Are You Having Trouble Focusing?

It's mid-March! How have you been doing with evaluating who and what are number one in your life? Today, I want to share another great blog from life-coach, Valorie Burton on 5 Steps to Stop Being Scattered and Start Being Focused:
"Are you all over the place when it comes to the projects and tasks you have to complete? Do you feel scattered at times? Perhaps you have multiple good ideas, but have difficulty implementing them. The ability to focus is one of the most powerful skills you can develop. You will enjoy the benefits of faster results, higher creativity, more leisure time, and a powerful sense of self-discipline.
1. DECIDE WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
Many people get tripped up in reaching their goals because they spend their time on the things that really are not that important. Choose one priority for each of the five key areas of your life - relationships, work, finances, health and spiritual life. Be willing to focus your efforts on just one priority in each area.
2. SET YOUR INTENTION.
To achieve anything, you must commit to it. Embrace your priorities and then orient your life around them. That could mean dropping certain activities or old goals from your to-do list. Setting your intention means being held accountable for it. Sharing it with someone will often deepen your commitment.
3. DON'T BE LURED BY DISTRACTIONS.
There is always something else that "needs" to be done. Once you decide what’s most important, block out set periods of time when you refuse to do anything else but the task at hand. ln order to succeed, you must stop focusing on distractions and start focusing on your true priorities.
4. GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
It is tempting to allow planning and daydreaming to cloud out the actual work of moving towards a goal. Planning is important, but the plan only becomes reality when you take action! Until you focus on actually doing the steps necessary to accomplish your goals, you will be burdened with the tension of what you should be doing but aren't.
5. ONCE YOU COMPLETE A PROJECT…...
reflect, celebrate, then look to the next step. Go back to step 1 above and ask, "Now that I have focused and accomplished this goal, what is the next step to bring my vision to life?" Decide what's most important, set your intention, block your distractions and get down to business!
CHALLENGE:
Identify the distractions that tend to lure you away from your priorities. Make a decision about how you could handle your distractions at a time other than the time you commit to focus on your true goals." Valorie Burton (April 13, 2008)

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Who's Number One?

As March Madness gets underway, those who are college basketball fans often wonder who will be number one when it's all said and done! Today starts a 3-part series from my workbook, Building a Better Life, Not Just a Busier One! We will begin by asking, Who is Number One in Your Life? Do your words match up with your actions? Do you say you value one thing and then do another? The Bible tells us in Haggai 1:5 to “Give careful thoughts to your ways.” We say we value one thing, but our priorities say another. Our values and priorities are reflected in how we use our resources – time, money, strength and talent. We say God is number one, but then we relegate Him to a lesser number on our “to-do” lists. We say others and our relationships are important to us, but we make no time for them. We say we value our health, but continue to make poor choices. We say we value our own well-being, but do nothing to strengthen our own spiritual, emotional and physical lives.

* Step One to clearing up this confusion about misplaced priorities: EVALUATE

We all have things in our day that must be done. I call these our “everyday essentials”. But what about all the extra stuff we try to cram into our lives? Sometimes we need to step back and evaluate what we are doing and why we are doing it? Is there something you’ve committed to that’s causing tension in your family/relationships? Are you devoting too much time and money doing something you don’t really enjoy, but were pressured into? Are there things you’d like to be involved in, but don’t have any extra time to do?

Ask yourself: “Is my schedule full of temporary or eternal valued activities?” Do the hours I spend watching television, playing video/computer/online games, shopping, talking on the phone/texting, social-networking, etc. have any kind of lasting, positive impact on others? (There are some women who spend so much time doing these things, they don’t have time to meet the needs of their family and unfortunately, that is creating a lasting impact, just not a positive one!)

On the other hand, eternal valued activities don’t have to be major things. It’s simply making sure you’re investing time in and making a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others. It could be by just giving someone your undivided attention (which requires all phones to be turned off!). Showing someone you care by doing something as small as sending a card of encouragement. (Remember these? They're made of paper and involve a hand-written message!)

Challenge: Evaluate who or what is taking the number one spot in your life. Try incorporating an eternal valued activity in your day and see how you feel! Let us know what you did and encourage others.

Until next time, be purpose-full in all you do! ~ Tonia

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