Comments on: How To Concentrate Your Efforts

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:19:47 +0000

Focus is definitely the key here. Ironically, when I have deadlines looming, that also helps to keep focused since you’ve got a clear boundary on how long you’ll be working. If a project is open-ended, it might be less immediately stressful, but it’s easy to let it balloon into the time available. So we need a way to create an artificial or “positive” stress that can still keep us focused and not wasting time, either. I think Tim Ferriss used the term “eustress” to describe part of this.

By: pays to live green

pays to live green — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:22:19 +0000

Great list. Staying focus and identifying things that are holding us back are great ways to make sure we stay on target. We can do anything as long as we put our minds to it and don’t give up.

By: The Almost Millionaire

The Almost Millionaire — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:02:59 +0000

I’d working hard to try to stay focused and on task. I generally have a lot of stuff going on at once, so it is tough. I am at my best though when I’m running with a project.

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:04:00 +0000

I’m a fan of focus and boundaries.

By: Blake

Blake — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:05:57 +0000

“I think part of the trick is to let oneself keep going after that “45 min” mark, whenever it is, to go with that flow, because real flow doesn’t come easily (in my experience) so you need to cultivate it once you’ve got it.”

Definitely, mate. Although for me it’s probably more appropriate to say “make oneself” than “let oneself”. lol.

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:42:41 +0000

Interesting thoughts, Blake…. any type of mindfulness exercise training would probably help here, I hadn’t thought of that connection, but I see it now. I think part of the trick is to let oneself keep going after that “45 min” mark, whenever it is, to go with that flow, because real flow doesn’t come easily (in my experience) so you need to cultivate it once you’ve got it.

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:35:42 +0000

How you describe breaks in the second point is what I struggle with, even though its really counterintuitive. After 45 minutes or so of concentrated work, I’m in the zone- if I were to keep going I would get tons of work done in one single block of time. Of course, that’s not usually how it works, because at this point I get really antsy and feel I need a break. Of course, even I’m disciplined enough to keep the break short, I’ve lost a lot of focus.

Have you by chance studied any Zen? I haven’t, but I bet some Zen-like practices could help enter a ‘zone’ and get the work done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Good luck on the remainder of your writing!