Finding my focus
Before diving into this month's topic, I have to give the biggest shout-out to everyone who tapped me up after my last email about disappointment. I know I sounded proper down in the dumps, but as a Black woman, I’m realising it’s okay to not always have my armour on and put my vulnerability out there every once in a while. For me, that means letting go, letting God, and letting life take its course.
So right now, I’m good, really good. But I come to you with another confession. Over the past few months I’ve noticed I’ve been struggling to focus. Yes, me, the queen of intentionality and professionalism, who often seems to have it all together (but like everyone else figuring it out, I really don’t). It feels like I’ve been skimming: tasks, content, conversations.If I had to pinpoint a cause, I’d probably reach for two - stress and distractions.
Take social media, for instance. While I've managed to avoid the TikTok vortex, Instagram Reels has slowly become my kryptonite. I can easily get lost in videos about orange cats, dating, starter loc advice… But the good news? I’m self-aware enough to recognise this as a slippery slope to what could become a bigger issue. If you can relate, here are some of the steps I’ve taken recently to regain some control:
App Blocking: I've subscribed to the Unpluq app to limit mindless scrolling. It’s very clever and genuinely works.
Daily Journalling: I just got a fresh quarterly planner to track my time, scheduling important tasks for the morning when focus is considered to be at its optimum.
Staying Active: I recently added tennis to my usual running routine for a change of pace. LOVE IT.
Audiobooks: Thanks to the Blinkist app, I’ve discovered "Attention Span" by Gloria Mark and "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari. They’ve both been a helpful way to reset my mindset.
These resources have also taught me that attention is like a muscle – it needs training and discipline. Part of this is becoming aware of what’s challenging my focus and questioning ‘why’ I’m doing what we do e.g. "What will I gain from scrolling Instagram now?"
Ultimately, this is all about using time more intentionally and finding more balance and peace of mind in the process – a lifelong journey, but one I'm committed to. After all, I've got things to do (and time waits for no woman!).