5 Tips to Stay Focused

Learning how to work smarter, not harder takes time, commitment, and focus. Just like building strong muscles, it won’t happen overnight. But the more you exercise your muscles, the stronger they become over time.

We’re here to help you build your working smarter, not harder muscles. But with so many other things on your plate, how do you stay focused and committed? Here are five easy tips to help.

Start small.

It’s much easier (and more reliable) to start new habits that are small. Make it easy enough that you can get it done without motivation. For example, block off 10 minutes in your calendar every week to set and review your goals – and then follow through.

Set clear intentions.

Be clear about what you want to accomplish – then do it. Make a list, write it down, and keep it someplace where you can see it every day.

Don’t go it alone.

Get the support of friends and colleague (and of course, you have us!) Having the right people in your corner will make all the difference.

Celebrate small wins.

Each time you make progress reward yourself no matter how small it might be.

Change your mindset.

Shift your attention away from the long-term goal and instead focus on showing up and working toward your goals every single day.

And if you need a little extra motivation, print out this world cloud and hang it someplace where you’ll see it every day. This word cloud highlights the top answers to a question we recently asked 100 nonprofit professionals: How do you want to feel at the end of a typical workday? Keep this front and center to help you stay focused and committed.