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Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 2

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 2

by Linda-Ann Stewart

In part 1, we examined what the state of flow is and how it’s beneficial to your life. The more often you enter the flow state, the more you train your brain to enter it at will. This means that you’ll be able to induce it when you need to work on a project, or complete a task. It also means that your days will have less stress, even if there are setbacks. The Universe has more access to guide and inspire you.

Here are 9 ways to build focus and train yourself to get into the state of flow:

  1. Crafting or hobbies. Knitting, jewelry making, woodworking, or any craft or hobby will allow you to slip into the state of flow.
  2. Meditation. This practice strengthens the ability to focus, and promotes a sense of calm.  
  3. Affirmations or self-talk. By giving yourself positive reinforcement, you’re able to reduce anxiety and promote motivation.
  4. Relaxation practice. When you relax your body, your mind lets go as well, which allows it to enter the state of flow.
  5. Visualization. Imagining each part of your day going smoothly gives your subconscious mind the direction to begin to work out solutions to problems ahead of time.
  6. Mindfulness. Objectively paying attention to your breathing, scanning your body, being aware of your thoughts and emotions, and not judging them, helps you to be in the moment.
  7. Music. Listening to music, without words, engages the part of your mind that opens to flow.
  8. Reading. Just 10 minutes of reading can lower your heart rate, stress and boost relaxation.
  9. Exercise. A work out, even just walking, releases brain chemicals that counter depression and boosts mood.

Focus, and the state of flow, changes the brain, creating new pathways that improve your attitude and resilience. The more at ease and peaceful you are, the easier it is for you to handle bumps in life. As you enjoy the state of flow more, your life can also flow more smoothly. You’ll be more in tune with Universal Good. Just as water flows around obstacles and rocks, so will you.

Affirmation:

I dedicate myself to practicing the state of flow. Each time I slip into the state of focused awareness, I’m training myself to repeat it whenever I want. When I experience this state more often, my life flows more smoothly. I have all that I need to successfully handle any situation or circumstance that arises. I am more easily guided and directed by Universal Mind.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Break the Stress Cycle of Multitasking

Break the Stress Cycle of Multitasking

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Overwhelmed by multitasking
Stressed businessman

Recently, I was working on 3 separate projects with deadlines, answering emails, making phone calls, had some unexpected interruptions that had to be handled, and had 2 clients. By the end of the day, I had a throbbing headache, was exhausted, and had forgotten to pay an important bill. That’s the unfortunate result of multitasking.

Back in the late 1990’s, when smartphones came into being, it was believed that they’d allow us to get more done. We were told we could juggle a lot of different tasks at the same time, and get them all done more efficiently. The truth is far different. Not only does productivity suffer from multitasking, but the activity is a major cause of stress.

The Problem With Multitasking

Multitasking isn’t really doing several things at once. The brain can’t focus on more than one thing at a time. You’re actually quickly switching between one task and another. These mental acrobatics increase the stress hormones in your body, while depleting the glucose in your brain. The result is that multitasking clogs your mental pathways, causes stress, tight muscles, fuzzy thinking and exhaustion. Your mind just can’t juggle multiple tasks, and your health, progress and effectiveness suffers.

It’s like being a hamster on a wheel. Although you believe that you’re getting things done, you’re running in place, never getting anywhere. You use up an incredible amount of energy refocusing your attention from composing an email to talking on the phone to answering a question. Something is going to fall through the cracks, like sending the email to the wrong person.

Multitasking Creates Stress

When you’re multitasking, you’re always in emergency mode. You’re braced for the next crisis, even if it’s just the phone ringing. In this state, you’re just reacting to events. Since you don’t have the mental resources to consider new responses, you fall back into old patterns and innovation evaporates.  

Because you’re always expecting the next predicament, you find it. “Where attention flows, energy goes.” Your subconscious seeks to provide what you’re focused on, which is stress and crises. The Law of Attraction will draw more problems for you to deal with, as that’s where your attention lies. And your subconscious will ensure you remain stressed and continue to multitask, because you think that’s the solution. It’s a vicious cycle.

