Latest news with #focus
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Medical experts expose the dark side of ADHD drugs - from serious psychiatric side effects to heart problems - as urgent warning issued for students and people with 'pseudo' ADHD
Peter was only 12 when he was diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Ritalin, medication which was, in his mother's words, a 'godsend – his focus improved and he stopped climbing the walls'. But five years on and Joanne, 55, who lives in Hampshire with her husband Paul and their three children, takes a different view.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
Your daily horoscope: May 30, 2025
You can, if you wish, charm the birds from the trees but if you leave our feathered friends alone and focus instead on your life goals you will soon be flying as high as they are. Why keep your feet on the ground when your prospects are unlimited? No matter how chaotic the world around you may be at the moment it won't stop you pushing on towards your ultimate goal. Mind planet Mercury will make it easy for you to focus on what matters to you personally – as for the rest, just ignore it. You may not be in the mood to listen to advice but don't be too stubborn about it because friends and family members can see things that you appear to have missed. Adopting a contrary viewpoint may not be in your best interests. The sun's union with Mercury in your sign will clarify your thinking and enable you to focus with laser-like intensity on what you most need to do. Anyone who thinks you can be persuaded to tone down your ambitions needs their head examined. You need to get over the fact that something you attempted did not work out the way you intended. Just because you got it wrong does not mean you were wrong to try it. Now move on and try something even more adventurous. You don't need to be told by others how wonderful you are, you know that already, but it's nice to be reminded that friends and loved ones value your presence in their lives. Now let them know that you value them every bit as much. Mercury, your ruler, joins forces with the sun today, making this the perfect time to get your head together about the direction your life needs to be moving over the next few months. The clearer your career goals the closer you will be to success. If you feel the need to rock the boat a bit today by all means do so. You are under no obligation to desist from saying things just because they might upset people of a sensitive disposition. Maybe that's their problem, maybe they need to toughen up. If you are smart you will readily admit that you don't know everything and that it's okay to learn from the people around you. Leave your ego at home today and seek out knowledge that can enrich you both emotionally and financially. You may not be the most cautious member of the zodiac but cosmic activity in your opposite sign means you must take account of what loved ones and work colleagues are doing before pushing ahead with your own objectives. Don't work against them, work with them. With so many opportunities available to you now you may be confused as to what is the best route to take. Sit quietly for a bit, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and listen to what the intuitive side of your mind has to say. A Sun-Mercury link in the most dynamic area of your chart means now is the time to organize your thoughts and set yourself goals of a creative nature. The universe is very much on your side at the moment, so don't hold back in your plans. You may think you know someone very well but what they do today will shock you into understanding that you have been taking them for granted. Don't take it personally if they do the opposite of what you suggest. Let them make their own decisions. Discover more about yourself at
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Employees Get 46% Less Focus Time Than They Need, Research Reveals
Time to focus getty Modern work can be characterized by a level of busyness unseen in previous years. Our time can get snapped up by sitting in meetings, replying to emails, and responding to urgent requests. For anyone who has sat through a meeting you didn't need to be in, who was cc'd in a group email (for your reference), or feels frustrated by the lack of time to focus, think, and reflect, this article is for you. The recent Microsoft Office Trends Report, sampling over 10,000 Microsoft Office users, revealed some alarming findings about how busy employees are at work. Employees are averaging 6.6 hours of overtime each week, attending 29.6% more meetings than they would like to, and are experiencing an average of 4.7 cancelled and rescheduled meetings per week. Even with working overtime, the results indicate that busy work is up, and focused work is down. Employees surveyed reported that they can access 46% less focus time than they report needing. These statistics are heightened for leaders. The C-suite spends, on average, 10.2 hours per week working overtime. This is 35.3% more overtime than the average employee and adds up to over 50 hours per week. Executives also attend the greatest number of meetings per week, at 11.5, compared with someone in a non-managerial role attending 8.2. Focus time is the time needed for often independent work dedicated to achieving long-term goals or simply getting things done. When asked about challenges relating to scheduling, respondents ranked 'defending enough focus time to get stuff done' as the number one issue (63.9%), followed by managing and syncing multiple calendars (62.9%), and keeping schedules flexible to accommodate urgent changes (60.1%). Providing boundaries to protect work-life balance also featured in the list (47.4%, which is unsurprising when looking back at the amount of overtime workers are racking up each week. Executives, managers, non-managers, consultants, and even students all reported attending more meetings per week than they indicated as their ideal number. This difference between ideal and actual meetings