There are always distractions for a parentpreneur. It took many tries, fails, and hours of reflection to find my groove and master my focus. It’s a journey.
So how do I focus as a parentpreneur?
As a business owner, who also works from home with a kid virtually attending school, it’s a bit of an art to navigate the demands of the day and honour the deadlines and time blocks on my calendar.
How I Mastered My Focus
What I found most helpful was reviewing my plan for the week on Fridays before the weekend starts. This lets me know what I need to do on the weekend to stay on track the following week.
I review each day. I put all my commitments in my calendar so I can quickly review how it went.
- Did I underestimate how long I needed to do the work?
- Did I complete the work quicker than expected?
- What was unexpected?
Observing how things went each day helped me decide what to do differently and where I needed some flexibility.
Taking a Break Increases Focus
One of the benefits of running my own business is I can create breaks that match my son’s school breaks. This was the game-changer move: it reduced the number of interruptions that would happen in a day. He was much calmer knowing there were times he could count on seeing me.
Once that part was figured out, I figured out me. I observed my decisions throughout the day and then reflected on them when planning the next day.
On the days when a task was taking too long, I would consider, “Did I need to keep going? Was I distracting myself with a task to avoid doing something that wasn’t very fun?”
Sometimes, staying focused required my taking a break. I like having flex time in my day so that I can go with the flow of my energy, doing “like tasks” at the same time so I can stay in my groove.
I also love to fully unplug for 24 hours each weekend—it might not be the full day on Saturday or Sunday. Being a management consultant that works with global clients, sometimes requires a bit of work on the weekends. When I unplug for 24 hours, I’m more creative, strategic, and energized for the week ahead. There is a power in pausing.
The Accidental Energy Hack
I am an early riser, and I noticed that at 3 p.m. I would sometimes run out of steam. I accidentally discovered one day how an afternoon, half-an-hour long mediation increased my energy, focus, and productivity for an additional three to four hours. I was meditating in the mornings for 5–10 minutes, thinking that was the best time. However, when I began a 21-day meditation experience, I discovered that I preferred meditating in the afternoon, it’s actually when I need it most.
How to Focus as a Parentpreneur
The key is to be observant.
“We are always available, but also always distractable.” – Matt Richtel
The next time you’re feeling a lack of focus, consider time-blocking your scheduling and observing what works and doesn’t work for you.
To get you started here are the 5 things I do to set my week up for success:
- Plan for distractions.
- Pick 2–3 times a day to check emails.
- Schedule social media time.
- Decide what activities are most important to you.
- Observe how often you switch context; try to group similar activities.
Why is being observant of your time so important as a Parentpreneur?
When you analyze your time, it provides you with the insight to design your best life.
No one can make you do something; it’s up to you.
Accept the plans in your schedule.
When you own your business, you can choose how you want to spend your time. If you aren’t spending your time the way you’d like, then it may be something worth exploring.