If you’re trying to move forward in any part of your life, multitasking and the stress it causes will prevent this. Your brain has engaged all its resources to handle what’s immediate. Even the best juggler can only keep so many balls in the air. And he can’t do much of anything else when he’s at his maximum capacity. All his attention has to be on those balls.

How to Break the Cycle of Multitasking

The solution is to free up some of your attention to be able to make progress and changes. The only way to move forward and start taking back control of your life is to break the habit of multitasking. It won’t be easy, because first you have to accept that it’s not beneficial. Then start by focusing on doing one thing at a time. Set aside an hour or two each day to put all your attention on one project. Turn off any technology that could interrupt you.

Occasionally, you’ll have to multitask. Modern life demands it. But you must minimize it to reduce your stress, and improve your health, progress and personal growth. When you find yourself being overwhelmed by multitasking, take a step back and breathe. Break the cycle.

Once you’ve reduced your stress, you’ll have more creativity and resources to make positive changes in your life. When you communicate your desires to your subconscious and the Law of Attraction, they’ll be clearer and more concentrated. You’ll be able to think things through and be more decisive. By being more focused, you’ll begin making progress on your desires, and in your personal and professional lives.

Affirmation:

I now begin to focus on one thing at a time. This frees my mind to be creative and resourceful. My subconscious and the Law of Attraction receive clear guidance from me about my desires. Because of the energy I’ve released, they now put it to work manifesting my goals. The Universe provides me with all I need for a happy and healthy life.

Watch the accompanying video, Reduce the Stress of Multitasking.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

As a nature photographer, when I compose a photograph, I’m so focused that I’m immune to cold or heat. The same absorption is true when I’m weaving. When I enjoy these hobbies, my mind gets totally involved with them. Time ceases to have meaning and hours can fly by without my noticing. This is called the flow state or, in sports, the zone.

What Is the Flow State?

When the brain is in a flow state you’re intensely focused and only aware of the present moment and activity. It feels almost trance-like and is quite peaceful. In this state, you have a clearer channel to the Universe and are more open to Its good. This generally happens when you’re doing something where you feel interested, and engaged. It’s best if the activity isn’t so challenging that it frustrates or disheartens you.

Although, there have been times when I was struggling with a weaving issue (a pattern wasn’t working), I was still completely enthralled and time got away from me. After a few periods of immersing myself in the issue, I would solve the problem.

However, if the activity is too easy and you’re bored, then your mind starts wandering and you drop out of the flow. This is when you start impeding the stream of Universal good. If you’re working on anything that needs attention, you often start making mistakes and having difficulties. So getting in the state of flow is the sweet spot for a more peaceful and harmonious life.

Why the Flow State Is Beneficial

The benefit to being focused and in the flow is that your productivity, performance, creativity, self-esteem and well being increases, while your stress and anxiety decreases. It even improves your ability to think more positively and be happier. The more often you achieve this sense of focus and flow, the more you build inner resources to handle the challenges of life. These are advantages for work, recreation, and a better quality of life.

Unfortunately, our current habits of being distracted by multitasking, cell phone notifications, and scrolling through social media have undermined our ability to focus and to be in the state of flow. The good news is that you can develop the skill of focus and induce a state of flow that you can then use in all areas of your life.

In Part 2 next month, I’ll share some ways you can cultivate stronger focus and create a sense of flow that you can expand into other areas of your life.

Affirmation:

I’m choosing to be focused and present in my life. I narrow my attention to my current activity and set aside all distractions. This allows me to be calmer, more creative and more productive. As I enter the state of flow, I open a channel to Universal good, which streams through me, to me and into all areas of my life.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Podcast Interview – Thrive Through Greater Self-Worth

Podcast Interview – Thrive Through Greater Self-Worth

Emmalou Penrod M.A., of Healing Your Families, and I were introduced by a mutual acquaintance. In our initial conversation, we realized we had something in common. We both had been trained to use hypnosis to improve people’s lives! She’s a retired schoolteacher, and now coaches families to have more peaceful homes. She’s a parenting and family strengthening expert, and brings her knowledge of counseling to help heal families.

