25 minutes or 50 minutes Pomodoro helped me. Instead of long stretches breaking it into smaller sprints with a reward, (which is a break/walk/ stretching) usually helps. It kind of conditions the brain that, there is a designated time to check tweets or for random scrolling.
    Valentino
    When I find myself losing focus, I like to take a short break and go for a walk outside to get some fresh air. After that, I take a few minutes to meditate which helps me to clear my mind and refocus. This usually helps me to regain my focus for a few hours.
    phprunner
    Take a break, make a cup of tea, run some errands, or go for a quick walk.
    Jef Van Gool
    you need to know your 'triggers' what triggers you to fall asleep what triggers you to stay focused what triggers you to go the extra mile what triggers you to... if you have the end in mind, the feeling you get. that should be your focus. example, eating makes all the blood go to your stomach. if you eat a lunch that needs much energy to transform into energy you will feel sleepy, less focussed. so what you can do is eat a heavy breakfast before commute and sleep on the train. Or steam vegetables the night before, take them to work and eat them for lunch. you will NEVER have this afternoon dip. another example. sometimes I have a job I really don't wan't to do. I think about how free I feel when it's over. so then I want that feeling more than ever and I get my shit together. Disclaimer: Don't follow my advice. test it out. Make your own rules
    Porag Gogoi
    Includes a lot of - 1. Walking aimlessly. 2. Hating myself. 3. Feeling I have dug myself into a hole. Repeating step 1 through 3. Sprinkle in a little bit of tears (especially if the project was a long one). Wake up one morning- Think to myself "IT'S ENOUGH!". Slowly dig myself out of the hole. And in a few days I am back.
    Brian Lemba (Full-Stack Developer)
    1. Take a break: Taking a break can help you reset and refocus. Get up and do something active like going for a walk or stretching. During this time, try to listen to calming music or practice deep breathing. 2. Set achievable goals: Break down big goals into smaller tasks that are easy to achieve. When you make progress on these smaller goals, it will boost your motivation and help you stay focused. 3. Prioritize: Prioritize tasks that need to be done and focus on them first. This will help you stay on track and avoid procrastinating. 4. Eliminate distractions: Turn off notifications, put your phone on silent, and stop checking social media. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand. 5. Reward yourself: Give yourself a reward when you complete a task or goal. Rewarding yourself will help you stay motivated and focused on the bigger picture.
    Karan Parwani
    I just do 3 things that gets me back on track: 1. Get my music on and start working back, I get 10X focused and get the work done 2. Remember why I am doing what I am doing. This gets your purpose back on track which otherwise you thought is just a task you are executing. 3. Take a walk around my apartment or just take a look at Nature. It heals and gives your head the calm it deserves. there is more to it. These 3 are somewhat responsible for bringing my focus back. (btw, I wrote this while listening to 'Heaven' by Bryan Adams. Do check it out on Spotify😁)
    Hemant Warier
    When it comes to getting back to work and regaining focus, it can be challenging, especially when you feel like your motivation and productivity have hit a roadblock. Here are a few tips that have helped me in the past: 1. Take a break: Sometimes, all you need is a quick break to refresh your mind and come back to your work with renewed energy. This could be a quick walk outside, a cup of coffee, or even just a few minutes of stretching. 2. Prioritize your tasks: Make a list of the most important tasks you need to complete, and focus on them first. This will help you stay organized and avoid getting bogged down by minor tasks. 3. Eliminate distractions: Identify and eliminate any distractions that might be preventing you from focusing on your work. This could be turning off your phone, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, or finding a quiet place to work. 4. Get into a routine: Having a set routine can help you stay focused and motivated. This could be as simple as setting aside specific times of the day for certain tasks or even establishing a specific time for breaks. 5. Find your motivation: Remind yourself of why you're doing what you're doing, and what the end goal is. This can help reignite your motivation and get you back on track. Remember, it's normal to lose focus from time to time. The key is to not let it discourage you and instead take the necessary steps to regain your focus and get back to work.
    Devanand Premkumar
    @hemantwarier This is pretty good Hemant. Logically speaking if we follow these 5, we should be back on track :)
    Rohan Chaubey
    @hemantwarier ChatGPT generated this comment? :P
    Indu Thangamuthu
    Start from the easy tasks. That way I can get motivated of finishing tasks and at the same time, by the time I'm in the zone, I can focus more on the complex ones.
    Favour Felix
    I'm just here to see if there are any tips here that could help, cos I just lost focus and I have a pressing deadline :)
    Karan Parmar
    Twinr - App Builder
    Twinr - App Builder
    listening to light music, or a brisk walk always helps
    JG
    I try to reject all distractions and focus on completing my goal. And remember that, breaks are very important in the whole process, coffee, lunch, etc.
    Ezgi Aydın
    BeforeSunset AI
    @julia_gutkind Interesting. How do you do that?
    Izabela
    When I lose concentration, I check my to-do list and choose the task that is easy to do or is most interesting to me at the time. This way, little by little, I reintroduce myself to doing my duties with proper concentration.
    Karthik Tatikonda
    I will watch a movie or go for a walk. Also, I will try not to think about it too much. Because the more I think, I will be frustrated more and I will waste some more time.
    Michael Vereb
    1. Stand up (& drink some water) 2. Identify the purpose of what you're doing (what actually needs to get done and how you can get there) 3. Work on something else, then come back to it! Mike's tips!
    Sanat Mohanty
    After a break, I go back to my task journal. Rewrite it afresh for the day. Re-writing it enforces personal investment, gets me going again.
    Stephanie Beugras
    Imposing myself a daily routine of tasks to be accomplished within a certain time, and constantly coming back to this list whenever I feel that I am getting lost in reasoning or actions that take me away from the goal. It is very easy to stray from the goals with the many sources of information and possible levers of action available to us Only daily discipline can prevent getting lost.
    Eddie Forson
    Unless you're a robot :) it can definitely be difficult to context switch back to work after a break or distracting activity. I don't always get it right but these are my steps for putting myself into "work mode": - turn my phone off or leave it in another room - look at my next task on my todo list - Try to visualise yourself having completed the task - put on headphones and listen to music (I like "Deep Focus" playlist on Spotify) - Do the work Hope this helps!