Similar to your "getting refocused" ritual: if you have a "start your workday" ritual, you can sometimes trick your brain into getting refocused if you do your start your workday ritual, even if later in the day. Your brain is like "wait, I know these steps! These are the 'start the workday' steps! I better start my workday!" 🤣
A friend of mine if having a bad day will lay down in bed for like 10 minutes, then get up shower and basically restart her morning to start the day fresh; she says it works great!
My ritual (and I think I first read this in Marie Kondo's book) is I will put on certain apron I have. It's an apron dress thingy for when I'm gardening or going to do artwork. Then I know I have to get down to business. I need a writing one haha.
Someone mentioned a start of day routine, I love having my own end of day routine to help put things away to set myself up for success with the next session of whatever. It’s like putting your dishes in dishwasher and wiping down the counters and stovetop, and then sweeping the kitchen floor and cleaning out the sink and running the disposal unit (per required need) at the end of supper when you’re done with putting the leftovers where they belong.
Thank you for these videos! I love and need these examples. Right now I’m working to declutter the hoard in my home to make space for writing the book series I started over 10 years ago. I’m also creating the new life for myself after experiencing a lot of loss of loved ones.
I like examples. I find that you talking in depth about tips you're giving actually works like some sort of mental exercise. My brain has time to focus on what you're saying and how I can adapt it to my personal conditions. It helps my brain fight resistance.
@HeartBreathings Thank you for making helpful videos! You're so genuine, relatable and comforting. Watching you I can really feel your desire to help people, and its very uplifting.
Thans TH-cam Sarra. Yesterday I've used your tip top start with an easy task, when your not so fit or fresh, and it works. At the end of the day I' ve done more as usual.
Thank you for the video, Sarra. I found it very helpful as I do let myself get distracted rather easily. The examples are incredibly important in my opinion. When I read a book e.g. about productivity I need to understand 1. what the author meant and 2. what it could look like. That motivates me to try it out myself and it also helps to come up with my own ideas. Also it 'humanizes' (is this the correct word?) a subject as you realize, you're not alone in those things. There are others "fighting the same battles" as you do. It offers a sense of camaraderie. So please, please, continue with these kinds of videos and the examples.
I’m interested in all your content but I found the previous video and mention of micro tasking incredibly helpful. I’m definitely eager for more tips and tricks when it comes to focusing and staying on task and not falling prey to procrastination
Hi Sarra, this has been the worst day in a long time trying to get focussed (family visiting while I need to finish a project before vacation) So I got 'distracted' 😁and decided to open your email and listen to this video. BEST DECISION I made. You have no idea how helpful this was today!! Thank you so much and look forward to following you. ❣
Oh I totally forgot about The War of Art - so great. And yes, rituals are useful. For me, there's a self-worth component that keeps me from building rituals. I read this recently: rituals tend to be internally driven and routines tend to me externally driven. Perhaps there is some truth to this and that's what makes rituals difficult for me. Adding this to my 6MFL board: building one small ritual at a time..
i LOVE the idea of rituals around writing. Especially 'when I burn this specific candle I will work on this book.' In fact... that inspired me to just go online and find a candle called 'ski lodge' (since my current book is set at a haunted ski lodge) for just this occasion!! i also have a special cup that i bought with a NYE theme to use while I'm working on my book, since it centers around a time loop on NYE 1989. I bought it over a month ago but tonight is the night, I'm finally going to sit down and write and use it on the full moon :) so many good ideas in this video!!
@@HeartBreathings do you mean temptation bundling by Professor Katy Milkman? She's done Tedx talks. And James Clear suggests combining temptation bundling with habit stacking in a blog article that was an excerpt from Chapter 8 of Atomic Habits. I've also heard RoseMarie Groner talk about habit stacking (where what she's describing is really temptation bundling, that is, linking an action you want to do with an action you need to do) as part of how to incentivize yourself to do things you don't enjoy (like watching a particular Netflix show *only* while folding and putting away laundry, so that your brain starts to say, " I get to fold laundry now" instead of, "I have to fold laundry now"). I guess it becomes habit stacking if you are trying to create a new habit (of folding laundry) and link it to an existing one (if you already watch Netflix).
