Work Archives - FocusMe

6 Productivity Tips for Working from Home

Jon Rumens — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:23:03 +0000

Working from Home Tips to increase productivity

Working from home can be challenging: you might find yourself distracted by household tasks that need your attention, by your family or roommates, and you might even find you are working extra hours because you can’t focus during working hours.

If that sounds like you, it’s important that you find ways to stay productive and create a work-life balance that will positively affect your overall health. Read our tips on how to be productive when working at home:

1. Develop a schedule that works with your productivity levels

Developing a working schedule that is unique to you will help you maintain that work-life balance that you always wanted. The key here is to work on a schedule that suits you and the way you work.

A lot of the time we see tips such as work as if you are in the office, however, we don’t agree with that. We all know things have changed, so working remotely should give employees the flexibility to work when they feel productive. Pay attention to the times you feel the most productive and develop a modern-day working schedule that will set guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day.

For example, you might have a Zoom meeting with someone overseas and your schedule might need to be adjusted. When that happens, be sure to wrap up earlier than usual or sleep in a bit the next morning to make up for it.

If you are not able to have that flexibility in your line of work, then try to create a schedule based on your working hours. Set clear objectives and add tasks to your schedule depending on your productivity levels. Again, the mission here is to notice how your brain likes to work.

For instance, if you have a 9 am Zoom call every morning, don’t set a hard task right after the call. Instead, add the small task of taking down notes based on the call you just had, and slowly that will get you in the zone. Notice how you feel every day and based on your energy levels, create a schedule for the day that is doable.

Pro tip: Share or talk about your schedule with your family. That way you set boundaries in your home and can make it clear that during the hours you are working, you are not to be disturbed.

2. As soon as work is finished, step away

One of the hardest issues to get over when working from home is inactivity. Working remotely involves a lot of sitting in front of your computer for hours and hours on end until tasks are done.

If you make sure you have something else to do after work, then that will give you a source of motivation to finish up and get going. A lot of people working from home have become used to work always being there, so making sure you have a reason to step away every evening is important.

We are suggesting making some kind of plans right after work to give you that initial push. So, once you get used to this routine, then you can make sure that as soon as work is finished you get up and step away from any screens.

Go take a shower, start cooking, go for a walk, or go outside in nature and enjoy the fresh air and the sounds of birds to help lower your stress levels and relax.

3. Have a realistic to-do list while working from home

Take a few minutes every day before you start work to write down a to-do list with tasks that you can accomplish that day. Start small and use these daily points to slowly build up to a larger goal.

When creating to-do lists, a lot of us simply write down a list of final goals, for example, Schedule this week’s Email campaigns. But what steps would you need to take to schedule the email campaigns? You would need to write the email copy, create graphics, check the audience, check analytics, and check the best times to schedule the email. These are the tasks you should be adding to your to-do list.

Pro tip: Enabling yourself to achieve small goals each day could help you complete your work tasks without even realising. The sense of completing these achievable tasks in your list will also keep you motivated.

4. Track your time

If you struggle with time management, tracking your time can be a great technique to get you to focus on one task at a time. It can be easy to lose track of time when working remotely – you might get up to make a cup of tea and lose half an hour, just like that.

So, get your cup of tea, water, and snacks ready and set a timer for yourself. For example, set a timer for one or two hours to complete a task and then also set time to take a 20-minute break.

Pro tip: If you feel like you need that extra push and feel of urgency, set a timer on a clock that is visible in your peripheral. We know this sounds like a stressful way to go about it but trust us, working under self-inflicted pressure and seeing the time pass so quickly will only motivate you and help you achieve your goals in no time.

5. Avoid all digital interruptions!

If you work from home and especially work from your computer and mobile, limiting digital distraction might seem nearly impossible. FocusMe was created by Jon, a master procrastinator who wanted to take matters into his own hands. He created an app that would not only help him focus while working remotely but also block or limit digital distractions.

Our website blocker is fully customisable to block, limit or ration the use of distracting websites and apps. That way you can continue working on your computer without getting notifications from other platforms or being distracted by incoming personal emails.

With just a push of a button, what seemed impossible can now be easily controlled. Reclaim your focus by downloading your free trial today.

6. Try a fake commute

Before the pandemic, most of us used to wake up way earlier to commute to work and although we might have now gained some extra sleep and time to make breakfast in the morning, that sleepy commute was a great way to slowly get the brain gears working.

So, fake it till you make it! Fake a commute to your home office and give your brain that much-needed time in the morning to wake up and start thinking of what you want to achieve in the day.

Get up, get dressed and go for a walk. Whether it’s a short stroll or a long walk to grab some coffee, a jaunt to the nearest bakery or a run in the rain, it will help you clear your head and get ready for the day.

Read how FocusMe has helped our customers who work fr om home.

The post 6 Productivity Tips for Working from Home appeared first on FocusMe.

How to Get Work Done (Even When You’re Not in the Mood)

Jon Rumens — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 16:00:19 +0000

It’s easy to think of procrastination as something directly related to your IDENTITY especially when you are working on something and you are not in the mood to do it.

“I’m a procrastinator.”

“I can’t stick with a schedule.”

“It’s just who I am.”

But procrastination is often more related to MOOD than personality. And if you struggle to stick to a schedule or find yourself losing the discipline to stick with a project before it’s done…

…Or even get it started at all…

…A Key Area To Look Is Your “Mood Management” Skillset.

We all have bad days.

We all have times where we don’t “feel like” working.

But the high achievers, the most productive folks among us, get things done day in and day out. Rain or shine. No matter what’s going on in their lives or the greater world around them.

Think of it this way.

If your grandmother passed away this morning, how much work do you think you’d get done? How difficult would it be to stick with your schedule if you found out you had a chronic illness (even if there were no physical effects yet)?

Do you see how staying on task has a lot to do with how you FEEL?

Given that life will always have its ups and downs and our moods will go up and down with it…

Here Are Some Tips Entrepreneurs And Online Workers Can Use To Stay On Track Even When They “Don’t Feel Like It.”

Mood Cure #1: Master The Art Of State Change

Mastering your mind state is key to gaining more control over your mood swings, so bad days or bad moods don’t throw you off.

We all work with our own unique emotional landscape; however, there are many predictable ways to put yourself in a better mood instantly that work for most people Even when you don’t know what the source of your emotional sticking point is yet.

For example:

Listen to music that you love. You may want to keep a playlist on hand just for these moments.
Take a break. Sometimes if you’re not feeling the work, all you need is a little time away. Come back when you’re “feeling it” more.
Call a friend or accountability partner. Or call a client or colleague and talk about the project a bit.
Keep a file of motivational videos/audios on hand.
Practice meditation, breathing exercises, or gratitude to get more control over your mind and emotions. You can then turn to these whenever you need to!
Take a cold shower.
Jump up and down, shout, act crazy. Yes, I’m serious. Tony Robbins emphasizes this type of state change, especially at his wildly popular seminars, where he gets thousands of attendees to do this at once.

Mood Cure #2: Establish Work Patterns To Create Unstoppable Momentum

Implementing work rituals that you go through every time you sit down to focus can help to create a mood-setting pattern that you can turn on even when you don’t feel like doing anything.

By putting your “work brain” on autopilot as much as possible, it’s easier to “tune out” of everyday noise and fire it up for action when enthusiasm for action is low.

There are a lot of tricks here to help you leverage rituals to “just get going.”

One little habit to kickstart momentum makes it easier to jump right into work (even when you don’t want to).

Sit down, open a file, set a clock for 5 minutes, and then just start… doing. Make it as mindless as possible. Again, the trick is to do it everyday so it becomes a ritual.

Once you do get going, you’re thinking about the work more than your worries and you sort of lose yourself.

I know one guy who only holds himself to doing 2 hours of work every day. He doesn’t even take one day off! 2 hours is a low enough bar that he can always motivate himself. And it establishes a momentum he never loses with a day off.

Some days he puts in twice that time, or takes off on a work marathon. But either way, he puts in his two hours, and his pattern is a procrastination killer that very rarely lets him down.

Ritual in action!

Mood Cure #3: Find Other Ways To Invigorate Yourself With Movement

Tony’s method is about EXTREME movements…

..But moving on a more basic level deserves special mention too because it has such a powerful effect on your emotional landscape. Yes, move, move, move, and move some more!

I highly recommend just taking a break when you’re down sometimes and just doing something to get your blood pumping. Do some jumping jacks, a set of pushups, or put on your running shoes and go for a jog.

If your schedule is flexible, stop work and go to the gym. It can radically change your day!

And if physical exercise is a part of your daily routine, that will spill over into your daily mood as well.

Pick something simple and mindless and start there.

Simply sitting in front of a computer all day doesn’t exactly put you in peak state.

Mood Cure #4: Delegate Tasks You Don't Enjoy

Often “not being in the mood” is just about boredom.

And a low level of enthusiasm for the work.

Even if that’s not the source of your low enthusiasm on this particular day, well, it’s still MUCH easier to “break out of” a bad mood if you can get motivated enough to sit down and get the ball rolling. And that will happen a lot easier when you actually LIKE the work.

On the other hand, it can be pretty hard to motivate yourself if your day is bogged down with trivial tasks you hate.

In “The Four-Hour Workweek,” Tim Ferris popularized the idea of outsourcing lower level tasks online. Thanks to online technology, specialization, and geo-arbitrage it can be pretty cost-effective these days (even if you’re an employee yourself).

