But How Am I Supposed to Focus With All These Ideas Running Through My Head?
Dren commented my recent post There is Something About Focus saying that focusing on a single task does not come naturally to many of the insanely interested. It was such a great comment that I decided to spend this post thinking and talking about it.
Here’s what she said:
[...] For example, while I’m working on a task, there is a small zillion of thoughts flashing through my mind. I am generally thinking about “the things I should/could do after I’m done with the current task.” Since my thoughts go into details (of how am I going to tackle those future tasks) I always turn into writing them down.
Yes, I work with less efficiency. And yes, I am everything but focused.
But what happened to me when I tried to disregard all these “extra thoughts” and focus on my task or “single-task” is that after I was done with the work, I felt completely lost and “planless”. While the results were “much more perfect” and my time was much more efficiently spent, a gun pointed to my forehead could not make me remember all the things I “wanted to do after.” And in moments like those I tend to turn to “the simple over the important” things… And that’s how the time after the task gets less efficiently spent.
Note: This post was written in a different way than most my posts. Because of a hickup in the WordPress publishing system, the article got out unfinished, two days before it was scheduled to go live, and it’s still evolving as we speak.
At first, I was shocked. But then I thought that this unfortunate chain of events might actually turn into something interesting as you’ll now get a chance to participate in the writing and take a peek behind the scenes and see how my writing process works.
This time, there is no preview mode. Everything I write goes live and you’ll see the preview at the very same moment I do. Sorry, and I hope you find this interesting. Now, let’s continue with the real content:
So, the problem, as Dren puts it is that “regardless of our striving to be in the zone, to single-task or to focus – it is our brains that are multi-tasking, whether we like it or not.”
But, while all of that is true and I can say the same about my own brain, there is so much evidence out there to support focus that it must be something worth striving for. That’s why I’m set out to find the perfect crossing point between these two ideas that seem to contradict each other.
In other words: How can we focus but still not lose the ideas that keep running through our heads?
Finding Ways to Focus
You are trying to focus to a task (for example, I’m trying to focus to this blog post right now) when a thought comes to your mind:
“My blog design could look great with a bright orange background color!”
Then another:
“I should write a tutorial on picking the perfect colors for a blog.”
And there you go, you have moved out from the original focal point to something quite different. What do you do?
I see at least three options, and if you think of more, add them in the comments and I’ll include them in this post. (This is a living blog post, right?)
Option 1: Ignore The New Idea, Just Focus
At first, I wrote that this idea is probably good for the people who don’t care about their ideas that much, and who anyway focus on one idea for so long that the time after completing that one seems distant enough to not worry about at all.
I also said that this idea is not that interesting as an option at all and was ready to leave it there and move on to the next idea.
But before I got to writing the next versions of ideas two and three, Mitro Patrikainen voiced an interesting idea, completely opposite to what I was saying:
In my opinion, random ideas, no matter how good they are, aren’t worth risking your focus. So I prefer the #1. Your brain is an endless well of ideas. You should just ignore the ideas that are distracting you and focus on the idea in front of you – the idea that’s soon to be real! If you discard an idea, you could lose it forever but you’ll always be able to create ideas as valuable – or more valuable – as the idea that you just threw away.
I’m not sure what I think of Mitro’s approach as a whole, but he has a few points that in my opinion make the idea worth considering:
- Your brain is an endless well of ideas: Yes, there will always be new ideas popping up in your mind. So, it’s good to realize that the idea you decide to skip for now most likely won’t be your last.
- The idea that’s soon to be real: I love the way Mitro puts this. The idea you’re working on will soon be real, so you shouldn’t risk not completing the idea. This is the very reason why I think there is something special about focus.
Where I still disagree with Mitro is that I don’t believe stopping to write down your idea has to risk your
focus. When done right, it’s possible to not lose the ideas but still keep your focus at (almost) 100%. That’s where option two comes to play.
Option 2: Write the new idea down as quick as you can. Then get back to the task you were focused in.
Let’s start with two Twitter posts from Scott Ginsberg (posted on December 4th):
@nametagscott Don’t make an appraisal of your idea before it’s written down. “How good or bad an idea is” doesn’t actually matter. Just get it down.
@nametagscott If ideas are your #1 source of income, you’ll love today’s post about “premature cognitive commitment” http://tinyurl.com/5vvuqs
In Scott’s second Twitter quote, there was a link to his blog post, Idea Not That Good? Write it Down Anyway, in which Scott says that no matter what the idea is and no matter when you get it, you should write it down, because you will never know if the idea you just overlooked was the amazing one unless you spend some time evaluating it.
I tend to agree with Scott on this one. Sure, like Mitro says, your brain is an endless well of ideas. But at the same time, I don’t think most of the ideas that come out of that well are that amazing. That’s why if it’s not possible to know a good idea from a worse one in advance, I don’t want to risk losing the gems by focusing too much.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe in focus. I just don’t want anything — not even focus — to stop my creativity.
Focus is fragile.
