Over the past year, we have covered dozens of topics in our Focus Point of the Week. We have discussed nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, and more, all with the goal of reminding us to pay special attention to a given topic. This week, we are going to discuss why (and how) to have focus.
The purpose of our Focus Point of the Week series has been to create focus on important issues in all areas of our lives. Having a focus is important because our attention is usually spread very thin. We think about so much throughout the day that we can easily fall into the trap of never concentrating deeply on any one thing. Focusing on one issue, whether it’s something specific like push-up technique or something broader like accountability, allows us to consider that issue more deeply and thoughtfully than we otherwise could. By focusing on these topics and having them at the front of our minds for just a week we all did a better job with them—and those improvements can carry on even when the focus shifts.
Having a focus also helps us set goals, maintain motivation, and push ourselves further. Creating focus in our lives, either in the gym or outside of it, prevents us from falling into bad habits and challenges us to continuously grow and develop.
The practice of focusing deeply on a specific issue can also help us feel energized to work hard and meet our goals. We can “get in the flow,” a mental state of focused motivation and enjoyable hard work. There are three conditions necessary to achieve this flow state:
- We must be involved in an activity with a clear set of goals. This adds direction and structure to the task.
- We must have a good balance between the perceived challenges of the task at hand and our own perceived skills. We must have confidence that we can do the task.
- The task at hand must have clear and immediate feedback. This helps us negotiate any changing demands and allows us to adjust our performance to maintain the “flow” state.
Focusing on specific issues can help us feel “in the flow” in all areas of our lives. For this week and moving forward, we encourage everyone to think of focus points for the week, the month, or even the year. No matter what your focus is, concentrate on it, and get in the flow!
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