Check out platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to find quality help at an affordable rate.

Hand off your most uninspiring work. Focus only on what really invigorates and inspires you.

Setting yourself up for the most enjoyable work makes it easier to escape into a state of flow.

Mood Cure #5: Or Just Change Your Environment

Sometimes this can be as simple as packing up your bag and heading to another room, or a coffee shop down the road.

Just for the change of scenery.

It might involve moving to a new house! Or hey, a new country!

But you should also just control your current work environment as much as possible. Is anything in your environment creating emotional friction between you and your work? Is anything about your work environment irritating you?

People barging in? Put a lock on the door and set rules with family and friends about your work-time.

Traffic noises? Get some noise-canceling headphones.

Office feel stuffy? Open the windows, scatter plants across the room, and hang some beautiful pictures of scenes that inspire you.

Get a more comfortable office chair if that’s what it takes. Your comfort and satisfaction while working is paramount!

Mood Cure #6: Eat Some Ice Cream.

I mean, who can eat ice cream without ending up in a better mood, right?

I’m half kidding here.

And be careful… Because too much sugar can actually have a negative effect on mood and energy.

But the point is sometimes a small treat is a great way to perk yourself up. You could even use it as a reward for finishing the first hour or two of work if you’re really struggling to start.

For some people a “treat” might be a massage. Or a spin down a country road in their car or motorcycle.

You can even treat these mood-boosting “treats” as rewards by making yourself accomplish a little bit of work first.

Have fun with it. Work doesn’t always have to be so serious!

Mood Cure #7: But... Control Your Vices Too

People who struggle with low energy, poor mood, and chronic procrastination are often caught in negative cycles that are affecting their mood (maybe more than they’d care to acknowledge).

For example, alcohol.

This one is really common because in our society we don’t really think of it as a drug.

But it certainly is one and even known to be a depressant. So, if you binge drink a lot, it might help to pay attention to how it’s affecting your mood and your energy levels. You may very well notice a strong correlation between the weekend highs and a low that stretches from Sunday, perhaps all the way to Tuesday or Wednesday, with some early week procrastination problems.

This doesn’t just apply to alcohol — it just makes a great example because it’s a very common vice.

Excess caffeine, tobacco, or sugar intake can also make you irritable. Even food, especially carbs or sugar, consumed in excess may leave you sluggish and down.

C’mon… We know this stuff ALREADY, right? I accept that.

However, if you’re finding yourself in lethargic, crabby moods, it might be time to ask yourself if you’ve been listening to the “things you know.”

Or just “knowing” them.

Mood Cure #8: Listen To What Your Body Tells You

As the alcohol example might suggest, your moods are often closely tied to your physiology.

If you find yourself irritable, tired, or depressed… Maybe your body is telling you something. And maybe you should listen?

Sometimes it’s not eating, for example.

I’m a big believer in the powerful effects of fasting. But you may find that eating your first meal too late in the day results in you starting to get moody around noon. In a situation like this, you might find a decent meal is all it takes to brighten the day again. If so, reconsider your fasting hours or the breadth of your eating window.

Lack of sleep is another common culprit, especially in our hustle culture. Take a nap! A quick 30 minutes may be all it takes to get you up and at em’ again.

Monitor your sleep patterns over all. Modern society tells us that it’s natural to wake up early to an alarm every single day. And staying up late into the night, our houses lit up with artificial light.

Hint… it’s not!

If sleep seems to be a problem, try maintaining a more regular, earlier bedtime. If your schedule affords it, try doing away with the alarm completely and sleeping with your curtain open. Let the sun wake you instead of that blaring, unnatural alarm clock.

I use this sunrise alarm clock to wake up naturally everyday by 6:15!

Exposing yourself to that natural sunlight during the day (and perhaps wearing blue-light blocking glasses at night) is another great way to normalize your sleep patterns.

Mood Cure #9: Study Up On Stoic Philosophy

There’s a lot we can learn from the Stoics, but one of the most powerful lessons when it comes to working through life’s drearier moments is the acceptance that life doesn’t always need to be perfect.

As much as we like to think of ourselves as unique and “special,” no human is deserving of a “perfect life” that is somehow always comfortable and fun.

And it’s unreasonable to expect one.

Marcus Aurelius said:

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’”

Stoic philosophy teaches us that always expecting life to be amazing and thrilling is irrational and unrealistic. By accepting that sometimes things will be uncomfortable, and being willing to face that discomfort and work in spite of it, we build much healthier, more logical patterns of thought for work and life.

Rational Emotive Therapy teaches very similar principles. Here’s an article we wrote about this idea here.

Mood Cure #10: Visualize Your Goals

One powerful way to work in spite of a bad mood is to think of the bigger picture.

WHY are you working?

What are you working TOWARDS?

Is it money? A better lifestyle? More freedom? A greater cause?

Sit back and check in with your bigger goals and you can often tap back into that motivation to power through your darker moments.

Whatever you think about vision boards and their ability to create reality, it’s hard to deny they are a great mood lifter!

Mood Cure #11: Think Of Yourself As A Craftsman

If you’re always just working for the next payday and don’t really CARE about what you’re doing, it’s much less fulfilling.

But by thinking of yourself as a craftsman you can make the work itself become a reward.

This isn’t about the end result of your goal. You may be a web designer, for example. But have you made it a mission to be THE BEST WEB DESIGNER POSSIBLE?

Do you love the CRAFT of web design? And if not, can you learn to?

If you constantly find yourself working for clients, you may find yourself uninspired by the work. But think of what THEY’RE trying to accomplish with the website you create. How does it SERVE the world? If it really just doesn’t, you might consider focusing on a different type of client…

How can you constantly IMPROVE on what you do?

The deeper you dig into any topic or skill set on earth, the more fascinating it becomes. So I encourage you to dig as deep into your work as you can. The better you get at something, the more you learn about it, the more INTERESTING it becomes.

And you create that dynamic with your work where you can get LOST in it…

Fall in love with “deep work.”

When you have that type of relationship with your craft, all it takes is sitting down and firing up your table saw, picking up your paintbrush, or in this scenario, opening up Photoshop…

…And the entire physical world (and all its concerns) fade away. You may have to face them again later, but your work can always be a place to disappear for a while.

Mood Cure #12: Don’t Beat Up On Yourself!

Of course, one of the most vicious traps with procrastination is our tendency to be hard on yourself when you procrastinate…

…Thus making it even HARDER to work. And creating a self-perpetuating cycle.

Big trap!

So learning to forgive yourself and accept your own flaws and mistakes (as cheesy as it might sound) really is a big part of keeping yourself in a healthy enough state to get things done too.

Mood Cure #13: Make Sure To "Celebrate Your Wins"

One of the best things about learning to work when you’re “not in the mood” is this…

…Once you DO sit down and actually get something done, it’s a great little reward to yourself. And as you defy your procrastination, defy your mood, and defy the notion that life always has to be “comfortable”…

…You get small little wins.

And these wins build positive emotions. That build on themselves to eliminate the power procrastination holds on your life and your psyche.

In fact, I take a few minutes at the end of each day to write down my “wins” for that day.

And it’s amazing how much momentum this builds over the course of the week.

Of course, if I wait until the end of the week (or Monday morning) to try to remember what I accomplished, I only come up with a few items. But when I make it a point to write them down every single day, I usually end up with over 20 big wins per week…

Which drives up my confidence and boosts my motivation by allowing to start my day just a little more charged up!

Are You Ready To Work Your Way Into A Better Mood?

FocusMe is a great way to start building those small wins by creating “rules” for the way you work online.

Learn more about how you can use it to defeat procrastination and online distraction today.

The post How to Get Work Done (Even When You’re Not in the Mood) appeared first on FocusMe.

Discipline Vs Freedom: 7 Ways To Win the Battle For Your Time When You Work Online

Jon Rumens — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:02:19 +0000

Today’s hard-charging entrepreneurs and personal development gurus…

…They’re all about SELF-DISCIPLINE.

Jocko Willink (not a cheesy guru type at all, to be fair) even wrote a book called “Discipline Equals Freedom.” It’s an amazing read, of course, and quite on target. You can’t expect to get far in this world if you don’t develop some level of ability to sit your tail in a chair and just get things done.

Day in and day out.

Well, today I have a confession to make. It might come as a bit of a shock considering I created the most powerful procrastination-beating app on the web (or maybe not, if you really think about it…).

But here it is.

Sometimes I feel like the self-discipline line of hustle culture is a little bit too nailed to the wall.

I Mean Do You Really WANT To Be A Discipline Machine?

After working with thousands of remote workers and online business-folk over the years to beat digital distraction and focus better, I’ve come to realize the struggle between discipline and freedom goes super DEEP. Especially with people like us who’ve purposely chosen to work remotely.

After all, the whole IDEA of becoming a copywriter, a web designer, a software engineer, an online product creator, a blogger…

…Whatever…

…Was to create more freedom in the first place!

And so it’s a cold bucket of water in the face when you realize you actually need MORE discipline to make the whole “mobile lifestyle” thing a reality.

So you implement a laundry list of productivity tricks in an attempt to get it all on track. But you can’t help but fight yourself! Pushing back on these changes (good ole’ “Monkey Mind” in action).

Because bottom line: That freedom “value” is strong within you.

You don’t just think freedom is a “nice idea.” It’s one of the most important priorities you have!

And you probably don’t WANT to let it go, right?

So the question becomes…

How Can You Embrace Self-Discipline While STILL Allowing Room For Spontaneity?