I love the examples. I also have The Anti Planner. My daughter and I get together and plan out Task Battle. Similar to Battle ship but with tasks. It has been fun. And productive for those tasks that I have put off. 😂
Great tips! I have added a few below. I'm going to put a few into practice today, starting with a walk before the rain comes. I am trying to believe it IS possible to focus again, after many months of being distracted and derailed by other people's demands, my own chronic illnesses and a new illness, combined with changes to another family member's routine which has made home life unpredictable. Neurodivergence is a big factor, too. I've thought about giving up because it's hard and progress is slow, but it's not an option ... this is the only work I want to do, and I can't stand the thought of leaving some of these projects unfinished. I'm a writer who hasn't written much this year, and an artist whose studio is the sunroom/ dining room in the centre of our small home. I work best when I have a long block of time alone, but those have been rare this year, and I haven't been great at setting boundaries for numerous reasons. I plan to see a psychologist to work through these issues. I have a couple of encouraging and inspiring accountability groups for both art and writing ... I find them very helpful, both for setting quarterly and weekly goals, celebrating wins and receiving empathy when plans don't go as planned. Another strategy I use more than in-person meetups and zoom or discord sessions for cowriting, is virtual body-doubling ... I put on a TH-cam video of another writer or artist at work, and work alongside them for a while. Sometimes I find it too interesting or distracting, so I have created playlists of episodes I am familiar with but not yet tired of. One more thing that helps with anxiety, is putting on a TV show in the background ... something to babysit my brain just enough that I can't spiral, whilst not exciting enough to require much attention. I love architecture, so shows like Grand Designs work well for me.
Pomodoro-length videos please! (25mins). So we can slot the videos in with our writing sprints. Another great one with some helpful tips, thanks! Keen to see some ideas like this: how to set up a reward system that works; fun tools and gadgets for writing and productivity; AI writing software to enhance prose and character development
Thank you for this very helpful and inspiring video! Regarding Kanban Boards: I use Trello to organise my life including rather boring things like Finances and inspiring things like doing art. I like to move tasks to the "done" column when they are finished, and I also see what I've managed to accomplish tooking at the "done" column. I have been using other task management tools but I came back to Trello.
I have this cute little focusing app where you get raindrops as a reward for focusing to grow plants. It has different focus modes and displays the time on the screen which I find really helpful as a visual person. It also has a strict mode where it doesn't allow you to use other things on your phone while focusing. It gamifies the task making it fun and less monotonous, because my neurospicy brain hates monotonous tasks. Also, I love how you mentioned using video games as a reward for doing your tasks. I'm an avid gamer too and if I'm not careful, I can blow a whole day on gaming and feel absolutely awful afterwards. So using it as a reward has been so helpful to me. Sometimes I do it in small blocks like you said, or if I'm feeling up to it, pick a time in the afternoon I can just focus on my game after I've done a bunch of tasks. Thanks for your tips. I'm going to try the focused walking, might also motivate me to walk my dog lol
Similar to your "getting refocused" ritual: if you have a "start your workday" ritual, you can sometimes trick your brain into getting refocused if you do your start your workday ritual, even if later in the day. Your brain is like "wait, I know these steps! These are the 'start the workday' steps! I better start my workday!" 🤣
Oh that's brilliant!
A friend of mine if having a bad day will lay down in bed for like 10 minutes, then get up shower and basically restart her morning to start the day fresh; she says it works great!
Not me seeing this while distracted lol
I’m more procrastinating than distracted. LOL.
Then you’re her target audience 😂
My ritual (and I think I first read this in Marie Kondo's book) is I will put on certain apron I have. It's an apron dress thingy for when I'm gardening or going to do artwork. Then I know I have to get down to business. I need a writing one haha.
The apron is a great idea!
Someone mentioned a start of day routine, I love having my own end of day routine to help put things away to set myself up for success with the next session of whatever. It’s like putting your dishes in dishwasher and wiping down the counters and stovetop, and then sweeping the kitchen floor and cleaning out the sink and running the disposal unit (per required need) at the end of supper when you’re done with putting the leftovers where they belong.
