Introducing the Deep Focus System
I’ve talked about a lot of using pen and paper for to do lists. I personally believe it is the best way to create one, but that’s just me. I’ve found that out via trial and error.
Now you also know I’m big into personal growth and that means trying new things. I love enhancing productivity and I get a craving to find a new solution to it. So here’s a system that I thought of that might help you.
The Deep Focus System
Now I call this The Deep Focus System because it doesn’t go by dates or priorities so you can work on your own time.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t have priorities, this is separate from that and why you should already have a method dealing with that. The Deep Focus System is suppose to with that system.
The One List
The Deep Focus System uses only one list of tasks. You could use the One Step Journal for this.
The list is essentially a brainstorm of ideas. Just write everything you should or need to do. if you go over a full page that’s ok, keep continuing.
Using Your Deep Focus
Now when you start working, use your feelings of wanting to get it done. This system is made in a way to go around the problem of only working when you have to. We all know boring tasks almost never get done, so this will help you with the motivation without taking more time than necessary.
Here’s how the deep focus works: Look at your to do list as a whole without taking any further action. Now look at every task one by one. Any of them jump out to you? The ones that make you feel you need to do. But what about the ones that you want to do?
That’s your deep focus at work.
Updating Your Deep Focus List
So you have chosen your task and your working on it. An important pat of why this works is long as you enjoy your task. There’s other systems that are more for the serious discipline to get things.
Once you’re done as much as you can without finishing the task, write it again at the bottom of your to do list.
Every time you finish a task, cross it off and rewrite it again at the bottom. Eventually you might get to the point where it’s finished completely and don’t need to rewrite it.
This system is designed to make you’re always busy with the work that matters to you and making progress of the bigger tasks into smaller ones.
Keeping Track of Your Deep Focus List
When you have an entire page filled out with finished tasks, put an X at the top to signal that there is nothing that needs doing here and start on a new page.
A special way to signal that there is no other pages before it that need doing is by putting a circle around your X’s. If there is no circle, then you know everything there is completed and no need to look back.
Some Tips I’ve Learned About Deep Focus List
It has it’s pro’s and con’s. I wouldn’t advise using this for super important tasks that need doing a.s.a.p. But for the long on going projects such as writing a book, creating a business, training for a sport event, this is where it shines.
This system is designed to be conduction with other systems, but it doesn’t have a ton of structure that some people may want. Some may need a way to keep track of the deadlines or plan days with time blocks in the future.
While it’s not meant for bigger systems, it’s perfect for smaller ones. Things that you’ve put off and haven’t gotten around to do. So now it’s a chance to make sure you’re still going strong.
Know someone that could use some motivational boost? Give a recommendation and share it with them!
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