How to Be Serious
Train your brain., Realize that everything you do has a result., Reduce the need to multitask., Tackle your most difficult tasks first.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Train your brain.
If you have trouble staying focused, it can help to think of your brain as a muscle, and just like the rest of your muscles, it needs to be exercised to be effective at its job.Set aside a time of day to practice focusing on a single task.
Start small-just take a few minutes at first each day to really make yourself fully focus on single task.
If and when you find your mind wandering, immediately return to the task at hand.
If you realize you've drifted off task, that's half the battle! -
Step 2: Realize that everything you do has a result.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
What you choose to do does have consequences-often in ways you can't foresee or possibly know of.
Being serious involves recognizing what most needs your attention, and focusing on it.
Always avoid procrastination.
Not only does procrastinating cause stress and contribute to depression and anxiety, it can be a major factor in reducing overall productivity and leading to unintended consequences.
Example:
I need to trim a dead tree branch hanging over my house.
Instead I decide I'll do it later and play a video game now.
Later that day, my friend calls, and desperately needs a ride from the airport.
The branch doesn't get trimmed.
That night there's a huge windstorm.
The branch falls and punches a hole in my roof.
Now, instead of simply trimming a tree branch, I have to get my roof fixed, too! Take care of what needs attention first-you may regret it if you don't. , Multitasking makes us feel like we're being productive, but in reality too much multitasking can cause distraction and lessen our effectiveness.
Take each task individually, get it done, and move on to the next. , Getting the most difficult or least pleasant tasks out of the way first will give you a huge boost and reduce the possibility of procrastination.
After getting the biggest obstacle out of the way, the other items on your list will seem like a breeze. -
Step 3: Reduce the need to multitask.
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Step 4: Tackle your most difficult tasks first.
Detailed Guide
If you have trouble staying focused, it can help to think of your brain as a muscle, and just like the rest of your muscles, it needs to be exercised to be effective at its job.Set aside a time of day to practice focusing on a single task.
Start small-just take a few minutes at first each day to really make yourself fully focus on single task.
If and when you find your mind wandering, immediately return to the task at hand.
If you realize you've drifted off task, that's half the battle!
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
What you choose to do does have consequences-often in ways you can't foresee or possibly know of.
Being serious involves recognizing what most needs your attention, and focusing on it.
Always avoid procrastination.
Not only does procrastinating cause stress and contribute to depression and anxiety, it can be a major factor in reducing overall productivity and leading to unintended consequences.
Example:
I need to trim a dead tree branch hanging over my house.
Instead I decide I'll do it later and play a video game now.
Later that day, my friend calls, and desperately needs a ride from the airport.
The branch doesn't get trimmed.
That night there's a huge windstorm.
The branch falls and punches a hole in my roof.
Now, instead of simply trimming a tree branch, I have to get my roof fixed, too! Take care of what needs attention first-you may regret it if you don't. , Multitasking makes us feel like we're being productive, but in reality too much multitasking can cause distraction and lessen our effectiveness.
Take each task individually, get it done, and move on to the next. , Getting the most difficult or least pleasant tasks out of the way first will give you a huge boost and reduce the possibility of procrastination.
After getting the biggest obstacle out of the way, the other items on your list will seem like a breeze.
About the Author
Raymond Peterson
Writer and educator with a focus on practical lifestyle knowledge.
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