How does one learn to focus?

[cateyes1]

Ok, I just went into clean my bathroom. so I go into the kitchen to get the cleaner under the sink. I see my bed is unmade so I go make the bed, then I go to get the stuff to clean the bathroom and remembered I wanted to clean my microwave so I clean that. now I come here to write you nice peeps to help me figure out how to focus UGH...now to go clean my bathroom.......Calgon take me away!!......does anyone else have this problem? HEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLP!!  ..........LOVE YOU ALL  ....ok focus focus   

[southernhorizons]

When you have a lot of stuff that needs to be done, it can be very hard to focus on just one task. Women especially are used to multi tasking, so they get into the habit of not focusing on one task at a time. I think the best way to do it would be to get a daily routine, and do one thing at a time in a particular order. For example, you could get in the habit of making you bed when you first get up, (unless your husband's still in it, then you have to wait until he gets up), then maybe concentrate on doing kitchen cleaning next, then the bathroom, or living room, or whatever needs to be done that day. You hav to discipline your mind to ignore everything else that needs to be done until the task at hand is accomplished, then you can move on to the next one. If it helps, you can make a list the night before and keep it on your refrigerator, then cross off each item as you do it.

[lucky382001]

I always heard you should never start or finish a task at the same time. In other words while you are doing one thing start another, it helps get more done in the same amount of time aka multitasking.

I find making lists help. And I decide to do just a few other things everyday other than my normal routine. You of course will do things how they make the most sense to you.

[kapeh12]

As the others have posted, learning to focus requires disciplining yourself to stay with said task until completion.  There is no "one way" to accomplish this, as when it comes to focusing on "tasks" there is a wide variety.  As some suggested - if your issue is with tasks you need to complete daily, creating a routine for yourself and getting yourself into the habit of working that routine will help keep you focused. 

For less routine type tasks, I've found using lists to be very helpful.  If you make the list a "living list" - the benefit is it can grow and shrink as you need it.  If part of your issue is getting distracted with other tasks you need to accomplish - stop, add that new item to your list - then go back to what you were originally working on until it's completed.  By writing the item down vs beginning to work on it, your mind may relax as you've written it down so now you won't "forget" about it.  Sometimes the urge to immediately start that next task is due to a subconscious fear that you'll forget about it.  The list will assist relaxing your mind if that's what is going on.

The other benefit of using lists is once you've written down your tasks, you can take a moment to organize and prioritize the tasks.  You may find ways to multi-task more efficiently when you notice easily coupled tasks that compliment each other; or you may realize you need to complete certain tasks immediately (say you have company coming over and you need to clean your bedroom and bathroom - you may choose to clean the bathroom first and just close the bedroom door     )

To improve your focus itself - you may need to do a bit of self-reflection to determine what is your "trigger" for losing focus, and why you do that.  If it's the above mentioned fear of forgetting, then maybe the list ideas will help.  If it's boredom, then maybe finding ways to break-up tasks into smaller chunks will help (sometimes I complete tasks between TV commercials as they are short clips of time where I can concentrate on certain things, then I get a "break" by going back to my show - that way I don't get bored with those tasks).

Hope any of this gives you some ideas to help out.

[tzs]

Sounds like ADD to me, Ive got it, but I take meds that balance me out and controll my focus

[tantricia44]

Wow, you actually got to clean something? In my book that's an accomplishment! I'm scattered brained too. I suggest the best thing  to do is to make a list of the day's chores & focus on finishing 1 chore at a time. Do not deviated from the chore until completely finished!

[cateyes1]

Wow, you actually got to clean something? In my book that's an accomplishment! I'm scattered brained too. I suggest the best thing  to do is to make a list of the day's chores & focus on finishing 1 chore at a time. Do not deviated from the chore until completely finished!

lol I did lol I promise I really did   

[superteacher]

Learning focus is a long time project for me and I always have trouble focusing. I think some suggestions here are very helpful to me. I will start with making lists.

[cateyes1]

Learning focus is a long time project for me and I always have trouble focusing. I think some suggestions here are very helpful to me. I will start with making lists.

I agree I find these tips very helpful, thanks everyone!!