suggests that there is work to do to minimize unnecessary meetings. This could be achieved by better delegation, by asking for higher order summaries and action items to be shared with a larger number following a meeting with only the crucial players, or with technology. AI scheduling tools, such as Calendly, or ClickUp Calendar, can help to automate scheduling, block time for focused tasks, and limit distractions by automatically coordinating schedules and aligning optimal windows in different time zones. According to the report, employees spend an average of 4.2 hours per week just managing their calendars. Executives top this figure with 4.5 hours per week. In their average 50.2-hour work week, that equates to 9.1% of executives' overall work time spent on managing their own time. Strategic thinking occurs when we dedicate time to the important, but non-urgent goals. If it constantly feels like we're putting out fires, when everything is urgent and reactionary, we don't have the time or focus to plan strategically for the big, longer-term goals. While individuals can play a role in protecting their own boundaries, pushing back on unnecessary meetings, and adopting technological scheduling assistants, organizational cultural shifts are needed to stop this trend of busyness from collecting further momentum. Leaders can do this by role-modelling healthy work-life boundaries, encouraging staff to consider their own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of their colleagues, and by allowing real time for focus by eliminating non-essential practices and procedures.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
3 Ways To Find Your Power Time For Optimal Focus And Productivity
Shot of a handsome young businessman focusing during his power time while working at his desk in the ... More office In most of my conversations with professionals, one of the biggest challenges they face is staying focused on what truly matters. Despite having a 'perfectly planned' day, constant instant messages and interruptions pull them off track, leaving them frustrated and unfulfilled. By the end of the day, they often feel like they've accomplished nothing of real value—work begins to feel boring, repetitive, or even demotivating. That's where identifying your 'power time' can make all the difference. When you align your most meaningful, high-impact tasks with the times you naturally feel most focused and energized, you regain control over your day. Power time allows you to do more of the work you enjoy, get into flow, and ultimately achieve better results in less time. Your power time is that specific window of time during the day when you experience peak focus, clarity, and mental energy. This is when your cognitive abilities are at their best, and you can dive into high-stakes, challenging tasks without feeling drained or distracted. Understanding this window is essential because it allows you to prioritize your most demanding work during those moments, ensuring that your most important tasks get the attention they deserve. Everyone has a unique rhythm to their productivity, as I mentioned in my latest article What is the best time to work: Align tasks with your circadian rhythm. For some, the early morning hours are when they feel most energized and focused, as willpower tends to be at its peak at the beginning of the day. As the day progresses, willpower tends to diminish. Others may find that their creative spark ignites later in the day or even in the evening; it also depends on the type of work you do. The key to maximizing your productivity is recognizing when you naturally feel most alert, clear-headed, and capable of tackling complex tasks, and identifying what type of tasks you need to do at that time. Your power time should be reserved for the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of your results—the high-impact work that moves the needle according to the famous Pareto rule. These are often the activities that require the deepest focus and bring you the most fulfillment, such as strategizing, writing, designing, problem-solving, or making key decisions. They are typically more complex and cognitively demanding, but also the ones that allow you to experience a state of flow. By aligning these tasks with your power time, you not only improve the quality of your output but also increase the satisfaction you derive from your work. Think of it as your opportunity to do the work you do best—without distractions, meetings, or multitasking pulling you away. The process of discovering your power time involves experimenting with your schedule and being mindful of your energy levels. Experiment with tracking when you feel most focused and productive. When do you feel most creative? When can you solve complex problems with ease? By identifying when you're at your best, you can start aligning your most important tasks with that time. Once you've identified your power time, the next step is to create a routine that ensures you're using it effectively. Establishing a consistent routine trains both your body and mind to expect and support deep concentration at the same time each day or week. For example, try timeboxing two uninterrupted hours on your calendar daily. Make this time sacred by blocking it so that nobody can schedule meetings. Avoid checking emails or messages during this period so you can sustain a state of flow without distractions. Over time, you'll find it easier to dive into your work, and the regularity of your power time will make it a habit rather than a struggle. The key to unlocking your highest productivity is understanding your personal power time and structuring your day around it. By identifying when you are at your best and reserving that time for your most important work, you can make significant strides in your career, projects, and personal goals. Incorporating power time into your daily or weekly routine is one of the most effective strategies for achieving lasting success. It's time to find your power time and make it work for you.