As we talked, we had such a connection that she invited me to be interviewed on her podcast at WinWinWomen.tv. Although family issues aren’t my professional area of expertise, one topic that affects everyone is self-worth. My specialties as a hypnotherapist were stress management, success programming and self-esteem/self-worth issues. Since Emmalou and I agreed that having better self-worth made better parents, we decided that would be a great topic to cover.

In the interview, we began by talking about how I became a focus coach for women small business owners. I explained that women tend to be scattered because of all their responsibilities. It’s difficult for them to focus for any length of time on any one thing. But focus is necessary to accomplish anything.

Then Emmalou asked about the opposite of focus, “What do you think of multitasking?”

“Multitasking” is a myth,” I answered, and explained why. She said she’d heard it described as “a lie,” which is also true. Multitasking keeps your brain fractured between all the different tasks. It breaks your train of thought, so you can’t build up momentum on any project or task.

This led into discussing the difference between self-esteem and self-worth. Self-esteem can be impacted by outside variables and self-worth is more internal and fundamental. And both are impacted by having a strong inner critic. Emmalou liked my perspective on the inner critic not being a bad guy, but fulfilling a role that a person has outgrown.

Emmalou asked how a person could improve their self-worth. I answered that being kinder to oneself and being mindful helped to support and build self-worth. At the end of the conversation, I shared three simple steps on how to be kinder to yourself.

Because of Emmalou’s background, expertise and knowledge, I loved talking with her about this subject. I could have gone on for hours, but we had to fit into the podcast’s time frame. But I have articles on this topic here and on my website to help you reclaim your worth. And Emmalou has articles on her blog to help you become a better person, and thus, a better parent.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Podcast Interview – Improve Your Focus

Podcast Interview – Improve Your Focus

I had a lovely conversation with Marybeth Welty of Sustainable Lifestyle Solutions on how to Improve Your Focus and Overcome Shiny Object Syndrome. As an interior designer, she helps create calm and inspiring home and office spaces. In addition to her design work, she also teaches mindfulness and leads guided meditations, both of which are dear to my heart. Her mission is to encourage healthy minds and healthy homes.

In my work with clients, I empower women to be present and aware of their choices and decisions, which comes from being mindful. As we talked about what I do, we discussed how her mindfulness training and my work intersect. It’s so important to think things through and discover new solutions from a point of peace.

In our conversation, we covered what can cause the Shiny Object Syndrome and the problems that result from it. For one thing, it creates stress, which means you can’t think clearly. In a way, multitasking is a part of the syndrome. We agreed that any benefits from multitasking are a myth. Not only do you not finish anything, but you end the day feeling exhausted. Getting distracted by Shiny Objects is a symptom that something is amiss in your business.

We talked about how focus is a skill that you can develop. Mindfulness helps to cultivate focus. And as we discussed the Shiny Object Syndrome, Marybeth was surprised that allowing yourself to get distracted means you’re training your brain to seek more distractions. Distractions and paying attention to something new lights up the reward circuit in your brain. Since it feels good, you pursue more distractions. But it ultimately sabotages you, since nothing gets accomplished.

We exchanged stories about our own difficulties with staying focused. At the end, I shared 5 steps to overcome the Shiny Object Syndrome, with first being to take some deep breaths to calm down your nervous system so you can think clearly. Once you’ve done that, only then you can seek some clarity and get focused.

Marybeth is a calming and tranquil presence. I really enjoyed spending time with her and be able to chat about subjects that are near and dear to both of us.

Focus, the Power Behind Success

Focus, the Power Behind Success

by Linda-Ann Stewart

"Your ability to focus is the most important success skill you can ever develop." Brian Tracy

“Your ability to focus is the most important success skill you can ever develop.” Brian Tracy

In today’s world, it’s hard to stay focused. It seems that every minute, there’s something to divert your attention. You probably check your email several times a day. Every time there’s a notification from your phone, you have to see what it is. That’s in addition to interruptions from co-workers, family and friends. After a distraction, studies show it takes at least fifteen to twenty minutes to get focused again.

