Amid a proliferation of workplace tech platforms, Unily reports 77% of UK employees consider notifications from digital tools distracting. Despite being valuable in many areas, clearly workplace tech is hindering focus & productivity. 

So, I wanted to hear from an expert on how to stay focused at work. Phil Nayna is the Founder of Absolute Mind + Body: a coaching consultancy supporting businesses to build high-performing teams, resilient teams. Having trained in performance psychology, neuroscience, and a range of mindfulness techniques, Phil works with leaders & their teams to unlock untapped performance potential. 

Keep listening to hear Phil’s advice on how to build sustainable focus, make the transition from busy to effective, and what to do to manage your energy, so you can stay focused for longer.

Phil’s advice:

• To be focussed, you can’t be busy
• Avoid distractions; all your energy and attention need to be directed to one thing
• It takes energy to suppress all the small details and distractions
• If there are things you tend to do every day, automate them so you don’t have to keep making small decisions
• Practise quick 2-3 minute meditations to clear your mind before each important activity
• If your mind is quieter, decisions will be clearer
• Maintain your conviction about the core belief/mission of your business while you are undertaking minor activities - this belief will help you focus on them
• Doing something you care about releases dopamine which brings more motivation and focus
• It’s important that you take care of yourself physically 
• Hours of sleep before midnight are more valuable than those after
• Accept that you won’t be 100% focussed all day every day; a good aim would be 2 x 2-hour sessions a day of really focussed deep work; the more trivial tasks can fill in the rest of the day
• Be disciplined about avoiding distractions during those 2-hour sessions
• Imagine that you only have 3 hours a day to do what matters - this will show you what’s important and what isn’t
• Concentrate only on the revenue-creating tasks
• To avoid procrastination, you must 
  • Believe in what you’re doing 
  • Address the fear which is preventing you doing the task 
  • Be clear in your head about why it needs doing and how to do it

FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts. 
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.  Email us at [email protected] or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. 

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  Licence

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