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The Productivity Lie: Why Time Management Fails — and What Actually Works
You've color-coded your calendar and followed high performers' morning routines. You've also downloaded the latest apps to 'optimize' your time and read productivity books. You even blocked your day into... This story originally appeared on Calendar You've color-coded your calendar and followed high performers' morning routines. You've also downloaded the latest apps to 'optimize' your time and read productivity books. You even blocked your day into 15-minute intervals. And yet, despite all this, you still feel behind. The more plans you make, the more burned out you become. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. You've just been sold the wrong solution. I will tell you the hard truth: most time management advice fails. It's not that you lack discipline, but that the entire concept is based on a false premise — that time can be controlled. The thing is, you can't. Despite our best efforts, time moves forward regardless of how well we plan. But you can control where and how you focus your attention, manage your energy, and what matters most to you. In this post, let's uncover five powerful time-management strategies that actually work, based on real-world constraints rather than idealized routines. Why Time Management Feels Like a Scam The traditional productivity toolkit promises control by better scheduling, tighter planning, and harder work. Unfortunately, the message is always the same: You aren't succeeding because you don't have the right system yet. Life, however, cannot be programmed. Occasionally, an emergency occurs. You'll experience energy dips. Over time, your priorities will change. A rigid time management system ignores these variables. If reality disrupts your schedule, it can make you feel like you've failed. Not because you were doing anything wrong but trying to fit your life into a system built on unrealistic expectations. Even worse? It is common for time management systems to confuse activity with progress. Despite checking 20 things off your list, you are no closer to what really matters. After all, that's not productivity. That's busywork. Ultimately, the problem is not time. It's your misalignment of time, energy, attention, and goals. So what does real productivity look like? Well, let's find out. Shift #1: Manage Your Energy, Not the Clock We tend to force ourselves to work like machines most of the time. Like clockwork, we're expected to maintain a steady output between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You are not a machine. As a human being, you experience natural highs and lows throughout the day, which traditional time blocking does not account for. The solution? Rather than working around the arbitrary divisions of the clock, plan your workday according to your natural peaks and troughs by; Identify your peak performance windows. Take note of when you feel focused and energized most consistently. Reserve your prime hours for your most important, high-value work, which requires deep concentration and creative thinking. Take note of when you feel focused and energized most consistently. Reserve your prime hours for your most important, high-value work, which requires deep concentration and creative thinking. Strategically utilize low-energy periods. Be aware of your natural dips in energy. Instead of focusing on deep work during these times, use them for less demanding activities such as administrative work, email processing, routine communication, and breaks. Be aware of your natural dips in energy. Instead of focusing on deep work during these times, use them for less demanding activities such as administrative work, email processing, routine communication, and breaks. Prioritize real recovery. The purpose of breaks isn't just to scroll through social media passively or check emails halfheartedly. For a genuine recovery, they are crucial. If time allows, take a break from your work, go for a walk, stretch mindfully, or take a nap. Your energy reserves can be replenished to sustain your productivity. Aligning your tasks with your natural energy cycles will result in more meaningful work with less effort, even if you ultimately spend fewer hours 'working.' Shift #2: Ruthlessly Prioritize What Matters There is a tendency to treat every task on your list equally regarding time management. I disagree with that. Some tasks move the needle, but in most cases, they don't. In other words, being productive doesn't mean doing more. It's about focusing on what matters and letting go of everything else. The solution? Keep a sharp eye for prioritization, constantly assessing the value and necessity of any task you are considering. Try asking yourself these questions; What actions will lead to the greatest progress towards my goals? Choose those activities that will have the most significant impact on 'needle-moving.'