HOW TO STAY FOCUSED ON THESE LAST THREE MONTHS OF 2024

“Studies have shown that if you want to be productive, you need to shrink the amount of time you have.”

On my previous post, we talked about changing our mindset and to see everyday like a January 1st. Because everyday is a new opportunity to rewrite our goals, to start on a fresh page, without having to wait for the 1st day of a new year. You can check my previous post here.

On this post, we will be talking about a technique called periodization. We only have three months left to 2025. While some might think 2024 is over for them, or they might think there is nothing they can do to be on the next level by 2025, I am here again to change that old belief. Remember everything begins in the mind.

What is periodization?

Periodization is a common technique used by athletes to optimize performance, where they focus on a specific skill for a period of time. After they have mastered that skill, they move on to the next one for another period of time. This technique is used to avoid overtraining. Because if you have to focus on so many skills at the same time, none will be mastered or you will get mediocre results. And mediocre is not what we want. We want to master what we do, we want to be good at what we do.

Why is periodization important?

We have three months left before 2025. In these three months, pick a skill or pick a project, and focus on that skill or project. Do not try to do everything because you want to accomplish all the 20 goals and projects you wrote down on the first day of 2024. You will be overwhelmed and exhausted and you might easily give up because you will have the feeling you have a lot to accomplish in no time. So, make use of the periodization technique in these last three months and maximize your performance by focusing on one thing at a time.

Note: you can read more about this technique on Wikipedia.

Three months is enough!

Do you have the feeling that three months won’t be enough to achieve your goals? Studies have shown that if you want to be productive, you need to shrink the amount of time you have. Because short term goals are likely to keep your focus and still have your attention. The amount of time we give in to a project or a task is the same amount of time that project or task will last. ( Parkinson’s Law: “Work can be stretched like rubber to fill the time available for it.”) If you give yourself 12 months to finish a project then that project will last for 12 months. If you give yourself 30mins to finish a project, then that project will be done in 30mins, because that’s all you have for that project. Now, we have three months left, that’s all we have left for this year. If we focus and pay attention we will be done by December. And yes, three months is enough to get to the next step.

How to keep your focus on these last months of the year.

Deadlines: If you don’t have one yet, let me assign one to you. You have three months to get to the next level of your life. Three months is what you’ve got, work on it. (Parkisons’s law)

Turn focus mode on: Eliminate any distractions. There is no time for it at the moment. The time to play will come, now is the time to get things done!

Avoid multitasking: Yes! This brings us back to periodization. Focus on one thing at a time, get it done, be good at it and move on to the next!

Give yourself some grace: Hey! I know I have given you a deadline, but please do not be hard on yourself. Have some break if you need to and get back to work. Listen to music, have some rest, take a walk or go on a run.

Create a productive space: Create a space that encourages you to work. For example, you can place your vision board on top of your desk, So every time you look at it you get motivated. Or you can stick your favorite motivational quotes on your laptop, or around your desk.

Enjoy the moment: Three months from now you will have a story to tell. So, make sure you don’t miss out on your challenges and accomplishments. Be grateful for every moment, be it big or small and enjoy each step you take.

Todo list: Create a daily todo list and make sure everything is checked before you go to bed. And also, it is useless writing 10 to-dos when you will only tick four. It is better you write 5 to-dos and tick all five.