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Top 7 ways to stay focused
#travel #inspiration #organization #motivation #projectmanagement
Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but in doing it.
In the 21st century AD (the operating word being AD), all of our lives have become convoluted and preoccupied with countless activities. Most of the time, most of the people are just running from task to task, not even understanding they’re working towards a goal they don’t even care to achieve. Even setting up priorities has become a complete mess in the past decade. Recently, I had a conversation with a couple of friends. Long story short, we came to a conclusion that most humans prioritize their employment over their own health – let alone friendships, fun or intimate lives.
Most of us have noticed it’s overly complicated to even set up priorities, let alone keep them aligned and follow through on each of them. No wonder that so many people plan to have a family of five by the age of 26, while at 33 they turn back and understand they’re not even looking for anyone to date yet. Let’s not even talk about businesses people want to run, in order to serve a higher purpose and their community. Some of these never even get created, let alone managed. In the following paragraphs, I will share how I maintain my priorities and activities – based on it, why I have enough time to travel and run a blog.
1. Feng shui boards
Don’t laugh, this seriously helped me step up my game. Sure, you’d need to read a book or two, or utilize the Internet to learn about the ways of the air and the water (literal meaning of Chinese words “feng” and “shui”, respectively). Whether you personally believe in magic behind it is individual. However, organizing life this way can be beneficial in multiple areas. Feng shui sorts everything into nine categories: career and life path; knowledge and self-cultivation; health and ancestors; wealth and prosperity; fame and reputation; love and marriage; children and creativity; helpful people and travel; health and center.
This kind of distribution helps us focus on actual background and focus on different aspects of our lives. Plus, we can decide to be as detailed as we wish. It will help us understand what our issues or expected states stem from, as well as to work on the root cause, rather than putting out random fires.
I first started this in 2022, and (I can proudly say) all my goals were achieved. Of course, I didn’t just pick the old sheets of paper and toss them in the trash – I kept them. It will be a safe haven of growth. In fact, my 2023 feng shui goals look nothing like the last-year ones – again, a sign of life improvements. Hang the board at a visible part of your work area, and read it every now and then, just to remind yourself of the path you’re taking.
2. Life goal planner
Life goals are our most important drivers – and it’s incredible how many humans lack them in this day and age. Life goals can be broken up into sets of global actions/results, which can further be broken down into yearly achievements, monthly milestones, and then weekly goals, and finally daily tasks. In order to be able to perform this breakdown, one needs to formulate their measures of success in life, and thus generate life goals.
One thing no one should be deluded with – most of us were taught that all we need to do is finish elementary/high school/college, land a “good” job, buy a house and a car, get married, have children and that’s it. Although this prevails as a fine general guide, it’s far from life goals – it’s a set of tasks we are required to perform, in order to please our parents and neighbors. Don’t think that you’ve succeeded in life if all you did was follow this route. Instead, do an introspect and discover what it is you truly find to be measures of success. Or, as a fictional character I like would say – “What is it you desire”.
3. Daily planner
I found a beautiful daily planner, with generic fields already set up. You can order it for about 20 EUR / 23 USD from most online stores. Even if you don’t have a modelled one, you can create it yourself. It’s important to open it in the morning, add five major goals/tasks for the day, and follow through with them. If you already have a feng shui board, and possibly an additional scrapbook, in which you devised global life goals more into detail, you will have a clearer focus for your monthly and weekly targets – so that daily ones can flow into them.
I write in this journal by hand, not in my MacBook. It is said that what we use our hands to write things down, we create an impulse to focus our brain on them. Probably because we’re losing the ability to write by hand, with all the gadgets available here and there. Also, it’s a great way to wake up.
4. Gratitude journal
Again, I found one online for a ridiculously low amount of money. And the pages are pre-determined, asking for certain input in all fields. However, again, you don’t need this. As long as you have a scrapbook, in which you write your daily gratitude, you’ll be able to keep up with doing what you love and enjoy, while finding the willpower to push through the actions that you don’t like performing, although you benefit from them. My advice: journal your gratitude in the morning and at night, before bedtime. Of course, do it by hand.
5. Daily reading
Most people I know claim not to have any time to read. Yet, they endlessly scroll through social media with no end or goal in sight, whatsoever. And I’m not saying – scrolling through social media is not only fun, it can also be a good source of different opportunities, but if you know what you’re seeking out. Implementing a reading routine shifts your priorities and decreases your timespan for time to waste. Also, reading smart books (such as popular psychology, new skills, self-improvement, etc.) gives you brain food, plus focuses you on what’s important. This is another thing I prefer to do in the morning, while my brain is still fresh.
6. Spend time in nature
This one comes naturally (imagine that). Setting aside time to read is similar to setting aside time to spend in nature. Apart from filling our bodies with fresh air, scents of plants and animals, and enforcing exercise, this makes us reunite with ourselves, and has a great side-effect of reducing screen time. I suggest a daily walk in a local park, at the very least.
7. Exercise upon waking up
Haha, good one! No, seriously, I tend to do this at least 5/7 days. And everyone should. Not only do you not need to lift heavy weight, but all you need to do is stretch your body bit by bit further every morning. It will help your blood flow better, and wake you up better than caffeine.
Here’s my story. Two years ago, I had a severe Achilles’ tendon injury. Around the time of healing, I moved to a new town – one without functional gyms, or even pavements to properly walk on. That’s when I stopped my 6/7-day hardcore workout routine. Suffice to say my body started looking like jelly (in a desire not to sound more grotesque). About four months ago, I decided to start exercising in the morning – hoping that every little step counts towards the final goal. The progress so far is, believe it or not, I never looked or felt better in my life! Although I find health and fitness to always be in progress, and not a final target, I admire my own success. And so should you – help yourself grow and admire yourself!
Another side effect of exercising each morning is that you will not be sleepy during daytime any longer. And you can take it from my example – I haven’t had an afternoon nap in months, but still have more energy to run on, than I used to.
It’s funny how most productivity routines do not encompass performing actual work, but rather taking care of our bodies and minds. How the routine shifts balance during a trip or on a vacation will be a story for another time. What I would invite you all to do is try at least one of these seven activities. Tell me how it’s going and how well it’s starting to work out for you.
Calling all travel agencies and agents. Do you want to have your travels set for success? Are you planning to not worry about organizing tours ever again, while doing it productively and straight-forward? Would you like to have predefined outlines for each of your trips? Are you ready to run tours off the beaten path? Don’t hesitate – reach out to me, and let’s make your success our common story.
Comments
Hi! Sorry i just curious, what template did you use for your website? I want to use it on my website at https://www.gdiz.eu.org
Hi, thanks for your comment.
For my website, I used the “Outdoor Adventure” template.
Just keep in mind it has predefined travel pictures, so you may want to utilize completely different ones.Best of luck with your website!
[…] the meantime, I created a healthy morning routine, started meditating, and read a bunch of meaningful and smart books. Without that, I’m pretty […]
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