. Choose those activities that will have the most significant impact on 'needle-moving.'. What tasks can only I do? Invest your time and energy in developing your unique skills and responsibilities. If a task can be handled effectively by others or is not essential, delegate it or eliminate it. Invest your time and energy in developing your unique skills and responsibilities. If a task can be handled effectively by others or is not essential, delegate it or eliminate it. Is there anything I can completely eliminate, automate using technology, or delegate so I can focus on higher-level activities? Don't be afraid to prune your commitments ruthlessly. The above can be accomplished using the 1-3-5 Rule. Every day, consciously identify and commit to completing; 1 big thing. The most important and high-impact task of the day. The most important and high-impact task of the day. 3 medium things. These tasks require focused effort but are not as critical as your 'big thing.' These tasks require focused effort but are not as critical as your 'big thing.' 5 small things. Tasks that are quick and don't require a lot of effort, but still need to be done. Using this simple framework, you can make conscious choices about what deserves your limited time and energy. After all, embracing constraint breeds clarity and compels you to focus on what is important. Shift #3: Build Resilient Systems, Not Rigid Schedules Often, schedules fall apart when life doesn't go according to plan. Instead of micromanaging every hour, build simple systems that help you stay grounded and intentional, no matter what comes your way. The solution? Instead of focusing on rigid schedules, consider the resilience of systems. Even when your day deviates from plan, systems ensure that the right things happen consistently. To optimize your productivity and overall well-being, you should set up the following systems: Implement a weekly review. Set aside a specific time every week to step back, review your progress, and realign your priorities. Set aside a specific time every week to step back, review your progress, and realign your priorities. Establish a morning focus ritual. At the beginning of the day, develop a routine that centers your intention, prepares your mind for focused work, and sets a positive tone. You can do this through mindful meditation, journaling, or reviewing your top priorities. At the beginning of the day, develop a routine that centers your intention, prepares your mind for focused work, and sets a positive tone. You can do this through mindful meditation, journaling, or reviewing your top priorities. Develop a consistent shutdown routine. Reviewing your accomplishments, planning for the following day, and mentally disconnecting from work at the end of the day will promote better sleep and a clearer transition from work to home life. Systems automate key processes and create habits that drive consistent progress. They reduce the constant need to make decisions, allowing daily life to be weathered on a stable foundation. Shift #4: Guard Your Attention Like a Fortress There is no resource more valuable than your attention. All the time, the world would be useless without it. However, you're constantly attacked by notifications, social media, emails, Slack, and other distractions. The solution? Attention is a non-renewable asset, so you must treat it accordingly. You can do this by implementing robust strategies to shield your attention from distracting factors; Declare notification bankruptcy. Be sure to turn off all unnecessary notifications on your phone, computer, and other devices. Even if you ignore every buzz and ping, the world won't end. Be sure to turn off all unnecessary notifications on your phone, computer, and other devices. Even if you ignore every buzz and ping, the world won't end. Batch your communication. Schedule specific, limited times throughout the day to check and respond to emails and messages. Also, do not obsessively monitor your inbox. Schedule specific, limited times throughout the day to check and respond to emails and messages. Also, do not obsessively monitor your inbox. Employ focus-enhancing tools. For example, use applications such as Freedom or Cold Turkey to block distracting websites and apps during your designated focus periods. For example, use applications such as Freedom or Cold Turkey to block distracting websites and apps during your designated focus periods. Work in focused sprints. Concentrate on 25—to 50-minute focus sessions followed by genuine breaks using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique. This will train your brain to maintain attention and minimize mental fatigue. In a world that competes for your attention, it's your most valuable asset. As such, guard it fiercely and intentionally. Shift #5: Redefine Success Daily The relentless pursuit of 'more' is one of the most insidious aspects of traditional productivity culture. There is seldom a sense of accomplishment. Despite being technically productive, this constant striving can cause a pervasive feeling of inadequacy. The solution? Be sure to include non-work accomplishments when defining a successful day for you. Be specific, realistic, and acknowledge progress in all aspects of your life. Here are some examples of daily success definitions; 'Write 500 meaningful words for my article.' 