This is the point where those infomercial-type guys would lie to you.

And tell you that, yes, you can have the best of ALL possible worlds.

You can live as free as you’d like, they’d say, wandering around the planet like a beach bum, your hair messed up and your dirty toes poking out at the world. Slosh through mai tais on the beach while closing deals and the money keeps coming in like clockwork…

I won’t feed you that line, I promise.

The truth is that (unless you’re extremely talented and extremely lucky), you probably can’t have it all. There is, however, some room to strike a balance.

And after all these years growing FocusMe to what it is today…

…I’ve stumbled across a few invaluable tricks that allow me to maintain a sense of freedom and spontaneity (even if just a sense of it) while still making the magic happen.

I’ll tell you about 7 of my favorite ways to give yourself that permission in just a moment…

But first let’s get something out of the way.

A Warning About The Psychology Of Procrastination

And How Reframing “Work” In Your Mind Frees You From Your Mental Traps

Before we get into these 7 tricks of work freedom…

…I’d feel a bit irresponsible if I didn’t address the psychology of procrastination first (as it pertains to the desire for “freedom”).

Because just telling a procrastinator they can be as spontaneous as they want with no filter at all… Well, in some ways that’s like telling someone with a history of alcohol abuse that, sure, they can just have “one” drink whenever they want.

After all, experts say one drink is good for you.

Obviously that’s problematic.

So let’s peel back the psychology of procrastination for a sec. And see if we can determine where your hunger for freedom comes in.

Because fair upfront warning here.

Your hunger for freedom may be a big reason you procrastinate in the first place!

Fortunately there are some proven strategies for weakening its grip on your thought processes.

Procrastination As Discomfort Avoidance (And How To Fix It)

Have you ever heard of Rational Emotive Therapy?

(Or its more recent offshoot, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?)

REBT was created by a cranky old man named Albert Ellis as recently as the 1950s. But the foundational principles of REBT go back a lot longer than that.

In fact, Ellis developed this branch of psychology from age-old principles of Asian, Greek, and Roman philosophy before going on to turn it into one of the most successful forms of psychotherapy known to man.

In the “EFTP Psychotherapy Guidebook,” Milos Lazarevic and Vladimir Djuric write, “In general REBT is arguably one of the most investigated theories in the field of psychotherapy and a large amount of clinical experience and a substantial body of modern psychological research have validated and substantiated many of REBTs theoretical assumptions on personality and psychotherapy.”

I’ve often heard it said that REBT is more research-backed and evidence-based than any other form of psychotherapy.

Point being, this isn’t just theory here!

According to Healthline, REBT is particularly effective with a wide range of what we generally think of as psychological disorders, like depression, anxiety, phobias, rage, guilt, aggression, sleep problems, eating disorders, and more.

And yes, it helps with addiction and alcoholism too (bringing our previous analogy into a clearer perspective).

Plus REBT has also been known to help with PROCRASTINATION!

Here’s How REBT Gets You Out Of The Freedom Trap

We often think of these types of conditions as problems with your brain. Or something in your innate nature.

Like people with depression who try to medicate their way out of it instead of addressing lifestyle causes that likely contribute. Or addiction recovery programs that teach their “patients” that they have a disease they can never really be cured of.

And procrastinators who just assume it’s a part of their nature that’ll never change.

(Some of these statements are controversial, I know, but REBT has had great success in practice.)

One of the core tenets of REBT is that your self-sabotaging emotions are instead caused by irrational beliefs you hold in your mind. While emotion can be analyzed as a chemical response, the way you STRUCTURE your thoughts, i.e. the things you tell yourself, are what trigger the emotions you feel to begin with.

And emotions are hard to fight, so they lead to repeating behaviors you don’t want. Even when you intend the opposite.

REBT teaches you to work on the belief, or the thought first. And then the emotion will correct itself.

Where Does "Freedom" Come In?

A major source of procrastination is an innate desire to rebel against the discomfort of having to do something against your will.

REBT has a term for this inability to handle discomfort. They call it “low frustration tolerance” — an alternative name that might click with us freedom-seekers is “short-term hedonism.”

And often that’s all it really is when you tell yourself something limits your freedom.

You get a new job or start a new business, and at first, you’re killing it. But after some time goes by, you secretly start to resent the work. You resent the clients hitting you up with their demands. You resent your boss. You resent your co-workers. You resent even the very thought of clocking in.

Because in your mind, you believe, “Well, I SHOULD be able to do whatever I want to do.”

“No one SHOULD have control over my time and focus but me.”

And because these work demands require what feels like a limitation on freedom, you rebel against them and fall off the rails. And start procrastinating.

Because work is uncomfortable and your brain doesn’t like discomfort. Until everyone gets burnt out on your behavior, and even if they keep you around, the work relationships deteriorate and your results suffer.

Rational Emotive Therapy teaches you that you can control your feelings by controlling how you frame work in your mind.

All You Have To Do Is Change The Way You “Talk To Yourself” About Work

The actual words you use when you “talk to yourself” CREATE the feelings you have. By rewording those thoughts intentionally you can change the way you feel.

So while I still think you CAN entertain some of your hunger for freedom, it also helps to redefine the idea stuck in your head that says work somehow imposes upon freedom. Or that it isn’t “fair” to have to work because it feels uncomfortable.

You feel bad when you say to yourself:

“I hate this because it makes me feel uncomfortable and trapped.”

Statements Albert Ellise might prescribe include (yes, for when you talk to yourself):

“My work actually CREATES freedom because it provides the income to take uninterrupted time off work and do the things I actually want to do in life. By focusing more now I can buy more free time later.”

Or even questioning your feeling that you “deserve” to not have your freedom imposed upon. Or that you “deserve” to never feel uncomfortable.

Albet Ellis would have you tell yourself:

“Who am I to deserve to never feel uncomfortable? No human in the history of the world has been able to completely escape discomfort… So of course I’ll be uncomfortable sometimes, and that’s fine.”

And:

“Who am I to deserve to feel completely free of work or any responsibilities at all times? No one in the history of the world has ever been so free, so what makes me so special? Since there’s no reason I should be free of all restrictions and limitations, I can just accept that this is part of life.”

If any of this sounds confusing, over-simplistic, or airy, I get it. Rational Emotive Therapy is a fascinating field of thought, and you could spend years digging into it. But it’s well worth the journey if you want to break your stickiest mental traps.

Start learning more here.

Meanwhile, I did promise, so…

Here Are 7 Freedom Tricks For Embracing A Flexible Lifestyle When Working Online

Freedom Trick #1: Keep A Flexible Weekly Schedule

Just because you’re learning to reframe your desire to be free…

…Doesn’t mean some of the aspects of living spontaneously aren’t worth enjoying. So I’ll just say this.

While it works well for some people, there’s no law on the books that says you HAVE to work the same days every week. And of course, you don’t have to work full weeks at all.

There are some real freedom-friendly benefits to living on your toes too.

Again, isn’t this why most of us decided to work for ourselves anyhow?

If you can afford it in your job or business, for example, work for three days really hard one week, and then take the rest of the week off. Work a week straight (if nothing else is really going on anyways) to buy some time for a longer break in the future. Mix it up to roll with the punches in life — or just to keep things interesting.

I even know some guys who work every single day for a while (against all advice to the contrary). Because they know a week will come where they just want to break loose and put it all aside.

Kind of like banking up your time off until you need it…

Another cool idea would be to travel around the world or country, working for a few days at a time at every destination before hitting the road again. Believe it or not, yes, some people do pull this off and build successful businesses in the process.

Not everyone can do stuff like this, of course.

But in a few other professions it’s the norm. Consider oil workers — some work for three whole months straight and then take three months off. Wilderness firefighters. Alaskan fisherman. And hey, if a guy can pull nets from the water with frozen fingers for weeks on end, why can’t a knowledge worker bring a little bit of this element to work in order to take longer breaks?

Even as the founder of a growing software company, I try to finish my weeks on Thursday. Hey, I still struggle to make it happen every week, but it’s sure worth trying. The point is it’s all up to you!

Freedom Trick #2: You Don’t HAVE to Work Specific Hours Either

It flies against everything time management experts tell you. And I’m probably contradicting advice I myself have given a million times.

But there’s a certain “freedom” magic retained when your days start as a blank slate.

Meaning, you commit to getting X many hours in (let’s say 6, so we can put some numbers to this) by the end of the day, and you will. And you have your 6 top things you absolutely need to get done.

However, there’s no perimeter staking your schedule to the ground.

And other than meetings, most of your work isn’t attached to specific times.

Maybe you have a rough schedule from 8 am to 3 pm, and during those hours you usually knock out your day before enjoying the afternoon and evening.

But one day you’re just not feeling it. So you decide to jump and head out for an adventure. Hey, sometimes a creative brain NEEDS that (and the work often comes out shoddy if you power through those moments).

Go for a hike, hit the gym, take a friend up on an offer to meet for lunch. Come back and finish up your last few hours in the early evening this time.

If you have this kind of control over your schedule, why not use it?

Freedom Trick #3: Build the Right Systems To Step Away More Often

You’ll probably never reach a point where your business is completely hands-off.

Unless, I suppose, you grow a large enough team to completely step outside and treat it like an asset (“Built to Sell,” anyone?).

That doesn’t mean you don’t stand to benefit from smart systems — even in your job, if you’re a freelancer or employee.

Work ON your business, not in it, as they say.

