Daily Idea

How to Stay Focused at Work

Have you ever had trouble focusing while you are working? Sure, you have. We all could use some help in this area. And I knew to avoid asking out staff about this topic. I decided that I should learn from some of history’s most productive people. Thankfully, the good people at LifeDev.net, came up with a list of 10 Ways History’s Finest Kept Their Focus at Work. So everyone stay focused and you will be on your way to productivity.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

NIKKI: I need to get milk, bread, Flavor-Twits BBQ Fritos, and… Off camera, director calls Nikki back to focus

TODD: Nikki…focus!

NIKKI: Oh…sorry. Hi, I’m Nikki Key and you’re watching the Daily Idea.

Have you ever had trouble focusing while you are working? Sure, we all have. (say this next part pretty fast) Like this one time I was working and working and working and I needed some time off, but I kept working and I was all like tired and stuff and I wanted to see this movie, but I couldn’t because I had to work. Speaking of movies have you guys seen the new…

TODD: (cough) Nikki…focus. (cough)

NIKKI: Right…focus. Anyway, we all could use some help in this area. And I knew to avoid asking out staff about this topic. I decided that I should learn from some of history’s most productive people. Thankfully, the good people at LifeDev.net, came up with a list of 10 Ways History’s Finest Kept Their Focus at Work. So everyone stay focused (point at your eyes and then at the camera) and you will be on your way to productivity.

Don’t work long hours. So many people work themselves to death. By doing this, a lot of people grow tired of the work and lose focus. And if you think all of history’s greats were workaholics, then think again. Beethoven only worked from sunrise until the early afternoon. And he composed at least five symphonies…that’s pretty good.

Now that you’ve cut down on those long hours, punctuate your work time with breaks. (Whistle blows) Sorry, break time…I’ll be right back.

Graphic comes on screen that says “4 hours later…”

Whew…that was a well deserved and needed break. Now I’m ready to go…(pause)

TODD: Nikki! Focus!

NIKKI: Yeah, yeah…sorry. I guess I needed a longer break.

So you’ve shortened your work hours and you are allowing yourself breaks. Now you need to mix it up. And I mean more than just changing your position in your desk chair. Staring at a computer screen all day is not always beneficial. Add some variety to your day. Gandhi was known to break up his day by having a bath and a massage. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s why the Daily Idea is hiring a staff massage therapist.

TODD: No, we are not.

NIKKI: Well…we should hire one. Our last suggestion is to simply take a walk. Gandhi, Emerson, Victor Hugo, Beethoven, and Mandela all made time for walks during their day. Use it as a time to think and reflect. Relax. But enjoy stretching your legs.

So if you want to be like history’s greats, then you need to take their advice. Work fewer hours, take more breaks, add some variety, and go for a walk. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always Ritalin.

And that’s another Daily Idea.

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