Real Focus

Psychologies, the leading magazine for intelligent people, provides their inspirational yet rigorous approach to the perennial topic of focus, to include topics of mindfulness, clarity and productivity.

How are you today? We would hazard a guess that your answer will be along the lines of 'I'm so busy,' 'I feel so frazzled,' or 'what-am-I doing-even reading-this-book, I've got so much to do!'

However, we also suspect that you know in your heart of hearts, that life's not supposed to feel like this. You're not supposed to feel like you're in a hamster wheel that you can't get off; that life is a ‘whirlwind' or ‘one never-ending To Do list.' You know there has to be another way - but what is it? Well here it is: Real Focus.

Written in association with Psychologies Magazine the leading magazine for intelligent people, covering work, personal development and lifestyle issues Real Focus is:

• Packed full of tips, techniques and advice to help you focus in on what matters
• Based on scientific evidence and cutting edge global research
• Rigorous with credible content presented in a light and accessible manner
• Inspirational yet down to earth and practical

Foreword by Suzy Greaves, Editor, Psychologies v

Introduction 1

1: How focused are you? 7

Chapter 1: Defining ‘real focus’ 9

Take the Test: How focused are you? 22

Chapter 2: The busy trap 27

Take the Test: Are you productive or just busy? 44

Chapter 3: The impact of being overwhelmed 49

Take the Test: How distracted are you? 58

2: Why do you lack focus? 63

Chapter 4: The attention deficit 65

Take the Test: Do you know how to prioritize? 83

Chapter 5: Finding a balance: men, women and our changing roles 89

Chapter 6: Focus robbers 107

3: How can you become more focused? 117

Chapter 7: Do what matters 119

Chapter 8: Reclaim your time 135

Chapter 9: Be present 151

Chapter 10: Embrace systems 165

What Next? 173

About Psychologies 174

References 175

Psychologies Magazine (Kent, UK, https://psychologies.co.uk/work) is the leading magazine (print and digital) for intelligent people, covering work, personal development and lifestyle issues and striving to help its readers learn about and understand themselves and the world around them.

"Packed with valuable advice to sharpen your focus and transform your life."
Michael Acton Smith - Co-Founder of Calm.com and Creator of Moshi Monsters

MANAGE YOUR LIFE LOAD
How focused are you? Chances are, your time often feels fragmented and peppered with interruptions. Our harried lives and constant busyness lead us to feeling overwhelmed and stretched, because we don't know what to give our attention to. As a result, we fall into the trap of trying to focus on everything.

RECLAIM YOUR LIFE
Armed with the latest research and the best experts, renowned in their fields, Psychologies magazine provides simple steps to help you find real focus, so that you can spend more of those precious hours on the activities and people that matter to you. Real Focus will help you:

• Play to your strengths and do more of what you love
• Devote time to thinking how to change things
• Stop overcommitting yourself
• Develop systems that work
• Give regular, focused attention to what you want to happen

You can get your life back. By developing real focus, you'll learn to curate the life that's best for you. Start doing what matters, today.

"Stop wasting time and read this book now to start focusing on doing the things you love!"
-Shaa Wasmund, OBE, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur & Speaker