To focus or not to focus? That is the question!
Why is that the question? Surely in a series about how to achieve your goals the obvious answer is to focus 100% on the actions you need to achieve the end result you desire.
However I was just reading an article in my son's school magazine about how best to revise for school exams. Written by someone in their teens it had some words of commen sense and wisdom....including focussing on revising for short periods of time, planning in breaks and ensuring there was time for sleeping and eating properly.
One of the things I'm most aware of with my clients who want to lose weight or stop smoking is that suddenly they can think of nothing else but the treats they will miss or when the next cigarette will be. It is the same working with anxiety and phobias - often the first sessions bring the problem into sharp relief and symptoms may be more severe (NB the therapist and client can work on techniques to minimise any symptoms if this occurs).
So does that mean that those well meaning words from family and friends 'Just stop thinking about it', 'Do something to take your mind off it' are somehow true?
As with most things in life it is about getting the balance right and making plans for both the time and the actions to focus on our goals but also allowing time where we forget about if completely and are totally immersed in something else instead.
Confused? Here's an example using weight loss as an example:
FOCUS
Once a week plan your meals and do your shopping (when you are not hungry!)
Eat mindfully and at regular mealtimes (i.e. really focus when you do eat on the taste, texture, colours, smells and begin to understand when you full so you know when to stop eating)
DISTRACTION
If you find yourself obsessing about food then do something else - have a drink of water (sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger), go for a walk. do something you've been putting off
Above all keep the balance between Focus and Distraction techniques and you'll find it easier to achieve your goal.
However I was just reading an article in my son's school magazine about how best to revise for school exams. Written by someone in their teens it had some words of commen sense and wisdom....including focussing on revising for short periods of time, planning in breaks and ensuring there was time for sleeping and eating properly.
One of the things I'm most aware of with my clients who want to lose weight or stop smoking is that suddenly they can think of nothing else but the treats they will miss or when the next cigarette will be. It is the same working with anxiety and phobias - often the first sessions bring the problem into sharp relief and symptoms may be more severe (NB the therapist and client can work on techniques to minimise any symptoms if this occurs).
So does that mean that those well meaning words from family and friends 'Just stop thinking about it', 'Do something to take your mind off it' are somehow true?
As with most things in life it is about getting the balance right and making plans for both the time and the actions to focus on our goals but also allowing time where we forget about if completely and are totally immersed in something else instead.
Confused? Here's an example using weight loss as an example:
FOCUS
Once a week plan your meals and do your shopping (when you are not hungry!)
Eat mindfully and at regular mealtimes (i.e. really focus when you do eat on the taste, texture, colours, smells and begin to understand when you full so you know when to stop eating)
DISTRACTION
If you find yourself obsessing about food then do something else - have a drink of water (sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger), go for a walk. do something you've been putting off
Above all keep the balance between Focus and Distraction techniques and you'll find it easier to achieve your goal.
posted by Rachel at
8:51 pm
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