- - If you’re a freelancer, outsource your cold emails or hire a researcher.
  - Automate client appointment bookings with Calendly.
  - Some entrepreneurs hire someone to handle their email management (no different than a secretary, really).
  - Are you losing your days to marketing processes that would be handed off to a pro?
  - Can you record and use a transcription service instead of taking notes on important videos?
  - What else can you SYSTEMIZE?

Break down everything you do on a daily basis, and then hunt down software tools or dependable services to make it easier.

Even when scaling is not your aim, the more you outsource or automate pesky things that take up unnecessary time and energy, the more you profit in flexibility and freedom.

Freedom Trick #4: Put Together A Robust “Mobile Work Kit”

You’re probably more productive with a regular home office and a set routine, but spontaneous and freedom-lusting folks like you should at least have the OPTION to move around sometimes. To stuff your office in a backpack and hit the road when the mood strikes.

With the right “toolkit,” you can pack up the bag, jump in the car, and take off on a whim. Not the most efficient use of time, but sometimes it’s the best use of your LIFE.

This might be as simple as driving down to your favorite coffee shop or restaurant for the morning to change your scenery. Or taking a serious road trip and renting a hotel room by the ocean another town over. Maybe flying somewhere for a real vacation (you ARE taking vacations, right?).

What you DON’T want is to get to your destination and realize you can’t get your work done because you can’t get a good internet connection, because you don’t have access to the right files, because you left your good headphones at the house, or because you bought a lousy laptop that sucks to work on.

Put together a “bug out” bag — not for when Armageddon hits but just so you can disappear whenever you feel like it and not fall too far off the work wagon.

What Tools Keep You More Productive On The Go?

Some ideas to consider include:

- - A portable laptop stand, an external keyboard, and an external mouse (just for a more comfy setup in coffee shops).
  - A portable wifi device (if you’re really serious about staying on the move, consider getting more than one for backup).
  - A hi-speed laptop charger.
  - A backup laptop power bank (you could get a power inverter to charge in the car if you plan to be camping or off-roading).
  - Robust tablet computer. Sometimes it’s nice to just be able to check in to work, edit docs, or send emails without pulling everything out. Tablets make that much easier.
  - A good backpack and some organizers for all your cords and chargers. You’ll feel a lot less chaotic on the move if everything in your work arsenal has a “home” in a well-organized backpack. Don’t run yourself ragged constantly guessing where to find the things you need.
  - A high-end headset and mic. Don’t get caught up in a coffee shop or noisy environment unable to have an important conversation. Of course it’s best if you can do these in a hotel room or at home, but flexibility is a strength when you work online.
  - Google Fi and a compatible phone. These days you can get one phone and travel most places in the world without interrupting your service. Google Fi is probably the best option if you don’t mind being stuck with a compatible phone.

Spontaneity Trick #5: Turn Your Phone Into A Work Device

This deserves some special mention outside of your mobile work kit because it can play such an integral role in your everyday business if you do it properly.

Gary Vaynerchuck often says your phone should make you money, not take your money. Spot on!

And hey, I know you probably can’t run your entire business from your phone. But you CAN set your phone up to at least handle some of your workload.

What’s stopping you from parking on the beach and batching your most phone-friendly tasks into an hour or two of work? These tasks need to get done, but maybe they don’t need to get done from the house.

Some Phone-Friendly Tasks You Can Get Done From Anywhere?

- - Manage your daily emails.
  - Conduct research via online articles, Kindle books, or YouTube videos.
  - Edit Google Docs.
  - Brainstorm, take notes, or even scratch pieces of content out in a notes app.
  - Speak your thoughts into a recording app.
  - Post on social media.
  - Conduct Skype or Zoom meetings from the comfy, warm seat of your car.
  - Book meetings and set up reminders in your Calendar.
  - Plan your week, month, or year.
  - Brainstorm your systems improvements.

If you get really good at this, you’ll learn you can get a lot of work done on your computer. I’ll be honest, you might see the costs of mobile data go up if, for example, you’re listening to Youtube videos to study for projects or sharpen skills away from the computer.

But imagine the freedom of knocking out a couple hours of work as you walk across town to the barber shop or to do a little shopping. Getting exercise while still knocking items off your work to-do list.

All these technologies are commonplace these days. So instead of doing what most people do — complaining about how they invade our lives or, even worse, wasting all your down moments chatting on Facebook, embrace this stuff to get more work done from more places.

Warning: Your phone is definitely a pit of distraction, so make sure to streamline it if you don’t already. Delete apps that are likely to drag you off course, or consider using FocusMe to lock yourself out.

Freedom Trick #6: Get Things Done Without Any Digital Tech At All

- - Bring a notebook along and you can sit anywhere, set aside the phone completely, and still create content, map out website designs, brainstorm business strategies, whatever… The best material often comes out this way. You might find the pen and paper and a lovely setting really helps you break through creative blocks. Entire articles or even sales pages just spill out in one sitting sometimes when you step away from the screen. Daunting biz obstacles that have been wearing you down can melt away in the blink of an eye.
  - Carrying a smaller notebook in your pocket on long walks and hikes is another great way to brainstorm new ideas for business or for content. And a handy way to multipurpose your time in the gym.
  - Record interviews with clients and other important business contacts. Listen to them on an mp3 player from anywhere. Pack your ipod with business podcasts so you can study anywhere.
  - Sometimes I go sit down at the bay across town and listen to this stuff while taking in the view.
  - In “Million Dollar Productivity,” Kevin J. Anderson even talks about writing books while hiking! He uses Dragon Naturally Speaking software and a headset that records as he goes. The files can be uploaded later and transcribed by Dragon, even sent to an editor to be cleaned up before the next redraft. Of course, a nice recorder paired with a transcribing service can get you halfway there.

Freedom Trick #7: Practice Extreme Focus When It’s Finally Time To Work

If you want more breathing room to wander about the world (or just your local town) sometimes, make sure you’re ultra-productive when you do sit down to work.

Because the best way to gain more free hours?

Do more with the time you’re switched on, something the average worker fails miserably at. A study of nearly 2,000 UK office workers found the average person did less than 3 hours of actual hours of work every day…

What in the world? Why??

Because most people just aren’t efficient on the job. They take twice as much time to do something because they’re multitasking. They’re constantly pulled away from work tasks by distractions, some of which eat up hours at a time.

But imagine if you could get 5 or 6 hours of ACTUAL efficient work done every single day. This might seem minor in the context of an 8-hour workday. But if most people REALLY do less than 3 hours of work, you could be working twice as fast as everyone else…

…And still take more time off!

That’s the real power of using software like FocusMe to get more out of the time you work. It helps create tunnel vision to hurtle towards your goals.

FocusMe introduces a lot of ways to fix that problem.

- - Work in focused blocks using FocusMe’s distraction-blockers, so you can hold off the distractions and hone right in on what needs to get done when you sit in your chair.
  - Use our handy online usage stats to get an accurate view of how much you’re actually doing everyday.
  - Confine yourself with computer restrictions that don’t let you do any work outside of a 6-hour period. According to Parkinson’s Law, work always swells to fill up the time you give it. So if you force yourself to get your workday done within a certain time-frame, you’ll be forced to come up with ingenious ways to get it done faster. Sure, that goes against what I said about not working to a set schedule, but remember, different things work best for different people.
  - Set up a pattern of work and rest blocks using the Pomodoro timer, so you can get up early and crush more out in 6 hours than most people do in 10, then take the rest of the day off.

These things are what helped me finally achieve my 4-day weeks even while running a software company! It’s why I created FocusMe in the first place…

Of course you can start embracing deep work principles now if you really try, but FocusMe does it a whole lot better. Go here if you’d like to try it out for yourself (free trials available)

What It Really Comes Down To Is “Permission”

Yes, you absolutely should implement strategies in your life to become more productive. But you don’t have to implement it all. Sometimes you just need to give that freedom-loving side of you a little permission to breathe too.

As long as you do have an efficient relationship with your work, what can it hurt?

After all, is moving faster always the best use of your time on Earth?

Or can you accept that freedom is important too? Can you keep your schedule open-ended and flexible enough that when you do sit down to work you can be 100% present and focused on what’s right in front of you?

As long as you’re disciplined and focused in the most important ways — like sticking your nose straight to the grindstone when it’s go-time, you can afford to be more care-free and spontaneous in others.

Which is the type of life you meant to live from the beginning of all this…

Consider this. There are probably millions of people all over the planet living in the most remote places, running businesses from tropical islands and quiet mountaintops. Surely you can enjoy some of that yourself from time to time.

Now get to work.

The post Discipline Vs Freedom: 7 Ways To Win the Battle For Your Time When You Work Online appeared first on FocusMe.

Fight Procrastination Day 2021

Jon Rumens — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 09:00:38 +0000

Fight Procrastination Day 2021: Just another silly made up awareness day or a genuine opportunity for self-improvement? The choice is yours...

Yes, there’s a “day” for everything now. In fact, on most days of the year there are several holidays or awareness days going on, depending on where you live or which blogs you read. Today (06 September 2021) is Fight Procrastination Day. It’s also Labor Day in the United States and it’s territories (which always falls on the first Monday of September), as well as Read A Book Day.

It’s probably fair to assume that you’re supposed to read the book after you’re done celebrating the achievements of the proletariat and fighting procrastination. More likely, nobody is coordinating these things and we’re on our own.

