When I was asked to write about focus two things came to mind. The importance of focus in what we do and a strengths test I took several years ago. After taking the Clifton Strengths Test, the results showed my top 5 in the following order.

Achiever

Analytical

Focus

Responsibility

Discipline

The results were not only spot-on but made me understand a lot more on how I function not only in my personal life but also in the workplace and in my creative endevours. If I embrace my strengths in all that I do, I have the best chance at success and fulfillment no matter what I am trying to do. However, it is not just taking a test and determining your strengths and then that's it. And what if your results don't show focus as one of your strengths? Does that mean you can't ever learn to focus more on what you want to achieve in whatever you are trying to do?

If you are looking to improve your focus on the little things or the big picture, here are 3 tips that can help you

Embrace Technology

Find a task management app to use. There are many out there but I have used Todoist since 2008 and have found it to be simple and effective and you can't beat the price (FREE) for what it offers. Even the premium upgrade is cost effective but really not needed for personal use.

Use your calendar on your phone especially if you are a Apple user. Your calendars stay synced between all your devices so no matter where you are and what you are using, your calendar is at your fingertips.

Action Plan

We might think that an action plan is just for businesses but I think they are key in our personal life and it doesn't have to be a complex plan. At the end of each year, I create a plan for not only personal growth but also advancement in my creative endevours for the new year. It really comes down to making a list of things you want to do in the next year and with approximate dates to accomplish those things and keeping consistent with reviewing those tasks month-to-month and holding yourself accountable. Keep your plan simple and review it on a regular basis and your focus will definitely improve and you will get things done.

Return On Investment (ROI)

It’s really about priority and this is subjective. Only you can know if you are focusing on the right things and spending your time wisely. Is what you are doing supporting your goals on your action plan? Is it helping you check off items on your tasks list? If not, then we ask ourselves what is the return on my efforts and what is it worth?

We are all unique and have different goals and things we want to accomplish but the common thread is we all need ways to help us focus. No matter what you do, if you apply these three things in your personal life, hobbies, or business ventures I guarantee that you will see an improvement not only in focus but in accomplishments.

I would love to hear about ways you use to improve focus so please leave a comment below.