18 MINUTES – FIND YOUR FOCUS, MASTER DISTRACTION AND GET THE RIGHT THINGS DONE
BY PETER BREGMAN
Do you sometimes find it difficult to concentrate? You’re not alone. With Facebook, Instagram and smartphones always with us, constantly beeping and buzzing, craving our attention, getting things done is tougher than ever.
So how do you fight these distractions and find your focus again? First of all, you need to accept that you can’t do everything. Then you need to make sure that the goals you have are really yours. Then it’s time to get going. Luckily, there are some neat tips and tricks that will make it easier for you to succeed. And it doesn’t require a lot of time either. Just 18 minutes.
Based upon his weekly Harvard Business Review columns (which is one of the most popular columns on HBR.com, receiving hundreds of thousands of unique page views a month), 18 Minutes clearly shows how busy people can cut through all the daily clutter and distractions and find a way to focus on those key items which are truly the top priorities in our lives.
Bregman works from the premise that the best way to combat constant and distracting interruptions is to create productive distractions of one’s own. Based upon a series of short bite-sized chapters, his approach allows us to safely navigate through the constant chatter of emails, text messages, phone calls, and endless meetings that prevent us from focusing our time on those things that are truly important to us.
Mixing first-person insights along with unique case studies, Bregman sprinkles his charming book with pathways which help guide us –pathways that can get us on the right trail in 18 minutes or less.
In 18 Minutes, Peter Bregman breaks down the keys to finding our focus, mastering distraction, and getting the right things done. Beginning with a mental and emotional reset and reevaluation of our priorities and passions, he guides us on a journey to a more rewarding and fulfilling use of our time.
Key Ideas
- Start by pausing and focusing on the best course of action. Pausing allows you to think differently. If you don’t pause, you’ll be on autopilot and only act according to your previous ideas of how things are supposed to be. This leads to mistakes and missed opportunities. Pausing gives your mind time to calm down so that it can see things as they really are and recognize the possibilities for productivity.
- Find what’s right for you by leveraging your strengths and embracing your weaknesses. To be successful, you need to set goals and focus on your strengths. By not getting bogged down with gray areas or unproductive arguments about what is right or wrong, you can move things forward and excel at your job.
- Assert your differences and pursue your passion while avoiding pitfalls. It is important to be successful, but it’s also important not to give up after a failure. If you do that, you’ll never learn from your mistakes and improve yourself.
- Plan your day with the wisdom of the 18 minutes ritual. First, spend five minutes in the morning going over your plans for the day. Include things that are important as well as those to avoid.Schedule time during each hour throughout the day for a minute long break so you can relax and refocus yourself before getting back at work again with renewed energy. The last step is to reflect on the day, taking five minutes at the end of each day.
- To prevent distractions, master your initiative, your boundaries and yourself. Setting boundaries is important for a distraction-free work zone. If you’re working from an office, make it clear to everyone that your privacy should be respected.
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