So, the decision is yours. Choose to take notice of the reminder that procrastination is something worth fighting, or don’t. Perhaps you don’t procrastinate? Although, you might be surprised at the varied and subtle forms this irksome little habit takes. Perhaps thinking that a day about procrastination doesn’t apply to you is the ultimate form of procrastination? Maybe you’re just putting off dealing with your habit of putting things off?

So, are you a procrastinator?

Like with most things, we probably all fall somewhere on a spectrum when it comes to procrastination. In fact, according to accountability coaches Ali Schiller and Marissa Boisvert, there are four “Procrastinator Archetypes” – The Performer, the Self-deprecator, the Overbooker and the Novelty seeker.

In other words, we may even mix and match varying levels of all of these charcaters to create our own unique blend of procrastination. Even if it’s not one of your main “issues” (let’s be honest, we all have at least a couple), it may be worth taking a few minutes to consider if there are ways that procrastination stops you from performing to your maximum.

What are the four Procrastinator archetypes?

While you may not find these archetypes listed in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (AKA the “bible” of psychiatry and psychology), they can certainly be a useful tool to help you to identify habits or tendencies that may be holding you back from reaching peak productivity.

The Performer

This is the person that claims to work best under pressure. No doubt, many of us do get some of our best work done when we’re under the gun. However, that doesn’t mean we’re not putting ourselves through unnecessary stress.

This archetype is also associated with perfectionism. After all, putting something off until the last minute means you have no choice but to do it quickly rather agonising over every little detail and decision.

How to fight this kind of procrastination:

If you’re a performer your biggest problem is not that you don’t get things done (although this probably does happen occasionally as you can’t always beat the clock), it’s always getting started at the last minute. An easy way to combat this habit is to set yourself a start date for big projects or a start time for smaller tasks. Making lists and using a calendar is extremely helpful as well!

The Self-deprecator

This kind of procrastinator often calls themself lazy or not capable/qualified. In fact, they’re normally the opposite of those things. These might seem like a convenient excuse, but really we’re often just denying the truth, that we’re tired or overworked.

According to Schiller and Boisvert, this kind of procrastination is most common amongst males, as we tend to believe that admitting we’re tired is a form of weakness and often struggle to admit when we’re struggling.

How to fight this kind of procrastination:

Easy, take a break. What’s that? You don’t have time for resting? Sounds like you’re procrastinating over something important (run down batteries always have to be recharged).

Be compassionate with yourself and make the time. Getting enough rest has consistently been linked with increases in productivity. Ultimately, putting things off in the short term (for the right reasons) can actually lead to you getting even more done in the long run.

The Overbooker

As you may have already guessed, this procrastination archetype is centered around being “too busy” rather than classical delaying tactics or unrealistic expectations. But let’s be honest, who of us isn’t busy? If you have a job, a family and a hobby or two (so basically all of us), then it’s highly likely you’re up to your eyeballs most days.

It’s when being busy becomes an excuse for avoiding tasks that it becomes a form of procrastination. If you often find yourself saying that you have more important things to do or that there aren’t enough hours in the day, you’re probably procrastinating.

How to fight this kind of procrastination:

Often, overbookers aren’t even avoiding actual tasks. It’s often more a case of putting off having an important conversation, exercising or even dealing with their feelings about something. In that sense, best way to overcome this kind of procrastination is to do a little introspection. Is there something you’re avoiding? If so, why? Remember, simply believing that something doesn’t exist or can be put off indefinitely doesn’t make it true.

The Novelty Seeker

Ever heard of shiny object syndrome? As the name suggests, it’s the tendency to always chase the latest and greatest. This is often a sign of intelligence and an attribute shared by many successful entrepreneurs. However, it can also be a form of procrastination.

While we all evolved to get excited about novelty (it’s how we learn – just watch how babies and children are constantly looking for new things to explore), jumping from one task or project to the next without seeing the previous one(s) through to completion might be a sign that you’re kicking the can.

How to fight this kind of procrastination:

While the performer struggles to get started, the novelty seeker struggles to finish things off. Fortunately, the solution to this is simple.

Forbid yourself from starting a new project while you still have one or more other things on the go. You can assist yourself further by using sticky notes or some other form of physical reminder that you can put up in your office or around your home to help you hold yourself accountable.

Fight procrastination with FocusMe

The above archetypes are a useful tool for analysing if and how you are decreasing your productivity by putting things off and making excuses. They even offer some useful ideas for how to fight procrastination. However, what they don’t do is provide any real-world support in your battle against dilly-dallying. They rely totally on you improving your self-discipline or becoming more conscious of your behaviour, which, let’s be honest, are the problems in the first place.

The most pervasive promoter of procrastination around today must surely be digital distraction. Checking your phone every few minutes or wasting valuable work time on gaming may be a sign of tech addiction, yet it’s just as likely that you’re using it as strategy to avoid getting things done. Fortunately, there’s an app for that. In fact, there are actually many focus apps and programs out there that claim to help you improve your productivity by limiting digital distractions. The truth is, most of them are easy to ignore or get around. Not FocusMe.

What makes FocusMe different?

It’s simple, really. Unlike other focus apps that simply encourage you to concentrate or use easy-to-beat mechanisms to lock you out, FocusMe employs powerful code that forces you to stay within the digital boundaries you set for yourself. As a programmer who could easily wiggle my way out of any and all productivity apps available (paid or not), I decided to build the real thing. The result: The most powerful digital focus tool available today.

If you’re serious about beating digital distractions and improving your productivity, look no further. Don’t take my word for it though. Check out third-party reviews by our many satisfied users to see what FocusMe can do for you. When you’re ready to get serious, simply click the big shiny button below!

The post Fight Procrastination Day 2021 appeared first on FocusMe.

Tired of Working At Home: Change Your Location to Coworking Spaces

Norman Lewis — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:25:53 +0000

Coworking spaces are the new hot spot for entrepreneurs and freelancers, where they can work on their side-projects without depending on one another. Unlike in a typical office, coworkers come from different companies or enterprises; some may know each other before meeting at the space while others meet there for the first time.

Why is choosing a good office space in a city very important?

Many young working-class people are drawn to coworking spaces in cities for their unique blend of cosmopolitan and regular energy. They come here because they like the mix, which is not always found in other places where they live or work.

Denver has the unassuming community feel of a local area combined with the attributes of a clamoring city, giving the smartest possible solution to occupants. With a solid spotlight on eco-friendly and open-air exercises around there, it’s nothing unexpected. Moreover, they hire general contractors who create the ideal working environment for all people.

Pros of Working in Coworking Spaces

Reduces feelings of loneliness

Coworking spaces are excellent for people who work from home. They have a unique opportunity to socialize, network and collaborate with other professionals in the same field on an ongoing basis which can help reduce isolation as well as increase productivity

The freedom of flexibility

Instead of signing a long-term lease, you can easily get flexible deals with coworking spaces. It is great for a startup with meager budgets, Whether you’re a freelancer looking for a drop-in space, or an established team seeking a dedicated desk or private office, coworking solutions allow you to pay for only the space you need.

Gives a sense of community

One of the benefits of coworking spaces is the ability to connect with a different caliber of people from different professions and different environments. People you otherwise wouldn’t have met. Part of this comes from working alongside new people every day.

You get more productive

The motivation derived from working in a coworking space is huge, being in an environment full of knowledgeable people will make you motivated as you won’t want to be seen as lazy. Based on your job and also the way you work, you should be able to adapt to coworking spaces and utilize them to your benefit. Even if you are working in a hybrid model, coworking spaces might help you adjust your work-life balance and boost your productivity.

The possibility of networking

Being in a coworking environment with new people helps you start your networking career, this tends to provide you with new ideas and opportunities to further enhance your career. Meeting people from different backgrounds and professions might inspire you to come up with new solutions in your tasks.

Work-life balancing

Coworking spaces are often designed to have expansive indoor lounges, internal staircases, which allow locomotion, exercises during a work session to get you fit and healthy at all times.

Time balancing

Coworking spaces provide you the opportunity to structure your day, providing a place to go every workday and leave once the work is done. Anytime you choose to start work each day, you’ll find that this structure helps eradicate the unbidden creep of work-life into personal time.

Saves cost in expensive cities

By eliminating the need to acquire or lease premises, coworking space can help you save money. Desks, chairs, and file cabinets are readily available in shared offices. You will love this element if you are a fan of the money-conscious attitude. Rather than paying for a lot of new office chairs, you may join a coworking space and get right to work without having to worry about it having adequate office furniture.

Cons of Working in Coworking Spaces

Lack of privacy

You will be surrounded with people all the time. This is the toughest deal-breaker. While packages vary in different coworking spaces, there’s a good chance you’ll find that an enclosed office could cost more than what you’re willing to pay for it. Perhaps even more expensive than getting your own private space elsewhere! The open style of some rooms can be noisy and distracting as well.

Sharing space with competition

The idea of working with people you are competing against can be a bit unsettling, but it may also turn into an opportunity. If your goals align and collaborating together would benefit both parties involved then by all means give them the chance to collaborate! It could lead to some successful accomplishments in the end or just help get through tough times with those that do not share common values

Conflicts among workers

The lack of an HR department means disagreements about space, personality clashes and other issues are left to be resolved between the people involved. This can lead to arguments that may involve one or more individuals throwing punches at their co-workers during a disagreement!