That’s why I think it’s a good idea to write down your new idea as quickly as possible so that you can safely forget about it for now, and return to your current task at hand. If you don’t do this, it could be much harder to let it go and keep the focus as the idea keeps haunting you while you try to actively push it aside.
In his comment, Steve C. from My Wife Quit Her Job says that “too many context switches are inefficient” and that because of this, he is in favor of option 1.
I think he has an important point: we should try to minimize the number of context switches as every single one of them leads us farther away from the state of focus. But what if your brain has already made the context switch as it came up with the new idea? Then writing the idea down before returning to the original task isn’t any more of a context switch than moving back straight away, is it?
Option 3: Let your focus move from one thing to the other
Where option one was at one extreme, option three takes the other extreme approach. I first saw it suggested in Barbara Sher’s book for people insanely interested in everything, Refuse to Choose.
What Sher suggests is that when you come up with a new idea, you should switch your focus for good not even trying to remain focused on the original idea. At first, this sounds like the complete opposite to the whole idea of focus.
But when you think about it more, and against the context of Dren’s original comment, “regardless of our striving to be in the zone, to single-task or to focus – it is our brains that are multi-tasking, whether we like it or not,” it starts to make sense.
Your brain is multitasking anyway.
You have two choices (with possibly a middle ground in option 2): try to silence your brain or play by its rules.
What I’m getting at here, is that silencing your brain is not easy. It drains your energy, and it hurts your focus. Even if you try not to let the new idea disturb you, your focus has already been weakened by it.
That’s why my question is this: Could it actually be beneficial for your overall focus to move your complete focus to the new idea that came to your mind, follow that idea to some logical spot, and then return to focus on the original idea, free from the nagging thought that there might be something you are missing on?
And right after I had posted this question, there came Joshua Clanton with his option 4:
Option 4: Use Your Intuitive Judgement
Most of the time, when I become distracted, I have an intuitive understanding of which idea is actually the most valuable. If both are valuable, then I write one down and focus on the one which I believe I can make the biggest difference with at this moment. I can always redirect my focus later if my circumstances or understanding changes.
I see this option as a middle ground somewhere between options 2 and 3: when you are sure the new idea is worth exploring more, you pick option three. When you are not, you follow the second approach and write down the idea, then move on with the original one.
But the question is, is it really possible to tell the different types of ideas just by intuition? And how do you learn such intuition?
Let’s keep talking!
Hide from External Focus Breakers
No matter which of the three options you adopt (or maybe there are more options that I haven’t even thought of), what is most important is to set yourself up for focus. If you decide to let yourself switch your focus when you get a new idea, that’s fine.
What is not OK is letting external noise such as TV, internet browsing, Facebook or instant messengers risk your focus. There is a time and place for them, but it’s not when you are working on your goals and focusing.
If you still get distracted by your own mind, that could be OK. And probably just natural.
But if you get distracted by a phone you forgot to shut down when starting to focus, that’s just poor preparation.
What do you think?
17 Responses
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I am currently trying to use method 2, though method 3 often wrestles number 2 down with a choke hold!
I find most of my ideas come into my writing – I should learn from #2 for most of my other ideas and stuff – as I like to jump from idea to idea to idea.
Matthew Dryden´s last blog post: She Was Gravity Twisted
I use method 2 if the ideas are disparate enough. Otherwise I stick to method 3.
The challenge I have with focus is, once I’ve explored an idea enough, I get bored with it. I rarely follow all the way through with my ideas. I’m learning that (for me) it’s about understanding how to do something rather than actually doing something. But the learning is always uninterrupted.
Now if I can just figure out how to capitalize on that…
Wow… Now, I finally messed up my scheduling of posts.
I thought this post was supposed to come out on December 6th, but for some reason WordPress decided to put it out two days in advance.
Sorry for that, and making you read the draft. But thanks for the great comments! I’ll return to them once I’m over with this shock :)
And, I think I’ll still stick to the plan and complete this post by the 6th. Of course using your comments to fine tune the article. This can actually be something interesting: writing a post while people are reading it.
I am sooo over this post. Hehe ;)
In my opinion, random ideas, no matter how good they are, aren’t worth risking your focus. So I prefer the #1. Your brain is an endless well of ideas. You should just ignore the ideas that are distracting you and focus on the idea in front of you – the idea that’s soon to be real! If you discard an idea, you could lose it forever but you’ll always be able to create ideas as valuable – or more valuable – as the idea that you just threw away.
Great comment, Mitro! Check out the blog post for my comments on your thoughts.
I think I’m beginning to really enjoy writing a blog post while you guys are commenting. This is way more discussional than a normal blog post + comments :)
Let’s keep talking!
Thanks for the link love! Great insights.
writing is the basis of all wealth….
Definitely option 1 for me. In fact, I tend to drop appointments and meetings as well when I’m focused. Sometimes this has negative impacts on my job, but the end result is that I usually finish way ahead of schedule. Too many context switches are inefficient.
Interesting post, and an interesting topic.
