7 Reasons to Lead a Focused Life

Almost every good result in life requires the ability to maintain focus.

But if you’re like me, your track record at focusing leaves plenty of room for improvement. During the course of a day, I know what I should be working on, but easy distractions compete for my attention. 

Over the timespan of months and years, I know that focusing is the key to personal growth, but I jump from one opportunity to the next chasing whatever method or strategy promises to be better, faster, or easier.

Thankfully, there is a way (as I’ve personally found) to break the cycle of distraction and make real headway.

My breakthrough came when I realized that my lack of focus wasn’t just a personal problem, but that my choices were having a ripple effect in my relationships and my work for others. 

Each day I began meditating on the benefits of a focused life, and looking for examples to emulate. Simply holding up this mirror to my life produced a strong inner desire to close the gap between the person I was and the person I wanted to be. It was the fuel I needed to finally break the inner resistance to change.

If you’re ready to change, consider ruminating on the following reasons to live a more focused life. Find the ones that speak most strongly to you and make them part of your inner dialogue.

7 Reasons to Stay Focused

The grass isn’t greener on the other side. Most of the time when we lose focus it’s because something else more attractive catches our eye. Maybe it seems to be a quicker or easier way to achieve your goal. Don’t fall for it! Compared to the path you’re on, a new path will always look better. That’s because our brain focuses on the novelty and the promise, but completely discounts the mundane work that goes along with it.

Progress is more satisfying than novelty. Besides not being any faster, constantly jumping from one idea to another is less satisfying. After the initial thrill of imagining a better future fades, you are left at the start of a long journey. 

In my experience, the most satisfying aspect of doing hard things is the moment when you see progress. When my writing reaches a few new readers, or my professional work makes someone’s day easier, or I catch my children in the act of being kind to one another, all of these things bring me great satisfaction and provide motivation to continue focusing on what really matters.

Long-term results grow exponentially. This realization came late to me, and it’s one that I wish I’d internalized sooner. At the start of many important changes, it feels like you’re barely making any progress. Results are slower than expected. This is the point when almost everyone loses focus and gives up. But if you can stick it out, suddenly you’ll find that results come much faster than expected. Getting past that honeymoon stage of habit formation is key. 

Life feels less hurried and chaotic. Do you feel stretched thin or pulled in too many directions? I can relate. There have been periods of my life that I would take on too many goals at one time. Even when I was making progress, I would wake up each day feeling stressed about dropping one of the many balls I was juggling. When I choose to focus on just a few goals, I have the time and energy to do them well without jumping from one thing to the next and neglecting to leave space for margin. 

Reinforce perseverance over impulsiveness. I was talking to a friend this week who mentioned how connected his good habits were with each other. For example, when he exercised, he found it easier to eat healthy. And when he ate healthier, he found himself being more proactive in other areas, too. Unfortunately, the same thing happens in reverse. Every decision you make on whether to focus or give in to distraction sets you in motion in a particular direction. And, of course, a body in motion tends to stay in motion—so choose wisely!

Live a life with no regrets. It has long been an ambition of mine to live my life so that I would have no regrets at the end of it. Ironically, it’s partially because of that drive that I have been so tempted to seize every opportunity that comes my way and jump from one exciting thing to another. I have never wanted to settle into what I considered a mundane life. But experience and maybe even a bit of wisdom has helped me to see that my biggest regrets would not be from missing out on certain events, but in not committing seriously to the few things that really matter. This change in outlook has been revolutionary in shaping what motivates me.

Enjoy the freedom of having made up your mind. As someone who occasionally struggles with indecision, I can say personally that having made up your mind is a wonderful feeling. When you commit to a path and close other doors, your motivation and excitement about the opportunity in front of you have space to grow. Instead of feeling like you have limited yourself, you feel released to take action and be a participant in the adventure of life.

A life of focus is one you must choose, it is never the default in this busy, modern world. But the reasons for pruning away the non-essential to focus on what matters most are strong ones. I hope this article reminds you of their benefits and encourages you towards a less stressful, more impactful existence.