Also, your mind can focus on only one thing at a time. Each time you shift your attention from one thing to another, you’re “task switching” and it burns up extra mental energy. When the entire day is filled with these intrusions, you end the day feeling drained and exhausted, with very little to show for it.

Benefits of Focus

However, when you’re more focused, you feel more in charge of your world, get in the flow and get more done. You also have less stress and overwhelm, because your mind has one thing to do at a time. In addition, you have more clarity, so you make better decisions, as well as being more efficient, effective, and productive.  

Therefore, to achieve your goals and dreams, your ability to focus is vital. Fortunately, it’s a skill that you can cultivate and develop. The more you focus, the more you’re able to focus. It’s just like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

How to Create the Habit of Focus

You can’t be focused all the time, because the unexpected does happen on occasion. But you can set aside time each day to pay attention to your most important tasks. Schedule time into your day to focus on important projects. Here are some ways you can get started and cultivate your ability to focus.

Motivate yourself to focus. Decide how having increased focus benefits you, and remind yourself of that incentive when you set aside time for it. As you build your motivation, and act on it, focusing becomes a habit. Jim Rohn said, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Once you establish the habit of focusing, your mind will automatically know what to do when you want to do it.

Use visualization. Choose one task that will move you towards your vision or goal. What is it you want to focus on and achieve in this period? Before you get to work on it, take a couple of minutes to visualize yourself performing your task and accomplishing what you want. This increases your motivation, and primes your subconscious to start solving any issues you might encounter. You’re rehearsing your actions, which then makes them easier to execute.

Eliminate distractions. Find a way to minimize the effects of whatever can intrude on your focus time. For instance, research shows that if your phone is in the same room as you’re in, your mind is always tuned to it. Even turning your phone off doesn’t work. Therefore, put your phone in another room, where you can’t see it or hear it. Turn off your email. Close your door.

Minimize multi-tasking. Constant multi-tasking trains your mind to hinder your focus. However, you don’t have to completely avoid multi-tasking. When you’re performing automatic behaviors, such as doing dishes, watching television doesn’t drain you. Or you can pay bills and listen to a podcast. But when you do activities that need you to think, multi-tasking uses up mental bandwidth and exhausts your energy. Your mind is always seeking something new, and when you multi-task, you jump from one attention getting novelty to another. Multi-tasking triggers the reward centers of the brain, therefore gives you an incentive to repeat the process, which makes multi-tasking addictive.

Strengthen your focus muscle. Set aside time to focus on one task without distractions. Start off with as much time as you can before you need a break. You may need to begin with only ten or fifteen minutes. Each week, increase the time. Aim to have a sixty to ninety-minute stretch of focusing on one topic or chore before you take a break. When you take your break, do something that rests your mind for several minutes, such as going for a walk, getting a drink, or something to eat. This gives your mind time to replenish its energy and get ready for your next work period.

Being able to focus is an inherent talent that we all have. But it’s not an skill that is exercised much, so most people have gotten out of practice with it. With the above tactics, you can cultivate your natural ability, strengthen it, and develop it into a habit that will support your success.

Affirmation:
I have a natural ability to focus and pay attention to what’s important to me. It’s a skill that I can develop and grow through practice. The Universe flows Its energy through my focus, supporting my endeavors and smoothing my path to maximize success.

Watch the accompanying video, Guided Meditation to Focus and Accomplish More.

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How to Take Back Control When Stress Overwhelms You

How to Take Back Control When Stress Overwhelms You

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Stress and Overwhelm

Life can sometimes unexpectedly speed up and come at you fast. Suddenly, you have a cluster of challenging events to deal with. It could be a major health issue with the upheaval of all the medical appointments to schedule around. Or it could be several expensive home repairs at an inconvenient time (is there ever a convenient time for expensive repairs?). Or you may be trying to juggle extra work with family demands.

