Focus Requires Elimination
It’s nearly impossible to do everything at once. We know this truth, yet every time, we make the same mistake of thinking we can actually handle more things at once. We don’t want to leave anything aside, not even for a few months.
Our mind is designed for focused work. There are studies and literature on the effectiveness of focused work, and we know that intuitively too. We have experienced the effects of focused work. The problem isn’t that we don’t know the effects. The problem is what focused work asks of us.
Focused work requires us to decide what deserves our attention. That also means eliminating everything else. If your primary goal is to get fit, then you have to make that your primary focus for at least six months to a year. And for that, you have to eliminate everything else that can interfere with it. That means your idea of enjoying parties will have to change.
I love writing stories. I have written plots and outlines for novels and short stories. Yet I haven’t penned down any of these stories. I call myself lazy, but it’s not just that. It’s divided focus. When you are unwilling to eliminate everything that doesn’t deserve your focus, you end up being pulled in every direction.
What’s even worse than a lack of focus is focusing on multiple things. Trying to do everything all at once. This means that on weekends, when I have the most time, I would attempt to write a book, watch a movie, build things for myself, consume long-form content, and, if there’s time, work out. You can see how easily that can ruin things.
If I am serious about writing a book, I will have to make way for it to happen. Which means eliminating the rest. It’s impossible to focus everywhere. Your mind isn’t designed for that. The easiest path is to dedicate periods to intense, focused work and move from project to project.
You will be able to achieve more in life by dedicating certain phases to certain tasks. I am learning to do the same.