FOCUS? Are you kidding? I have too much to do!

“I have so much to do…I can’t stay focused and get everything done”.  I hear my clients — and myself —say this WAY too often. It’s time to find a solution. How can we possibly concentrate on one thing until the task is complete then move on to the next job — this could take hours! Being focused also means paying attention and really listening when someone is speaking — and not thinking about three other things I think I ‘need’ to do NEXT.

It’s time to shift our energy and strengthen our ability to FOCUS.

The state of our home affects your mood, success, energy…in short, our life. Adjusting the flow of CHI (energy) in our home is the practice and goal of Feng Shui. Think of CHI as a breeze coming in the front door and slowly wafting and circulating through all the rooms bringing you life saving breath. Ideally, CHI flows smoothly, evenly, throughout all areas. As we de-cluttering and move furniture, we adjust the flow of CHI energy, and we are also changing our personal energy and state of mind. The ultimate purpose in fine-tuning the CHI in our home or office is to help us aCHIeve our personal goals for a happy, successful, abundant and balanced life.

The movement of CHI is what is important. Rushing and stagnating CHI create distractions and lack of focus.  Stagnating or blocked CHI (as with clutter) may keep us from aCHIeving all we want in life. Rushing CHI moves too fast and may cause too many opportunities to come at once or dash past us so fast that we miss them.

Think of rushing CHI as all the obligations talking to us at once…from our iPod to our broken dishwasher to our CHIld’s hockey game — all wanting attention — NOW! Stagnating CHI, as in clutter, causes confusion and feelings of helplessness. We cannot think clearly, much less concentrate. What can we do to get it all done and not feel guilty?

When we change aspects of our home, like re-arranging furniture, clearing clutter and changing colors, we are changing the CHI and shifting our personal energy at the same time.

Four Simple CHI-Changes to help increase our ability to FOCUS:

1. Clear clutter first — one room, one corner at a time.

• Clutter is distracting – and scatters your thinking taking your focus away from your task
• Clutter is blocking good energy from reaCHIng you – with good ideas for instance and new opportunities
• Clutter drains your energy
• Clutter negatively affects your mood

2. Create a functional, welcoming space to work — especially if you have a home office. It is more challenging to concentrate if you are constantly checking out the tv, moving the laundry to get to your books etc. Try these modifications:

• Light! This seems simple, but often offices have very inadequate lighting. Use daylight bulbs, as they are the least stressful and closest to natural light. Open blinds to add natural light-it is positively energizing.
• Desk placement – be sure you can see the door or entrance to your space easily from your seat. Do not face the wall if possible, or add a mirror so you can see someone coming into your office from behind your chair.
• Color – color affects us, often subtly. If a room is a gloomy color, or needs painting, it will affect how you feel. Re-paint – it’s an inexpensive energy boost. Choose color(s) you love…experiment with something different. Check out on line sites at Benjamin Moore new life and growth.

3. Meditate – and learn what is important to YOU. No need to sign up for special classes. Just find a quiet space, sit with your eyes closed, breathe deeply for 15 minutes each day to clear your mind of everything. It may not be easy to do in our busy lives, but it has HUGE calming benefits for your mental & physical health. In addition, when you are calm maintaining focus becomes easier.

4. Know Yourself – knowing your personality, likes & dislikes, what you do well and not so well and what excites you and gives you strength is how you learn to prioritize your time. Women often find themselves doing so much and often do not remember why they said “sure I’ll help out…sure I’d love to be on this committee.” In part, women get overwhelmed because they find it hard to say no.  Man or woman, make a list of your obligations and weekly to-do’s and read it aloud. You will be amazed at what you have to/want to accomplish each week.  Now re-write your list in order of personal importance-prioritize. Decide to delegate some obligations to others and delete other items all together.  Follow your new list for a week and see how much better you are able to keep on track.

This short blog can only begin to describe the importance of learning how to focus and complete the short & long-term goals in our lives. Taking time to master this talent develops self-respect and results in aCHIeving what is important in YOUR life.

Allow this information move slowly & steadily through your thinking like positive CHI wafting through your home. Don’t let it get stuck among the clutter in your in-box or rush past you out the window. Take time to try out the suggestions that suit you.  I’ll have more ideas next week. Get started, stay with it, check in, and let me know how you are doing. Remember, you are worth it!