18 Minutes
Find Your Focus, Master Distraction and
Get the Right Things Done
Peter Bregman
With social media and smart phones always with us, constantly
craving our attention, getting things done is tougher than ever. How often do we get to the end of another long and
frantic day and wonder why so many important things didn't get finished? We've
never worked so hard and felt so unproductive and unfulfilled.
‘18 Minutes’, a
stimulating book by Peter Bregman, top Harward Business Review columnist and
global management consultant, shatters the myth of getting it all done by
offering a clear and simple plan for getting the right things done.
He shows how the best way to fight distracting interruptions is to create
productive ones ourselves, a practice that can be easily implemented in 18
minutes a day. The result is a simple yet comprehensive approach to managing
your life a year, a day, and a moment at a time so that your life moves forward
the way you want and at the pace you want.
We often work really hard yet feel unproductive
and unfulfilled.
The best way to fight distracting
interruptions is to create productive ones ourselves, a practice that can be
easily implemented in 18 minutes a day. Find your focus and get things done in 18
minutes.
How do we fight the continuous distractions we have throughout
the day? First of all, we need to accept that we can’t do everything and that
our goals are really our own. Once this is done, then there are some tips and
tricks that will make it easier for us to succeed. And it requires only 18
minutes.
Start by pausing
and focusing on the best course of action.
Waking up in the morning and looking at the to-do list can be overwhelming. Finding time to take care of everything can be struggle. But with the right plan and focused attention we can be our most productive self.
First, find your focus by pausing for a moment, reflecting on what needs to be done and finding the best course of action.
This pause
helps us make fewer mistakes. Take Gmail’s “undo send” function, for example.
This feature gives us five seconds to reconsider whether we really want to send
that email we’ve just sent. And five seconds are the most for people to pause
and realize they’ve made a mistake.
Our first instinct is often emotional, and our brain needs those few extra seconds to take control and put us on the right path. So, before taking action, slow down and take a moment to consider in order to avoid wasting time. This pause can train our mind for long term success, as this pause acts as a rest which allows us to reflect and put things in perspective.
Pausing also
allow us to think in new ways, leading to new possibilities.
Without break we’ll be on constant autopilot, acting according to our idea of how things are supposed to be. This behaviour can lead to mistakes and missed opportunities. Pausing can give our mind the chance to calm down and see things accurately.So take the important first step and pause.
Find out what’s
right for you by leveraging your strengths and embracing your weaknesses.
To attain goals, we need direction, and the key to getting one is limiting our choices and taking advantage of our strengths. A simple way to narrow our options is to focus our attention on the things we are good at. This formula helps us being strategic about the things to which we dedicate our time and energy.
Focusing on our strengths doesn’t mean ignoring your weaknesses.
It actually does us good if we embrace them. Taking into consideration our
strengths and weaknesses, we’ll be able to get the right things done.
Assert your differences and pursue your passion while avoiding
pitfalls.
It is a competitive advantage to be different from the rest. Today’s
marketplace is crowded and people have more options than ever to choose from. If
you are wondering what kind of project to work on, focus on the ones that have
that special feature and stand out from the rest.
It’s much easier and more enjoyable to spend time on things we
are passionate about, as learning skills can take a lot of time.
To be successful you have to avoid the pitfalls along the way.
One common pitfall is the tendency to give up after a failure.
Don’t give up! Instead, look at a failure as a chance to learn from your
mistakes and make improvements.
Another pitfall involves being paralyzed by uncertainty about
the future. It’s better to focus on the present and creating your
opportunities.
Plan your day with the wisdom of the 18 minutes ritual.
First, put aside five minutes in the morning to go over your
plan for the day. Also create an “ignore list” of things to avoid. Scheduling
is a useful tool for getting things done.
The next step is to give yourself one minute pause every hour
during the day. It’s easy to get overwhelmed at some point, in order to stay on
track, take a short pause every hour to reflect on the progress you’ve made.
The final step is to take five minutes at the end of the day to
review. This is time to think about what you did and what didn’t work over the
course of the day.
To prevent
distractions, master your initiative, your boundaries and yourself.
Defeating distraction isn’t easy. But even simply changing our environment can help keep you focused. Staying motivated is easier when you make accomplishing your tasks fun. Setting clear boundaries is also important for a distraction-free work zone.
The final tip is to start off small, the rest will come naturally.
Ruchika
Verma
Peter Bregman is the CEO of Bregman Partners, Inc., a company that strengthens
leadership in people and in organizations. He is the host of the Bregman Leadership Podcast, short conversations with thought
leaders focused on ideas that people can use to become more powerful and
courageous leaders.
You
can purchase this stimulating book from Amazon
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