Dangers of distraction

Working in a coworking space is great for meeting new people and being surrounded by other productive entrepreneurs, but it also comes with its fair share of distractions. You might have to put up with someone’s loud phone conversations or music from the next cubicle over that you can’t turn off–the perfect recipe for destroying your focus! Apart from it, you will be prone to other distractions as well, not being able to stop yourself from constantly checking your social media and wasting time there. The best solution for such digital distractions (which could be a common problem when working in a shared space) would be FocusMe, an app that increases your productivity.

Existing Restrictions

Every coworking space has different features and options, but you should know that many of them have restrictions on the type of work you can do. For example, some spaces don’t allow customers to bring their own food or drinks while others require a membership fee just for day access.

Who can use the coworking spaces?

1. Remote workers or freelancers

Whether you are an influencer, digital personnel, a programmer, a writer, or a person who engages in cryptocurrency trading, there is a high possibility that you will meet people who are working on similar projects in a coworking environment.

Sometimes you might be stuck with no idea on what to do next, but within a coworking environment, you will always meet people who can offer you ideas on how to get around your problems!

2. Small business

Coworking spaces are low-cost, small businesses or startups, therefore, make use of the coworking environment to help them grow and easily save unnecessary expenses such as utility bills, water bills, etc. It’s no wonder why small businesses now make up the majority of the coworking spaces.

3. Enterprises

Big organizations also make use of coworking spaces to handle their workspace requirements. Managing office requirements can be cumbersome when an enterprise has a thousand employees from different locations of the world. These enterprises leverage coworking spaces for their workers to save costs of numerous office construction.

Conclusion

Coworking spaces make you experience the importance of working among people from different professions, different environments, and different organizations on either the same projects or different projects. It’s a fascinating experience as it helps in the growth of businesses and professionals.

About the author

Norman Lewis is an HR Consultant. He helps a business develop a productive and efficient HR department, through the maximization of its HR endeavors. He also has two-plus years of experience in writing about different blogs. His mission is to inspire others to live their dreams and adventurous life through his writings.

The post Tired of Working At Home: Change Your Location to Coworking Spaces appeared first on FocusMe.

How Cross-Cultural Communication Drives Workplace Success

Jamie Benjamin — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 08:17:26 +0000

The age of monocultural workplaces is far behind us in the 21st century. Cross-cultural communication is now an integral part of the workforce and a major driver for success. But how do we implement it in our working lives?

Society is rapidly evolving into a multicultural melting pot of diverse languages, religions, practices, and personalities. A culturally diverse workforce can bring great strength to a company. Different individual strengths and perspectives can give rise to more insightful, creative, and critical solutions to problems both inside and outside of the business.

The rapid expansion of global trade, co-operation, and mobility has integrated the working world in ways we never imagined were possible. Now, forward-thinking CEOs are embracing the change, not just for the sake of social progress, but for productivity as well.

Diversity throughout the workforce is only the first step on the road to cross-cultural integration; there must be efficient channels of communication in place as well.

Redefining “Normal”

How do we go about cultivating not only an inclusive workspace, but also a cohesive one?

Well, human beings have a tendency to formulate ideas about what we deem to be “normal,” or commonplace at the very least.

These ideas look extremely different depending on who you ask and where in the world you’re focusing your attention. Cultural normalcy is entirely subjective. However, this notion does not always translate into the real world.

People tend to become uncomfortable and/or judgmental when confronted with a person, behavior, or identity that is too far outside of their cultural understanding.

While this is not an unusual reaction, it can and must be overcome for the sake of furthering our society as a co-operative, multicultural entity.

Communication Skills in the 21st Century

Communication is about much more than simple words.

While the language barrier is a significant challenge that we cannot underestimate, we can overcome it with patience, good humor, and awareness of other types of communication.

Humor and patience are essential elements of verbal communication between two workers of diverse national lineage. While it can be frustrating to try and convey complex ideas to someone who doesn’t speak your mother tongue, getting irritated or being rude and condescending is the least helpful thing you can do.

Instead, try to adjust your attitude and think outside the box. Appreciate the effort that your colleague, client, or supplier is making to converse with you, shrug off the little mistakes, and share a laugh.

Furthermore, consider how other forms of communication influence the success of your approach or help you reach your goal.

Non-verbal communication is a massive part of how we relate to one another every day, although we tend not to realize it. Body language, facial expression, and other non-verbal cues make up a large portion of our interpersonal vocabulary.

To assume that these components of communication are universal is just as incorrect and dangerous as assuming that everyone can speak or understand English. Understanding your own cultural context, the cultural backgrounds of others, and how tricky it can be to mix them, especially in the context of a workplace, can end disputes before they start.

For example, an American worker prides themselves on their winning smile, their audible and confident tone of voice, and will go out of their way to make eye-contact. This is more or less the Western standard of “good” non-verbal communication. It is how we convey respect for ourselves and our conversational partners.

This, however, looks different depending on who you ask.

In Japan, workers are more reserved. They will greet you with a bow, not a handshake. They display less outward emotion and keep physical contact to a minimum. This may seem oddly formal or even unfriendly to an American, but it’s all a matter of perspective.

The more aware you are of how different cultures communicate and demonstrate respect, the less likely you are to take unnecessary offence and the more successful you will be in your cross-cultural interactions. Patience, self-awareness, and understanding are foundational aspects of a multicultural workforce.

Mutual Acceptance and Strong Leadership

Any interaction that does not begin with at least a grain of acceptance on behalf of both parties is likely to fail.

As members of contemporary society, we absolutely must be willing to accept what is different about our colleagues. This acceptance must also be demonstrated all the way up the ladder.

While employees are free-thinking adults who will inevitably form their own attitudes and opinions, it’s important to never underestimate the influence of leadership. If your CEO or manager prioritizes acceptance and leads by example, you are more likely to emulate that attitude.

Too often, the cultural practices of those who are different are dismissed and disrespected. It’s still not uncommon to hear a manager who subscribes to Western cultural norms complain about workers taking time off to celebrate other religious occasions. Yet they’ll readily wish employees happy Easter before jetting off to celebrate their own freedoms.

For many people, diversity means the gradual homogenization of humanity. This, however, is a narrow and short-sighted view of our increasingly integrative society.

Strength in diversity means embracing and celebrating each other’s differences, not the forcible adoption of the norms native to the land upon which you happen to stand.

Why This is Important

Inclusivity and understanding minimize workplace conflict, promote cooperation and collaboration and improve productivity.

You may find yourself amazed at the innovation and efficiency borne from a willingness to look past our incongruences and combine our individual strengths.

Businesses that want to expand their audience and reach different global markets cannot do so without making an effort to communicate across borders. This may be as easy as learning more about a culture and how not to offend them, or to simplify business processes and procedures to make them more easily understood. Whatever route is taken, communication between employees, clients, and partners must be streamlined and clear, or else time is wasted, opportunities missed, and initiatives set to fail.

If we ever want to achieve the dream of a global village where we offer our best to the world and receive the world’s best in return, we need to step outside our comfort zones. We must embrace the diversity in which we find ourselves at work and at home.

An effort made to understand others is never wasted energy.

The post How Cross-Cultural Communication Drives Workplace Success appeared first on FocusMe.

What Does World Productivity Day Even Mean In 2021?

Jon Rumens — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:15:53 +0000

The last 18 months have been a major setback for the entire world. So, where should we be setting our sights on World Productivity Day 2021?

Productivity is a totally subjective concept. It means different things to different people. We gauge it differently, both as individuals and as societies. Most of us would agree that you can measure it through output – How efficient have I been? What have I achieved? Governments and businesses tend talk about it in an almost mythical way, and we love going along for the ride. Productivity, the ethereal fuel that drives humanity’s inexorable march of progress. It’s true, of course. Striving to achieve greater productivity brought us the agricultural, industrial and digital revolutions. Yet the last 18 months or so have also proven to us that being productive sometimes has to be weighed against other things. World Productivity Day 2021 can be an opportunity to reassess what the concept means to us.

Nobody is talking about re-inventing the wheel here. After all, we’re the proud creators of the most powerful focus tool available today. “Traditional” productivity is what FocusMe is all about. But maybe it’s time we broaden the definition to include not just the production of value in an economic sense, but also for society, the natural world and our own mental & physical health? The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the limitations of our current model and challenged us to rethink a lot of things.

Download this article as a PDF

It's all about priorities

It’s clear that our quest for ever-increasing productivity to feed ever greater demand is leading us to crisis points on multiple fronts. Worse yet, as far as we can tell, we’re not any happier than our ancestors were. Sure, on average we live longer than they did, but a lot of that is simply down to lower infant and childhood mortality rates. On average, a hunter-gatherer that made it to adulthood could expect to reach around 70 years old or more. In other words, all this productivity is basically about having better amenities.

Obviously that’s a gross oversimplification, but the point still stands. We’ve become awfully focused on creating more and better stuff, often at the expense of the natural world and our own well-being.

Since the emergence of Covid-19 many of us have felt compelled to take up a position in the economy vs public health debate. It’s often presented in a way that makes us feel as if we’ve got to pick a side. Our tendency to frame decisions in such binary terms is part of the problem.

It’s certainly true that a collapsed economy is just as dangerous as a pandemic. There are also real risks of jeopardizing future health and productivity by shutting schools for long periods and reducing access to lifesaving treatments for people with pre-existing conditions.

Anyone who claims to have the answers to this dilemma is probably full of hot air. One thing is clear though, shortsightedness is an enemy to productivity. Without a sustainable plan for the future (and maybe also a good plan B & C), no amount of productivity will save us. There are not many species that are capable of understanding the concept of delayed gratification, and no other has used it to their advantage like we have. That said, we clearly still have a ways to go.