'Have a distraction-free dinner with my family.' 'Complete one challenging sales call with my full focus and presence.' As a result of this practice, you end each day feeling progress and satisfaction that transcends mere task completion. In the absence of fulfillment, productivity is hollow. What Truly Works: Building a Life Aligned with Your Values Let go of the endless pursuit of optimizing every minute. Instead, address the core of how you want to live by asking deeper, more meaningful questions; What is it that I truly desire more time for in my life? Is there something, someone, or some pursuit that truly fulfills you in life? Is there something, someone, or some pursuit that truly fulfills you in life? Is there anything I am currently engaged in that does not serve my well-being or goals? Allow yourself to let go of what no longer aligns with your values. Allow yourself to let go of what no longer aligns with your values. How would I like my days to feel and flow? Don't just think about your completed tasks, but your ideal daily experience. You should then reverse-engineer your life to reflect those answers. Perhaps this means intentionally working fewer hours to prioritize family time. Maybe it means stepping away from a draining project to make room for more meaningful work. Or, consider protecting your mornings for deep, creative work and your evenings for restful sleep. In traditional time management, you squeeze more into already full containers. To be truly productive, you need to curate the contents of that container with wisdom and intention — doing less, but better. Final Thought: Trade Control for Clarity By chasing control, traditional time management sells you confusion. Although you fill your day with well-planned tasks, you wonder what you accomplished by the end of the week. The better path? Don't try to control the clock. Instead, prioritize your energy, priorities, and values. Focus on what truly matters rather than trying to accomplish more. Ultimately, that's more than just productivity — doing what matters — it's progress with a purpose. When I begin to get tired of my usual productivity quest, I move to ruthlessly pruning my schedule and controlling my clarity. Sometimes it helps to switch things up. FAQs Why does traditional time management often fail? There are several key reasons why traditional time management fails; It treats time as a controllable, linear resource. Time is a constant, and how we perceive and experience it depends on numerous factors, including energy levels, our focus, and external demands. We cannot 'manage' time itself; we can only manage our actions. Time is a constant, and how we perceive and experience it depends on numerous factors, including energy levels, our focus, and external demands. We cannot 'manage' time itself; we can only manage our actions. Quantity is prioritized over quality. More often than not, the focus is on doing more in less time rather than on the work's impact and value. As a result, you may feel busy without really being productive. More often than not, the focus is on doing more in less time rather than on the work's impact and value. As a result, you may feel busy without really being productive. Many time management systems ignore the human element. They ignore the unpredictable nature of life, the ebb and flow of energy, and the importance of rest, connection, and reflection. Our bodies are not machines that can be optimized. the human element. They ignore the unpredictable nature of life, the ebb and flow of energy, and the importance of rest, connection, and reflection. Our bodies are not machines that can be optimized. Stress and anxiety can be increased by it. As we constantly strive to be more efficient and adhere to rigid schedules, we can feel guilt and failure when we deviate from them. It is also possible to become stressed out when trying to achieve perfect time management. As we constantly strive to be more efficient and adhere to rigid schedules, we can feel guilt and failure when we deviate from them. It is also possible to become stressed out when trying to achieve perfect time management. The focus is often on the wrong things. It's easy to spend way too much time organizing tasks that aren't