I’m all ears
My husband and I were invited to a Homeowners Association meeting last night. We are part of a new community, and this was an important meeting where they are officially turning over the association from the developer to the homeowners and electing a board of directors. So we joined the virtual meeting. It's always so interesting to me to join formal meetings like this. It was a collection of approximately 40 homeowners across two neighborhoods. I didn't have an interest in being on the board, but I did want to vote for the top three candidates even though I don't know many people. As we moved through the call, the community manager spoke to the process and steps we would be taking. It was interesting to watch this process unfold. I observed one thing that continued to happen. Even thought the community manager defined the process and expectations for each of us several times, numerous people repeatedly asked the same questions and others didn't follow the directions. I was quite shocked as it was pretty straight forward.
I started to think about why this could be happening. Were people not listening? Did they have a lot going on and were distracted? Were they multi-tasking?
It was probably all of the above. This got me thinking. Where am I doing this in my life? Am I truly listening and engaged when I talk to friends, family, clients? It feels like I am. But when I really think about it, I actually don't know. You simply don't know what you are missing unless it is pointed out to you.
The amount of responsibility that each of us handles in a given day continues to increase. Our brains are working non-stop and the pressure to multi-task is enormous. To make matters worse, we develop habits to survive in this environment. Unfortunately, these habits aren't always helpful or even productive. At some level, you probably know if this is affecting you. Someone may have said something to you regarding your ability to focus or listen. Unless you intentionally make changes in your world, it is likely that you will continue on this path and miss out on things that you'll never know you even missed.
So, what can you do to break this cycle? Any or all of the below recommendations will create awareness and bring calmness to the brain.
Make a strategic schedule - Want to find your flow? Then create a plan. You'll need a schedule that allows you to be prepared for future tasks, so you don't forget them. Work out the details before you make mistakes and become stressed. You, in essence, free your mind a bit by using the schedule.
Stop multitasking - Doing more than one task means you're sharing your attention. There is simply no avoiding this no matter how many excuses you make.
Exercise - Exercising increases the amount of oxygen your brain gets, which has a positive effect on the chemicals in your brain responsible for keeping attention.
Take breaks - No, not coffee. The brain needs to rest...real rest. Although a nap would be fantastic, staring out the window at the clouds works as well. Break the routine and let your thoughts wander for a few minutes.
Meditate - Want to drill right into improving your focus? Meditate. This can be powerful. It has the same effect on your brain as weightlifting has on your muscles. Start small with even 60 seconds. Then work your way up to a few minutes or more.
Listen to music - Find what feels calming and good. It's simple.
Don't wait until you miss something super important. Incorporate intentional listening and awareness into everything you do.