A new consensus around productivity is possible

Despite our shortcomings, there is also plenty of room for optimism. Slowly but surely, a new global consensus seems to be forming. Before 2020, most of us floated through life under the assumption that the rules of the game were more or less set in stone, or at least only evolved gradually. Then, almost overnight, our lives were transformed. Billions of people adopting new habits and behaviors within weeks. The workplace replaced with home offices. Travel shut down. Then, of course, there’s the not insignificant fact that we watched governments “find” trillions of dollars to make sure that the whole house of cards didn’t collapse.

So where does all that leave us? Well, we now know that real, paradigm shift kind of change is possible. It’s happened once, why can’t it happen again? While there are plenty of people who have been desperate to get back to work, many have decided that zero-hours contracts don’t offer the security they require.

Where to from here?

The narrow definitions we have for productivity and progress have had their day. The vast majority of the world’s population now agree that business as usual is unsustainable. People are burned out, nature is on fire and the biggest companies in the world are reporting record profits while their founders become the richest and most influential people in history. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies have already begun to disrupt the workplace and will continue to so at an exponentially accelerating pace. More and more economic and social activity moves into the online space each day.

There is a lot of uncertainty around where all of this will lead us. It’s possible to come up with utopian visions of a world where human beings have solved all our problems with technology. Machines do all the dirty work and we enjoy spending time with our families and doing leisure activities. On the other side of the coin we could have a The People vs The Technocrats situation taking place in the apocalyptic setting of a world experiencing runaway climate and environmental breakdown. It genuinely could go either way.

In the short term to medium term, we can expect a continued shift towards hybrid work patterns, a major reorganizing of the chairs as “clean” industries replace some of today’s biggest players and continued pressure on governments and the private sector to step up and ensure that the benefits of all our productivity end up in the hands of the many and not just the few.

Download this article as a PDF

Let's not forget about just getting stuff done...

As a business that specializes in productivity and focus, we could have used World Productivity Day 2021 as an excuse to bang on about digital distractions, beating social media addiction or any of of our other ‘usual’ topics. We hope we gave you some things to think about.

Even in a world where with a whole new definition of productivity, we’ll still need to get things done. Whether you’re looking for a way to increase day-to-day productivity while working online or trying to block out digital distractions such as social media and gaming, this is the tool that will empower you to make it happen.

Start by learning more about how it works and checking out some reliable third party reviews, or simply get started right away by clicking the button below (don’t worry, we’ll still explain everything)!

The post What Does World Productivity Day Even Mean In 2021? appeared first on FocusMe.

Why Clearly Defining Your Goals Is Key To Success

Jon Rumens — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 07:15:00 +0000

Clearly defining your goals is what turns a dream into a reality. Unlike dreams, goals are measurable, achievable and inspire us to action.

Here are some ideas for how to define your goals and draw up a plan of action that will bring them to fruition.

We all have dreams and aspirations for the future, it’s one of the defining features of our species. Yet, most of these dreams and aspirations will remain exactly that, meaning that what we really all have a lot of are fantasies. To create a new reality, you need more than just dreams and good intentions. In fact, you need quite a few things – hard work, dedication, knowledge, possibly some startup capital and often at least a little bit of luck. However, there is one thing that is even more fundamental than any of these. Clearly defining your goals and making step-by-step plans for how to achieve them is the only way you will ever turn a dream into a lived reality.

So, what’s the difference between a dream and a goal? For starters, goals are measurable. They’re also achievable, meaning they’re within the realms of physical possibility, which gives you a lot of wiggle room but unfortunately rules out some of the fun stuff like faster than light travel and going back in time. Most importantly, however, goals are a something you are actively trying to achieve rather than passively dreaming about or hoping for. Without clearly defined objectives, we are forever doomed to chasing shadows.

Download this article as a PDF

Setting and achieving goals

Dreaming is a fundamentally creative process. Setting and defining your goals, on the other hand, is a wholly practical endeavor that requires logic, planning and organization. It’s also the single most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting things done. We tend to think of success as something that requires attributes such as talent, intelligence, advanced skills and an exceptional understanding of the world around us. These are all admirable qualities that will certainly help. Yet, not everyone who has achieved something grand possessed all or even any of these qualities. What these people all have in common, however, is a form of single-mindedness that allows them to focus on their goals and block out all distractions. This is the true key to success and the mentality that must be cultivated in order to achieve it. In order to do so, it’s vital to have a clear idea of what you need to focus on, which means clearly defining your goals and creating a plan to achieve them. This process starts with just a few simple questions:

What do I want to achieve?

If you can’t sum it up in one or two sentences, your goal is not clearly defined and you’ll never achieve liftoff, never mind reach your destination. Examples of clearly defined goals include: “I want to create an Amazon affiliate business selling sustainable children’s toys and generate $10 000 profit a month within one year of launch” or “I want to complete the 2022 Ironman Hawaii in under 6 hours”. As you can see, these are specific, measurable and achievable goals. This overarching ambition is the foundation on which you will build. It provides a destination and a direction of travel. Importantly, it’s also something you can visualize clearly in your mind’s eye.

Can I break it down into smaller sub-goals?

While clearly defining your goal is important, it can also be intimidating. Big goals can seem far away and impossible to achieve. That’s why it’s important to break your goal down into smaller sub-goals or milestones. If your goal is create an Amazon affiliate business, you’ll need to do market & product research, create a blog or website to drive traffic, create an Amazon affiliate account, etc.

All of these tasks can be done individually and are a lot less intimidating than the idea of creating an entire business. Once you’ve broken your goal down into these milestones, you can start to tackle them one-by-one.

How long will it take?

Once you have identified your milestones, the next step is to create a timeline that will help you to stay on track and achieve maximum efficiency. You don’t have do each task consecutively or only concentrate on one at a time (unless it’s impossible to move on without completing one or more of them first). If you’re training for an Ironman, you wouldn’t swim every day for a third of the year, then move on to running every day for the next third and spend the last portion of the year cycling. By the time the event arrived, you would already have lost a great deal of your swimming and running fitness.

Try to set deadlines that are both realistic yet also challenging. Trying to move too fast will just demotivate you while giving yourself too much time will encourage laziness.

How will I measure my progress?

As we’ve already discussed, it’s important that your goals are measurable. Simply “losing weight” or “being more financially secure” is not enough. Abstract goals like this leave far too much room for interpretation, excuses and kicking the can down the road. If you can’t measure your progress through metrics or some kind of objective criteria, finding motivation will be a constant struggle and you’ll likely give up before the job is done. If your goal is to earn $10 000 within a year of launch, where do you want to be after 3, 6 or 9 months? If you’re going to complete the Ironman in under 6 hours, what kinds of times do you need to be doing for each discipline at various points in your training regime?

What obstacles could stand in my way?

Next, you need to consider the challenges you may face. While you can’t account for everything, having some idea of what might stand in the way of you achieving your goals will help immensely. This could be anything from financial or time constraints to your own personality, a political situation or coming changes to regulations, technology, etc. While you may not be able to prevent a problem just by knowing it exists, you can plan around it and minimize your chances of being unexpectedly derailed. However, analyzing challenges isn’t a once off exercise. You’ll need to do this sporadically throughout the process of pursuing a goal to avoid being blindsided. Finally, always expect the unexpected. There are very few things in life that go exactly to plan. Coming to terms with this will help you to stay light on your feet and react effectively when unexpected challenges inevitably arrive.

What do I need in order to make it happen?

Now that you have defined your goal and you have a clear idea of how you’re going to get there, the final step is figuring out what resources, tools, skills, knowledge or outside expertise might be required to make it happen. Some things may be essential, while others could be considered ‘nice to haves’. You can’t train for the cycling leg of the iron man without a bicycle, but you don’t necessarily need a professional coach. Equally, you can’t start a website for your affiliate business without paying for hosting, but you don’t necessarily need a web-designer to create your site if you’re willing to put the time and effort into to learning how to do this yourself. That said, having a coach or designer would substantially increase your odds of achieving your goal. Ultimately, it’s up to you to weigh up what resources you have at your disposal and how best to use them. Talking of which…

Download this article as a PDF

The ultimate focus tool: FocusMe

If you’re serious about being single-minded in the pursuit of your goals, you’ll need every advantage you can get. In the age of infinite scroll and constant digital distraction, it’s easy to get pulled off track. That’s why we created FocusMe, the most powerful productivity tool available today. Whether you’re looking for a way to increase day-to-day productivity while working online or avoid digital distractions such as social media and gaming, this is the tool that will empower you to make it happen.

Learn about how it works, check out reliable third party reviews or get started right away by clicking the big shiny button below (don’t worry, we’ll still explain everything)!

The post Why Clearly Defining Your Goals Is Key To Success appeared first on FocusMe.

The Essential Guide To Stay Calm On A Hectic Day

Jamie Benjamin — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:10:38 +0000

We all know that feeling of a hectic day that doesn’t slow down. Fortunately, it is possible to stay calm and focused, even when life is running on fast forward. Here’s how…

For many people busy has become the norm, with many of us having to work what feels like 24/7 instead of just 9-5. It’s common to take work home with you and spend weekends catching up. Dealing with an especially frenetic workday, however, is a feat of its own. Even the most ardent workaholics need a hand to get through a hectic day without succumbing to panic. Our guide tells you what to do to take control, even when your schedule seems out of it.

