From experience, I know that starting a project is the hardest part. It takes everything you have in order to just buckle down and get into the work flow. You sit on your couch, feet up, laptop on your lap and phone in your hand wrongfully thinking that you will actually get something accomplished. I have been guilty of this plenty of times. Actually, that was me just last night. Luckily, I have been able to nail down a few practices that help me when it is time to get down to business (most of the time).
Pick a Designated Work Space
Having a place set aside for work time will go a long way. Once I was certain that I would be going back to school for my Master’s I knew I needed to set up an area that would allow me to focus. It had been five years since I finished undergrad and I was going to try anything in order to help the transition back to class be as easy as possible. So, I set up a desk area in my spare bedroom that would function as my space for homework. Doing this helped me more than I ever anticipated. When I know I have to buckle down and get something completed that is my go to spot. Any other place will serve me too many distractions. Cal Newport speaks of the importance of rituals and routines when it comes to getting into deep work. By routinely working in a specific place, our brains will be trained to recognize it for that purpose. Keeping your space tidy and clear of any possible distractions will also aid you when getting into your routine. Be sure to only keep the necessities present. You also want to make sure you are limiting yourself to one screen, which we will talk about next.
Phones Off
When it comes to reaching a high level of focus, putting your phone aside is the best piece of advice to help you reach that goal. Recently I have been making an effort to put my cell phone out of my sight when I am in work mode. Every time I do this my productivity increases. There is nothing around to stop me from working. Having my phone away limits my accessibility to the distractions of the internet. Am I still able to access the internet and social media from my laptop or desktop computers? Yes, but if I have my work is covering my computer screen I don’t feel so tempted. It is when I have that additional source in front of me that deters me from being productive. Out of sight out of mind…for the most part.
Schedule Your Work Time
It is easy to put something off when you don’t truly make the effort to schedule it into your day. Contrariwise, when you mark your calendar off for a couple of hours every night, or however frequently you need, you will feel guilty when you miss that time slot. Implementing this ritual into your days will get you into a rhythmic practice. You can also make this scheduling method a visual one by starting the chain technique. This is when you physically mark your calendar and every time you utilize your scheduled work period you draw and X through the day. As you work your chain of X’s becomes longer and longer. It becomes a game and you do not want to see your chain break, so you keep on working! This method has become popular among writers, fitness gurus, and many ‘deep work’ enthusiasts.
When all is said and done the center of focus starts with will power. We must resist the lure of the internet, our smart phones, televisions, and all other smart devices if we want to go deep into our studies. However, new technologies have drained our willpower because we have become so reliant on their abilities to help us with everyday tasks. The good news is that we can utilize these simple rituals and routines in order to gain that control back and produce the best work we are capable of.
Samantha Mantiglia 