Improve your ability to focus on tasks
from Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career by Scott H. Young
Before you start working on anything, eliminate as many sources of distraction as you can. This includes calming your mind and keeping it that way, as emotions can often hijack the mind and make returning your focus to your task seem impossible. With practice, however, you will be able to develop this skill and it will be very useful in the long run.
How to Apply This
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Make a mental note of whenever you feel like procrastinating
Ask yourself whether you actually have a strong urge to do something else, or whether you are just avoiding the thing you need to do. Make a note of any negative feelings that arise - frustration, stress, etc, and simply let it go. A calm mind is essential to ultralearning. -
Convince yourself to start working on the task for at least five minutes before taking a break
Then, work on your task for another 20 minutes with a 5-minute break - essentially, break down the time you spend on the task into more manageable portions. -
Eliminate distractions in your work environment
Ensure you have everything you need for work, so you don’t have to get up halfway and go looking for something. -
Choose a method of learning that works best for you
Can you focus better on books or videos? Do you prefer your education to be more unstructured or would you benefit from a structured course? Choose the option that makes it easiest for you to focus without getting distracted.
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