I’m naturally a #3 person, constantly leaving the old toys for the new and exciting ones. You can imagine that’s somewhat detrimental to e.g. my housekeeping skills or studies. If I had my way, I’d never finish anything – there’s always another new idea to work on, and I eventually forget where it was I started. :)
That’s why I’m aspiring towards #2, if only because I don’t really believe in conscious efforts to ignore something. If anything, trying to consciously ignore idea X ensures that I can soon think about nothing else. Getting the idea on paper and out of my head frees up energy for the task at hand.
It’s true, though, that if you totally lose focus on the task at hand it takes a while to get back on track. However, I agree with you that if you’re already slightly off track because of the new idea(s), scribbling down a few key words on a todolist and getting back to the task probably won’t destroy your focus. Of course, there’s a difference between jotting down two words and outlining a 1500-word essay.
BTW, happy Independence Day. :)
Some great points, Jarkko. But what about option #4? :-)
Most of the time, when I become distracted, I have an intuitive understanding of which idea is actually the most valuable. If both are valuable, then I write one down and focus on the one which I believe I can make the biggest difference with at this moment. I can always redirect my focus later if my circumstances or understanding changes.
Joshua Clanton´s last blog post: Unprofessionalism #1: Blog Dis-Integration
@Sari: Happy independence day to you too! I sort of missed the whole celebration as we don’t have a TV and thus weren’t able to watch “linnan juhlat” this year.
And great job in describing the insanely interested mindset towards focus, sounds just like something I could have written :)
@Joshua: Yes! This is just what I was secretly hoping for: that someone would come and provide me with option four!
I think your approach makes a lot of sense. It’s sort of a combination between options 2 and 3, and intuitively it feels like something worth trying. Personally, I tend to lean towards option 2, but I’m intrigued by 3, so this option 4 of yours might just be the perfect one.
But one question. How do you know which one is more valuable. You say that you know intuitively, but is there a heuristic you fall back to if you are not sure? And how has this approach worked for you so far?
I’ll iterate on the post tomorrow and definitely include your fourth option to it! Thanks!
Heh, I find it difficult to live if I don’t have a pen and some paper within arm’s reach – I too get a zillion ideas per minute, and I try to write them down. Sometimes the writing is an almost unconcious reaction, I don’t even look at the pen and paper but just scribble something down – which I often am not able to read back later because it looks like a child’s drawing. Maybe I should’ve become a doctor…
@Antti: Sounds like you are a master of option two! How much time do you usually spend scribbling down your new idea? And how does it affect your focus (or does it)? How do you know when you have written enough and can get back to the previous task?
Sorry for making this comment sound like an interrogation, I’m just excited to see other pen-and-paper people enjoy the method as much (if not even more) than I do :)
“How do you know which one is more valuable. You say that you know intuitively, but is there a heuristic you fall back to if you are not sure?”
If I’m not sure, I tend to rely on the following factors:
1. How valuable would this idea be if perfectly executed?
2. How much progress can I make on this idea right now?
3. Given #2, which of these ideas returns the most value most quickly?
“And how has this approach worked for you so far?”
It’s working out very well for me thus far, though it is a bit biased toward projects with quick turnaround time, like I Heart Comment Spam (1 hour) and Wedding Spotter (1.5 days).
The big advantage, especially for someone with ADD, is that having all these micro-projects keeps me excited and focused on my work.
Thanks for the prompting Jarkko. I think you’ve inspired my next micro-project: a blog entry! :-)
Joshua Clanton´s last blog post: Unprofessionalism #1: Blog Dis-Integration
“Sounds like you are a master of option two!”
Haha – judging from the pile of post-it notes and other scribblings, “master” is not the first word I’d choose :-)
“How much time do you usually spend scribbling down your new idea?”
A few seconds. I even use short-hand codes for projects, tools, customers and so on. And I confuse these often.
“And how does it affect your focus (or does it)?”
My trick is to be so quick and “multithreaded” about it that my focus isn’t lost. Just now, when typing this, I also wrote a note on a pad with my left hand while still typing this message with my right hand (looks like that note will be difficult to read later ;-)
“How do you know when you have written enough and can get back to the previous task?”
I don’t. Most of my notes are not good enough for anything; sometimes I re-write them a while later, if I feel there’s something to it but not enough details, but if I don’t do that, I can have notes saying something like “++ to cols on i.w. 1.3″. “i.w” probably relates to ItemWindow on one of my apps, “++ cols” means I thought of adding another column, “1.3″ is the current version – but now I no longer have any idea *what* column I was thinking of adding…
I’m definitely voting for option 2. After a search that seemed endless, I’ve found an app that lets me write down stuff without losing focus (an application works for me, because all the focused work I do is at the computer). The app is OmniOutliner for OS X, and it’s basically a todo application. What it allows me to do is press a quick keystroke, write down what’s on my mind, and press enter to close the writing window.
The key is to do all of this so quickly that you don’t lose focus (more than you already did by thinking of something unrelated), and trust the system to keep that written note in store for your later retrieval. You don’t need to think about it now, because it’s now stored, and you can always go back to it.
Often the ideas turn out to be crap. But the point is that you don’t judge ideas when ideas come. You just file them as quickly as possible.