I've been wanting to incorporate a sense of play into my creativity. I would love for you to explore that more!
Good idea!!
Thank you for these videos! I love and need these examples. Right now I’m working to declutter the hoard in my home to make space for writing the book series I started over 10 years ago. I’m also creating the new life for myself after experiencing a lot of loss of loved ones.
I like examples. I find that you talking in depth about tips you're giving actually works like some sort of mental exercise. My brain has time to focus on what you're saying and how I can adapt it to my personal conditions. It helps my brain fight resistance.
This is so helpful to know thank you!
@HeartBreathings Thank you for making helpful videos! You're so genuine, relatable and comforting. Watching you I can really feel your desire to help people, and its very uplifting.
Distractions be gone! Thanks for caring & sharing your helpful tips. 💪👍
Thanks Sarra! I really needed this.
You are my favorite TH-camr. Seriously, thank you for these motivating videos! I so appreciate you
Thank you so much !!
Thans TH-cam Sarra. Yesterday I've used your tip top start with an easy task, when your not so fit or fresh, and it works. At the end of the day I' ve done more as usual.
Thank you for the video, Sarra. I found it very helpful as I do let myself get distracted rather easily.
The examples are incredibly important in my opinion.
When I read a book e.g. about productivity I need to understand 1. what the author meant and 2. what it could look like. That motivates me to try it out myself and it also helps to come up with my own ideas.
Also it 'humanizes' (is this the correct word?) a subject as you realize, you're not alone in those things. There are others "fighting the same battles" as you do. It offers a sense of camaraderie.
So please, please, continue with these kinds of videos and the examples.
Thank you for this feedback!
I’m interested in all your content but I found the previous video and mention of micro tasking incredibly helpful. I’m definitely eager for more tips and tricks when it comes to focusing and staying on task and not falling prey to procrastination
Great video! I'd love to hear more specific tactics and tools.
I love the examples!
Hi Sarra, this has been the worst day in a long time trying to get focussed (family visiting while I need to finish a project before vacation) So I got 'distracted' 😁and decided to open your email and listen to this video. BEST DECISION I made. You have no idea how helpful this was today!! Thank you so much and look forward to following you. ❣
Oh I totally forgot about The War of Art - so great. And yes, rituals are useful. For me, there's a self-worth component that keeps me from building rituals. I read this recently: rituals tend to be internally driven and routines tend to me externally driven. Perhaps there is some truth to this and that's what makes rituals difficult for me. Adding this to my 6MFL board: building one small ritual at a time..
i LOVE the idea of rituals around writing. Especially 'when I burn this specific candle I will work on this book.' In fact... that inspired me to just go online and find a candle called 'ski lodge' (since my current book is set at a haunted ski lodge) for just this occasion!!
i also have a special cup that i bought with a NYE theme to use while I'm working on my book, since it centers around a time loop on NYE 1989. I bought it over a month ago but tonight is the night, I'm finally going to sit down and write and use it on the full moon :) so many good ideas in this video!!
Helpful ideas! I believe the idea of “habit stacking” is in Atomic Habits.
Yes it is! But it wasn't his idea. I just can't remember the woman who first wrote about it before him. I need to look it up so I can remember!
And just to add that habit stacking is different from habit bundling. Both helpful for certain people but different concepts!
@@HeartBreathings do you mean temptation bundling by Professor Katy Milkman? She's done Tedx talks. And James Clear suggests combining temptation bundling with habit stacking in a blog article that was an excerpt from Chapter 8 of Atomic Habits. I've also heard RoseMarie Groner talk about habit stacking (where what she's describing is really temptation bundling, that is, linking an action you want to do with an action you need to do) as part of how to incentivize yourself to do things you don't enjoy (like watching a particular Netflix show *only* while folding and putting away laundry, so that your brain starts to say, " I get to fold laundry now" instead of, "I have to fold laundry now"). I guess it becomes habit stacking if you are trying to create a new habit (of folding laundry) and link it to an existing one (if you already watch Netflix).
You're an amazing teacher Sarra, thank you! And you have beautiful bookshelves!
