I'm often distracted from the task I want to be doing.

I see my smartphone and want to check my Twitter feed. Having written that sentence, I feel the urge to do this right now, even though I have done so 5 minutes ago.

I have this other task in the back of my mind and want to start on that task, just so that I can say to myself that I have started it. For me, currently, this is starting to write on the next chapter of a book I'm writing.

There are lots of situations similar to that. All have in common that my brain wants to trick me into doing something else than I'm currently doing.

For the really important stuff, like writing this weekly newsletter, what helps me stay focused is to schedule time for it. And not just any time, but "highlight time". 

"Highlight time" is a term I learned from the book "Make Time" (this link goes to my book notes). 

The idea is to pick a highlight to work on every day. This highlight is planned in advance, so my brain is primed to want to get it out of the way to make room for the next highlight. 

In my case, I actually have two highlights a day - one highlight for my day job, and one highlight for my blogger side hustle.

I pick the highlights I want to work on the day before. I also answer the question "why do I want to do this?" the day before, so my brain doesn't ask that question during the highlight time.

Then, I schedule some time in the calendar for these highlights. No more than an hour or two. If it takes more time, I usually split it up into multiple highlights.

During highlight time, I try to create an environment that keeps me on task. I hide my phone, close the door, and put my "Get into the Flow" playlist on (currently, that's acapella versions of my childhood computer game soundtracks by Smooth McGroove - yes, there is such a thing as acapella chiptunes). 

With this combination of explicitly scheduling time in advance, enforcing a productive environment, and having only one or two daily goals, I trick my brain into focus mode. It doesn't always work, but often enough that I'm happy with this method.

Try picking a daily highlight to see how it works for you! 

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