It’s July and we’re in the middle of the summer. I have noticed a dramatic change in focus and memory in others as well as in myself.
Why are so many things “slipping through the cracks?” Why am I noticing that the ball is getting dropped repeatedly. There have been many instances of lack of reporting, follow-through and focus. It is hard for people to stay on top of their work and personal life.
I believe that there has been a dramatic shift in our society in the past couple years.This isn’t a social media issue, as that has been around for a while. Increasingly, I am chasing down our partners for information and I often get a supervisor involved, which was not the case before. Most of the colleagues I work with have a manager who provides oversight. So, why are so many of us struggling to keep up?
I have been blogging about the changes and stressors in the world for a few years. It seems to have worsened. If our work and personal lives are running on high stress, what can we do? Is it possible to increase our focus in challenging times?
Here are some ideas:
Be Strategic About Stressful Tasks
If errands such as grocery shopping or filling the gas tank add stress to your week, consider doing them at a time when you feel alert and less rushed. For some people, early weekend mornings work well because there are fewer distractions and more energy at the start of the day.
Boundaries:
If leadership, a family member or the news is causing you stress, consider pulling back a bit and appearing busy. You might close your door and say that you have something to finish up. Read brief updates and limit areas of news that are upsetting. Mix in food, fashion or sports news to balance out your reading. I’ve even closed my door to finish a task and asked our admin staff to hold calls.
Communication:
Limit when you check emails and texts. Some check every couple of hours if this is possible. Read only the emails that are related to your priorities for that day.
Recovery Plan:
When stress levels rise, our brains can remain in a heightened state of alertness, making concentration and memory more difficult. One strategy that works for me is creating a short list of priorities for the next day before I leave work. Whether on a sticky note, calendar, or Outlook task list, having a simple plan provides structure and reduces decision fatigue the following morning.
Make Weekends Work for You:
I do a similar practice of making a list of things that have to get done. Make sure to mix in some fun with family or friends. If a task is long and challenging such as exploring healthcare options or taxes, break it into small tasks. Only work on something for hours if that is best for you. Make sure “fun” isn’t resetting passwords.
What are you noticing about focus and concentration? What changes could you make to help yourself?
Have a great summer!
Kay Gimmestad, LCSW-C is a business coach and clinician in New York City with 20 years of experience working in the profit and not for profit sectors of Human Resources, Health and Human Services. She has built a reputation for being highly skilled in facilitating behavior change while working with employees, both individually and in groups, on matters relating to performance management, substance abuse, crisis intervention, and stress/wellness.
Why are so many things “slipping through the cracks?” Why am I noticing that the ball is getting dropped repeatedly. There have been many instances of lack of reporting, follow-through and focus. It is hard for people to stay on top of their work and personal life.
I believe that there has been a dramatic shift in our society in the past couple years.This isn’t a social media issue, as that has been around for a while. Increasingly, I am chasing down our partners for information and I often get a supervisor involved, which was not the case before. Most of the colleagues I work with have a manager who provides oversight. So, why are so many of us struggling to keep up?
I have been blogging about the changes and stressors in the world for a few years. It seems to have worsened. If our work and personal lives are running on high stress, what can we do? Is it possible to increase our focus in challenging times?
Here are some ideas:
Be Strategic About Stressful Tasks
If errands such as grocery shopping or filling the gas tank add stress to your week, consider doing them at a time when you feel alert and less rushed. For some people, early weekend mornings work well because there are fewer distractions and more energy at the start of the day.
Boundaries:
If leadership, a family member or the news is causing you stress, consider pulling back a bit and appearing busy. You might close your door and say that you have something to finish up. Read brief updates and limit areas of news that are upsetting. Mix in food, fashion or sports news to balance out your reading. I’ve even closed my door to finish a task and asked our admin staff to hold calls.
Communication:
Limit when you check emails and texts. Some check every couple of hours if this is possible. Read only the emails that are related to your priorities for that day.
Recovery Plan:
When stress levels rise, our brains can remain in a heightened state of alertness, making concentration and memory more difficult. One strategy that works for me is creating a short list of priorities for the next day before I leave work. Whether on a sticky note, calendar, or Outlook task list, having a simple plan provides structure and reduces decision fatigue the following morning.
Make Weekends Work for You:
I do a similar practice of making a list of things that have to get done. Make sure to mix in some fun with family or friends. If a task is long and challenging such as exploring healthcare options or taxes, break it into small tasks. Only work on something for hours if that is best for you. Make sure “fun” isn’t resetting passwords.
What are you noticing about focus and concentration? What changes could you make to help yourself?
Have a great summer!
Kay Gimmestad, LCSW-C is a business coach and clinician in New York City with 20 years of experience working in the profit and not for profit sectors of Human Resources, Health and Human Services. She has built a reputation for being highly skilled in facilitating behavior change while working with employees, both individually and in groups, on matters relating to performance management, substance abuse, crisis intervention, and stress/wellness.
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