I love the examples. I also have The Anti Planner. My daughter and I get together and plan out Task Battle. Similar to Battle ship but with tasks. It has been fun. And productive for those tasks that I have put off. 😂
Great tips! I have added a few below. I'm going to put a few into practice today, starting with a walk before the rain comes. I am trying to believe it IS possible to focus again, after many months of being distracted and derailed by other people's demands, my own chronic illnesses and a new illness, combined with changes to another family member's routine which has made home life unpredictable. Neurodivergence is a big factor, too. I've thought about giving up because it's hard and progress is slow, but it's not an option ... this is the only work I want to do, and I can't stand the thought of leaving some of these projects unfinished.
I'm a writer who hasn't written much this year, and an artist whose studio is the sunroom/ dining room in the centre of our small home. I work best when I have a long block of time alone, but those have been rare this year, and I haven't been great at setting boundaries for numerous reasons. I plan to see a psychologist to work through these issues.
I have a couple of encouraging and inspiring accountability groups for both art and writing ... I find them very helpful, both for setting quarterly and weekly goals, celebrating wins and receiving empathy when plans don't go as planned.
Another strategy I use more than in-person meetups and zoom or discord sessions for cowriting, is virtual body-doubling ... I put on a TH-cam video of another writer or artist at work, and work alongside them for a while. Sometimes I find it too interesting or distracting, so I have created playlists of episodes I am familiar with but not yet tired of.
One more thing that helps with anxiety, is putting on a TV show in the background ... something to babysit my brain just enough that I can't spiral, whilst not exciting enough to require much attention. I love architecture, so shows like Grand Designs work well for me.
Love the examples! (And the tough love about our phones - agree 100%). Thank you, Sarra!
Yes, would love more of these videos!
Pomodoro-length videos please! (25mins). So we can slot the videos in with our writing sprints. Another great one with some helpful tips, thanks! Keen to see some ideas like this: how to set up a reward system that works; fun tools and gadgets for writing and productivity; AI writing software to enhance prose and character development
Im going to try the ritual idea. Would love more tools and techniques!
Love all your videos! Thanks for all the tips and tricks, I'm HB90 alumni and I can't to go through it again for a refresh!
This was such a helpful video, thank you Sarra! I’d love to hear more ideas of you have any ;)
You have a great way of articulating solutions to problems that I haven't quite been able to put words to, so thank you!
!!
I always love your great tips and reminders! Thank you, Sarra!
Thank you for this very helpful and inspiring video! Regarding Kanban Boards: I use Trello to organise my life including rather boring things like Finances and inspiring things like doing art. I like to move tasks to the "done" column when they are finished, and I also see what I've managed to accomplish tooking at the "done" column. I have been using other task management tools but I came back to Trello.
Always *so helpful* Sarra! Thank you!
Love this so much. Mooooore please!! I'm going to try so many of these tips
These two videos were very helpful. Thank you!
Love to see more .
I have this cute little focusing app where you get raindrops as a reward for focusing to grow plants. It has different focus modes and displays the time on the screen which I find really helpful as a visual person. It also has a strict mode where it doesn't allow you to use other things on your phone while focusing. It gamifies the task making it fun and less monotonous, because my neurospicy brain hates monotonous tasks. Also, I love how you mentioned using video games as a reward for doing your tasks. I'm an avid gamer too and if I'm not careful, I can blow a whole day on gaming and feel absolutely awful afterwards. So using it as a reward has been so helpful to me. Sometimes I do it in small blocks like you said, or if I'm feeling up to it, pick a time in the afternoon I can just focus on my game after I've done a bunch of tasks. Thanks for your tips. I'm going to try the focused walking, might also motivate me to walk my dog lol
What is the name of your app?
Thanks, Sarra!
Great video. Thank u❤️
Thanks for being here
Thank you!
Thanks! I totally needed this. My constant need to check my phone is super bad!
Love this Sarra!! Great tips!! I needed to hear this!! ❤
It's interesting. I realize i have those rituals around Nano, but I've never used them the rest of the time.
I'd love writer friends that you could check in with. It's just never worked for me due to the different time zones.
Happy birthday to your son!
To get focused - go scroll David Goggins and then dare yourself to keep sitting around.