The Days when it Just Seems too Hard

Some days we struggle to maintain our focus, our purpose and our energy.

It's natural, and one of the phrases I heard a while back that has echoed a little for me was that in order to focus, you must de-focus. Think about that one for a second, as it does make lots of sense. The original intent of it was different, but it works nicely here too I think.

When there's too much noise and clutter and other debilitating things that vie for our attention (like wasting time reading some vacuous blog!) coursing around us, we need to step back at times and gather ourselves, regroup if you want to call it that. It may take a moment, an hour or a year depending on the circumstances. You've heard people talk about the wonders of the power nap at work ? Same idea.

One thing were rarely given within our work-time confines is the freedom (in a defined time sense) to think and be creative, and that's another form of re-grouping and one that often re-energizes us for our tasks and helps us develop new, fresh approaches to the things we do.

I happen to be one of those people that likes a to-do list (not on Saturday's thanks very much though, honey) and I find simply revising this to refine and break down the various deliverables I have, helps me to see the larger picture and allows me to step back into whatever I'm doing at full pace. No doubt each of us has some trick they know that works for themselves.

I'm writing this today to promote the idea of giving yourself a little break, as the ability to re-focus, re-energize and re-purpose your own efforts will mean you're able to freshly apply yourself. It parallels the idea of giving a muscle a short break between exercises to allow it to rest, knowing you'll be needing its full power again shortly.

So, step back from what you're doing if it's just too difficult today. Take a breather, and re-structure the task as if you're the boss and then go at it again full steam ahead. You'll more creative and committed to the result that way.

You see, sometimes to go faster, you need to go slower.