important, and neglect the deeper work that really makes a difference. It's easy to spend way too much time organizing tasks that aren't important, and neglect the deeper work that really makes a difference. The underlying issues are not addressed. Time management techniques cannot solve the problem of low productivity resulting from unclear priorities, fear of failure, or perfectionism. What should we focus on if we can't 'manage' time instead? The most effective approach involves managing our attention, energy, and priorities instead of trying to control the uncontrollable. Specifically, this involves; Attention management. Engaging deeply with the task at hand by cultivating focus and minimizing distractions. The key here is to be present in the moment. Engaging deeply with the task at hand by cultivating focus and minimizing distractions. The key here is to be present in the moment. Energy management involves identifying your natural energy cycles and scheduling your most demanding tasks at those times. Rest and recovery must also be prioritized to avoid burnout. involves identifying your natural energy cycles and scheduling your most demanding tasks at those times. Rest and recovery must also be prioritized to avoid burnout. Priority management. This involves consciously deciding where to invest your limited resources. You should focus your time and energy on activities that align with your values and goals. What are some practical alternatives to strict time management techniques? These flexible, human-centered approaches are more suitable than rigid schedules and endless to-do lists; Time blocking with flexibility. Rather than a minute-by-minute schedule, break your day up into broader blocks of time, allowing for some flexibility. Rather than a minute-by-minute schedule, break your day up into broader blocks of time, allowing for some flexibility. Task prioritization based on impact and urgency. Focus on tasks that truly matter rather than just those that are urgent, using frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent/Important). Focus on tasks that truly matter rather than just those that are urgent, using frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent/Important). Mindfulness and presence. You will become more focused and feel less rushed by cultivating awareness of the present moment. You will become more focused and feel less rushed by cultivating awareness of the present moment. Regular review and reflection. Consider how you spend your time and energy, and adjust your approach accordingly. Consider how you spend your time and energy, and adjust your approach accordingly. Setting realistic expectations. Don't feel pressured to fulfill every commitment and learn to say 'no' to those not aligned with your priorities. Don't feel pressured to fulfill every commitment and learn to say 'no' to those not aligned with your priorities. Batching similar tasks. Grouping similar tasks together can reduce the mental load of switching between them and increase focus. Grouping similar tasks together can reduce the mental load of switching between them and increase focus. Focus on 'deep work.' By setting aside dedicated time for cognitively demanding tasks, one can achieve significantly higher-quality results. By setting aside dedicated time for cognitively demanding tasks, one can achieve significantly higher-quality results. Experimentation and iteration. Recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. You may need to adapt your strategies depending on your individual circumstances and needs. Is planning still important if strict time management isn't the answer? Yes, planning remains valuable. It is, however, more important to focus on intention rather than rigid control when approaching this issue. Rather than creating overly detailed schedules, consider; Setting broad intentions for the day or week. Make a list of the key outcomes you wish to achieve. Make a list of the key outcomes you wish to achieve. Breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps makes them easier to begin and less intimidating. makes them easier to begin and less intimidating. Prioritizing your 'Top 3' for the day. Identify the most important tasks that will move you toward your goals. Identify the most important tasks that will move you toward your goals. Allowing for buffer time. Be flexible in your planning to account for unforeseen events or tasks that take longer than expected. Be flexible in your planning to account for unforeseen events or tasks that take longer than expected. Reviewing and adjusting your plan regularly. Don't be afraid to adjust your plan as your energy levels, priorities, and unforeseen events change. Image Credit: Anna Tarazevich; Pexels The post The Productivity Lie: Why Time Management Fails — and What Actually Works appeared first on Calendar.
