All success stories have long chapters about determination and willpower.
A lot of people believe that we are born with determination and those who succeed simply have more than others.
However, these people will tell you a different story and state that they did not come with more determination than others.
They will tell you about the way they harnessed their determination and used it effectively to reach their goals.
If you want to mimic their success, you need to know how to focus your determination.
1. Set up your day
Each night before you go to sleep, you need to make some decisions about the next day.
You should choose what you will wear, the route you will take to work and what you are going to have for lunch.
Packing a healthy lunch the night before is easier than trying to do this in the morning.
It will also stop you from visiting the hot dog vendor outside the office for a less than ideal lunch.
This also applies to when you need to spend money. You have to create a budget that you stick to.
When you are thinking about the next day before sleeping, you should decide to not check emails before you finish the most important tasks of the day.
You should also stick to the schedule you create.
At the end of the day, you should close your eyes and absorb the good feeling of being in charge of the day.
Getting into the habit of planning your day will help you clear the easy decisions that often bog you down.
This will make it easier to avoid getting side-tracked by thinking about these decisions and wasting your time on small details.
You will be able to focus on the larger tasks at hand.
2. Do the difficult things first
Putting off your difficult tasks will not make them any easier and you could make them harder by stressing about them.
When you put off these tasks, you will waste energy on the worry that you could spend on getting the task done.
At the start of the say, you should take care of the hardest jobs first as you are fresh and have enough energy.
Research has found that our minds are their sharpest in the morning and you need this sharpness to take on the hard tasks.
Once you have these tasks out of the pay, you will be able to take care of the routine work you have.
You will also have the time to tackle the smaller tasks that do not require as much focus or energy.
3. Eliminate distractions
There are real emergencies that will pop up and you will have to take care of them.
However, most situations that come up will cause a distraction and will not be real emergencies and do not need to be answered right away.
In many cases, these situations will take care of themselves on their own if you give them time.
You can focus – look at this post on your mind This article from the New York Meditation Center shows how you can focus your mind.
When you respond to these situations, you will generally set yourself up to receive more trivial issues.
It is better to not respond and focus on the tasks at hand.
This will also send a message to people that you are focused on other things and do not have the time for trivial matters.
4. Regenerate and keep up your energy
If you feel your energy start to fade, you need to take a quick break and regenerate some energy.
You could take a walk or do something that takes you away from work and the task you are busy with.
When you come back, you will have renewed focus and be able to attack the task better.
If your break is to have lunch, you should stick to healthy food such as vegetables and fresh fruit instead of a large meal.
You also need to drink enough water throughout the day and get exercise.
You should create a routine with this in mind so you do not have to actively think about them and they will become part of your daily routine.
5. Remind yourself of your goals
You need to have a system that constantly reminds you of what you are working toward.
This could be a mind movie or a vision board. The why behind your goal is vital and will serve as the best motivator.
If you are looking to raise a set amount of money to open a school for underprivileged children, a clear vision of the school will help you focus.
Each day, you should take five minutes to visualize your goal and be as detailed as possible.
An emotional connection is important and will motivate you better.