Sales Letter to Myself #9: How to Improve Your Focus Instantly Without Any Tricks Or Hacks
Facebook post written on November 3, 2021
original: Facebook post written on November 3, 2021: https://www.facebook.com/mike.ying.personal/posts/pfbid0ZKVyRBsU8HehWsiVJfZs3JHJ4fNiti5dAuXpB7kMrvFVKiTLYEZbMdS2ath7S8Tql
How to Improve Your Focus Instantly Without Any Tricks Or Hacks
Your focus is really bad.
It probably all started when you started scrolling the Instagram newsfeed instead of listening to the university teacher during lectures.
You've been super distracted ever since.
It actually got better when you started meditating, reading Eckhart Tolle, and really got into spirituality and presence.
Then you stopped focusing on being present and you got more distracted than ever.
Focus is a b.
Getting distracted is so easy.
Getting instant gratification is so easy.
Focusing on one thing for a long period of time is hard.
Why?
Because getting distracted is so easy.
It's also hard to have complete certainty on your next action.
And it's easier for some tasks to get in the flow than others.
So what's the solution? How can you improve your focus?
Let's make an action plan, shall we?
You already have a starting ritual from letter #4.
You haven't been using it much but it's a good ritual. Try to use it more often every day.
Let's separate tasks into 3 categories: planning, starting, keep going.
We got the starting part done.
Planning:
Keep using Todoist and Google Calendar as you've done until now.
Here is a new implementation intention for you:
If you don't know with absolute certainty what to do next -> then create a new Word document, start writing, put down all your thoughts, write down all your to-do's, write more, plan a bit, then decide on the next action task fast. (You can also use The Final Version Perfected.) Then of course start.
No overcomplicated planning, just decide on your next task with certainty. Be flexible for daily planning and the rest.
Get this starting focus great first.
All you want to avoid is to waste time doing nothing because you have nothing planned for the next 10 minutes.
Keep going:
Choose in advance which music you will use during your task.
Choose in advance that you will work for at least 2 minutes uninterrupted without any distraction. (increase time over time)
When you need a break, just take it then get back to it.
Stop your distracting habits:
- checking phone too often
- checking email too often
- checking Facebook too often
- checking YouTube too often
- checking mangas too often
- scrolling the Facebook newsfeed too often
- listening to random music too often
- thinking about things to do in the future
- thinking about all the tasks you have to do
- thinking about daily tasks
- thinking that is not related to your main focus
It would also be great to improve your ability to focus for long periods of time:
- try to watch movies uninterrupted
- try to watch long YouTube videos uninterrupted
- try to watch an entire season of a TV show uninterrupted
- try to listen to a 1+ hour concert uninterrupted
- read for hours uninterrupted
- listen to a long podcast/interview uninterrupted
- whatever you can think of that is easy to do for a long period of time
And add this daily habit to your routine:
Meditate 20 minutes, focusing on improving your focus.
In the beginning, maybe let your attention spread out to your body and breath.
Then with time, focus on a single point for 20 minutes.
And also add this habit/implementation intention:
Before checking a notification or whatever, take 2 deep breaths or count 5 seconds and then only check the notification (or whatever).
Alright, implement these now.
Your focus is already improving.
