‘Everybody agrees that no one pursuit can be successfully followed by a man who is preoccupied with many things … since the mind, when distracted, takes in nothing very deeply.’
~ Seneca

Today, experiment with this simple way to stay focused, manage the overwhelm and move from multi-tasking to mono-tasking in order to maximise your efficiency.

1. Choose one task that you will focus on during the set time period.
2. Get a plain piece of paper and pen and have them by your computer or workspace.
3. Set a timer for thirty minutes.
4. Set an intention to stay focused for your set period of time.
5. When you notice yourself getting distracted or feel an urge to move to another task (such as checking your email), simply note down the task or distraction on the paper and bring your attention back to the task you intend to focus on. At the end of the thirty minutes you can review your list and set your next priority.

For further time management and productivity hacks, consider downloading a pomodoro app. The Pomodoro Technique was created in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, and it involves dividing your work time into twenty-five-minute increments of focused attention with regular breaks in between. This technique helps bring more mindful awareness to the way we work, and supports efficiency and focus. There are several apps available to help you practise the Pomodoro Technique, many of them free.