Assess Your Day

Unexpected stresses can pop up at any time. But a good start to staying calm and focused in the midst of a nightmare day is to look at your entire week in advance.

If you can’t do that, block out ten minutes every evening to prepare yourself mentally for the next day.

Let’s say you’ve got an early start with a gym session at 6am, followed by back-to-back Zoom meetings and picking up children from school mid-afternoon. Before tackling admin and paperwork before you can kick back and relax (that’s if you have any time left).

Being able to organize your schedule mentally will allow you to move from one demand to another knowing how much time you’re working with. By assessing what’s coming, you’ll know whether to pre-prepare meals, for example, and how to budget your energy to get through the day.

Set Your Intentions

Similar to making a to-do list, setting your intentions for the day ahead can give you structure and a sense of safety when things are hectic. When you’re facing an unusually demanding day, your intention might be as simple as getting through your tasks without getting overwhelmed.

If you have a little time to spare, then consider setting a goal of going for a brisk walk, doing some gentle breathing exercises, or practicing a hobby that leaves you feeling energized—drawing, painting or paging through a favorite magazine.

When setting your intention for the day, consider your energy level and mood. If you’re being overambitious, it’s probable that you’ll end up disappointing yourself. When you’re already overwhelmed, set an easy goal. This will boost your mood and energy to know that you’ve completed at least one task.

See The Bigger Picture

On your busiest days it might feel like the world is collapsing around you and somehow, it’s up to you to keep it all together. It’s easy to get trapped in the belief that if you’re not perfect, you’re a failure.

This is when you need to remind yourself that there is a bigger picture, and you aren’t the one responsible for all of it. One technique is to imagine how you’ll feel about today in a week, a month, a year, or even five or ten years.

That nagging worry about a meeting or deadline—this time next year will your worry have been worth it?

Another slightly imaginative trick is to picture yourself in the context of your suburb, then your city, country, and the world. If that doesn’t put things into perspective, look up the size of Earth compared to the Milky Way, and the Milky Way to the rest of the universe. This doesn’t mean that you’re so tiny that nothing matters, but it can show you how all-consuming stress is just one miniscule part of existence, not an unstoppable force.

Eat And Drink Wisely

Our eating habits are often influenced by the situations we’re facing or the circumstances we find ourselves in. Being hungry or dehydrated is a sure-fire way to end up stressed and depressed. When you’re under pressure, it’s easy to ignore your body’s hunger and thirst signals, which compounds the strain you’re already feeling.

Eat smartly and often. Reasonable-sized meals and small snacks throughout the day will keep you more alert and reduce mood swings (no more getting “hangry”). Drink before you’re thirsty, and preferably stick to water, not sugar-laden soda or juice.

Limit Distractions

Although distractions like social media might provide you immediate relief from stress, they aren’t at all helpful in dealing with the tasks you’re facing. Every time you procrastinate for a few minutes, you leave yourself with more pressure.

Before long, your day gets eaten away without you even noticing. Suddenly it’s 5pm and you still haven’t finished the most important bit of paperwork; you take it home and end up working until 10pm.

Some tips to overcome distractions include:

– Put your phone on silent when possible

– Set a time frame for each part of a task

– Create self-made “deadlines” by setting alarms

– When you find yourself getting distracted, take a few deep breaths, you can even give yourself a mini pep talk if necessary.

Communicate

Communication is a hugely undervalued skill. We forget people aren’t mind readers. They can’t

know what we’re feeling unless we tell them.

If you know your day is going to be especially frenetic, then make use of a support system in

advance. You might need to ask for help from a friend or family member when it comes to personal

commitments, such as doing household chores, childcare, or shopping.

It’s also perfectly fine to ask for help at work. Delegate if possible and let people know in advance

that you’re under pressure. Just the act of communicating can take a weight off your shoulders.

20-20 Rule

There are many tips and tricks for productivity and most of them are useful to some extent. One of these is the 20-20-20 Rule, which helps to mitigate the negative impact of staring at a screen for a prolonged period and gives you mini breaks to help you focus.

It’s pretty basic. After 20 minutes of screen time, take 20 seconds and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away. This allows your eyes a vital break as well as giving your brain a moment to revive. Getting up and walking around for 20 seconds can work too.

Train Yourself To Make It Through

Everyone has to face an unpleasantly busy day now and then, but there’s no reason they should break your spirit. By implementing tools like those we’ve listed above, you can rest assured that even the most difficult day is manageable.

The post The Essential Guide To Stay Calm On A Hectic Day appeared first on FocusMe.

How Binaural Beats Work – Focus, Meditate, Sleep

Brendon Cammell — Thu, 20 May 2021 10:45:11 +0000

In recent years, they've earned a reputation as a simple and effective life hack for better sleep, improved focus, greater productivity and more.
Here is everything you need to know about how binaural beats work and if they are indeed what they're hyped up to be.

What are binaural beats?

Before understanding how binaural beats work, or if they work at all, we need to unpack what they actually are. As the name suggests, a binaural beat is the combination of two distinct sounds that creates one indistinguishable beat. These two slightly different frequencies are played in tandem to create an effect in the brain called brainwave entrainment. Also known as brainwave synchronization or neural entrainment, this effect occurs when the brain synchronizes brainwave frequencies with an external stimulus. Proponents of binaural beats claim that this effect can be used to create neural firing patterns that correspond with various states of consciousness that are beneficial for everything from sleep to studying (more on this later).

The science is complicated yet the idea is really quite simple and possibly even brilliant, although the jury is still out on that last part. For now, despite the fact that a number of studies have been done on the subject, there is no hard scientific proof of the efficacy (or lack thereof) of binaural beats. However, there is plenty of strong anecdotal evidence that they do help people. Even if this does turn out to be largely a placebo effect, it might be one that works for you.

Download this article as a PDF

How binaural beats work

As mentioned above, a binaural beat is the combination of two distinct yet similar sounds played simultaneously to create an auditory illusion that tricks the brain into only hearing a single, lower frequency beat. One sound is played into the right ear and the other the left, meaning headphones are required for this trick to work. When done correctly, the brain naturally perceives the difference between the two sounds rather than their sum or individual characters. For example, if a sound with a frequency of 200 Hz is played in one ear and another of 210 Hz is played in the other, the brain will focus in on the 10 Hz difference between them and hear only a single low-frequency beat. This is well understood and widely accepted by the scientific community.

The main point that is still up for debate is not even whether binaural beats do in fact lead to brain entrainment. The most comprehensive study done on the subject so far proves that they do alter brain frequencies as advertised. However, as the authors point out, it remains to be seen whether this entrainment actually leads to improved cognitive performance or changes to mood and sleep patterns. Luckily, there don’t seem to be any dangerous side effects to using binaural beats and all it takes to find some is a single YouTube search, meaning the best way to know for sure whether binaural beats are for you is simply to try them out for yourself. But, before you do, it’s worth understanding the different types of binaural beats and what benefits they may be able to provide you with.

Download this article as a PDF

Types of binaural beats

There are five categories of brainwave frequency patterns that we use to describe the varying levels of consciousness and activity in human brains, namely delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma. When we do things such as sleeping, relaxing and meditating our brains are in the lower frequency states of delta and theta. Alpha is a transitional state that bridges the gap between these lower frequencies and the higher ones of beta and gamma, which are associated with alertness and high-level cognition. There are thus five kinds of binaural beats, with each one corresponding to one of the above mentioned states.

Delta: The delta states frequency range is 0.5-4 Hz. It is generally associated with deep, dreamless sleep and the unconscious mind. It is claimed that binaural beats with this pattern can induce deep sleep, help to heal the body and may even lower cortisol levels, reducing stress and providing anti-ageing benefits.
Theta: The frequency range for the theta state is 4-8 Hz. Meditation, creative thought and REM sleep all happen when the brain is in this state. If you’re looking for a boost in these areas, this is the beat pattern for you.
Alpha: The alpha state takes place in the range of 8-12 Hz. The lower end of this range is associated with relaxation and calmness, while the upper end is best for focusing on tasks such as writing, studying and other similar activities.
Beta: The beta state ranges from frequencies of 12-35 Hz. Beats in this pattern can increase alertness and concentration, but can also lead to anxiety at the upper end of the spectrum.
Gamma: At a range of 35-50 Hz, this state is associated with arousal and alertness. Beats with this pattern should help to maintain these states, but be wary of jumping in at this frequency after sleep or meditation as this could also lead to anxiousness or other unpleasant feelings.

There are, of course, no hard boundaries between each of these states. The above information should thus be used more as a reference point than a rulebook. Ultimately, as already mentioned, all of these binaural beats are safe and listening to them shouldn’t cause anything more than mildly unpleasant side-effects at worst. At best, you may have just stumbled on to a life-hack of epic proportions. Talking of which…

Download this article as a PDF

Hacking your attention with FocusMe

There are so many supposed ‘life-hacks’ out there, but very few actually stand up to scrutiny. At the end of the day, the proof of the pudding is in the eating (and of course reliable third party reviews). We’re confident that FocusMe delivers on both of these fronts. If you’re looking for a reliable way to take back your attention and beat digital distractions, you’ve come to the right place.

FocusMe is the most powerful tool available today for those who are serious about increasing their productivity while working online. Whether you need it yourself or would like to boost efficiency for your entire team, this is the software that will get you there. You can learn more about how it works, or get started right away by clicking the big shiny button below (don’t worry, we’ll still explain everything)!

The post How Binaural Beats Work – Focus, Meditate, Sleep appeared first on FocusMe.