Any kind of turmoil like this can cause stress and feelings of overwhelm. You feel like life has spun out of control and you have no stability. Your mind narrows its focus and you start reacting from old habits that may not be helpful in the present situation. This also creates static with your connection to the Universe. It makes it harder to access your intuition and Divine Guidance. With your attention focused on immediate concerns, you can’t notice potential solutions.

Take Back Control

While it’s important to have your vision in mind, in times of overwhelm, your vision can be beyond your ability to consider. You have to find some equilibrium first. To get back into balance, there are some things to do, and not do.

Don’t multi-task. This just makes the situation worse. When you multi-task, you’re quickly switching your attention from one task to another, and that increases the stress hormones. You may feel like you’re being productive, but you don’t accomplish much, which just increases your feelings of frustration.

Slow down. Give yourself time to think and assess the situation. Ask yourself, “What are my options?” This allows you to stop reacting and being impulsive, and instead encourages you to make better choices and decisions. 

Focus on one thing at a time. You’ll be able to reclaim a sense of control. Wash the dishes. Do the laundry. Make that call you’ve been procrastinating. Once you’ve done one task, move on to the next. Stay mindful about what you want to accomplish and take it one tiny step at a time.

It’s all about being mindful, and creating an island of calm in the present, while re-establishing your connection to the Universe. Once you’ve taken charge and lowered your stress level, your mind can think more clearly. You won’t feel as pressured and can open your mind to handle a bit more. By re-establishing a sense of stability, you’ll have more resources at your disposal and be able to expand your horizons once again.

Affirmation:

I’m always connected with the Universe, and being guided and directed. When life gets hectic, I quiet my mind, slow down and assess what my best option might be. I focus on my next step, allowing my mind to become organized and clear. Peace and serenity flow through me and all things work out in the best way possible for my highest good.

Watch the accompanying video, 3 Steps to Being More Focused and Effective.

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Be Mindful of Your Vision

Be Mindful of Your Vision

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Being mindful and having a vision may seem contradictory. Your vision is all about the future, where you’re going and your destination. Mindfulness teaches you to stay in the present moment, without concern about the past or future. It sounds like vision and mindfulness are in opposition, doesn’t it? But they actually have a lot in common to help you be successful and achieve your goals in life.

For instance, your vision, although you keep it in view, necessitates you to have a plan and take steps to reach your destination. With your vision, the Law of Attraction knows what to draw to you. Mindfulness involves being intentional, focusing on one task at a time. Once you’ve completed that item, you focus on the next goal. In this way, you stay on course to your objective. Being mindful also opens a clearer channel to the Universe.

Vision and Mindfulness Are Complementary

That’s where vision and mindfulness intersect. When you’re mindful about your vision, you focus on one step at a time, accomplishing it, then moving onto the next one. Each action builds on the one before and puts you in flow with the Universe. You know where you’re going (your vision), but your attention is on your current activity (mindfulness). By mindfully working through your plan, you’ll reach your vision with the Universe supporting your endeavors.

Being mindful of your vision can be challenging, as life is full of pitfalls and distractions. Only by navigating through challenges, and staying intentional and focused, can you be successful. Here are some suggestions to help you stay mindful and focused on your path, so you don’t get lost in the weeds. This makes it easier for the Law of Attraction to know what it is you want.

Execute your plan. You can’t just develop a plan and then ignore it. To stay on course, create mini-steps so you take one each day. With a plan, the Law of Attraction knows what to provide you to fulfill your goals. The habit of taking action will propel you along so that you then take bigger and bigger steps.

Be present. It’s easy to get lost in the future of what could be, or the past of what could have been. Instead of trying to leap forward, or berating yourself for what you didn’t do, ask yourself, “What can I do right now?” Pay attention to what you can control now. Those actions add up.

Don’t multitask. This is the very opposite of being mindful. You’re trying to do several things at one time, and this results in not doing any of them well. It gives you a false sense of accomplishment, but when you look back, you realize you haven’t really made any progress. Multitasking dilutes your energy and confuses the Law of Attraction. Take one task, complete it, and only then move on to the next.

Take a mental step back. When faced with the temptation to detour, stop and think about it. Be present with what’s going on. Why are you being distracted? Are you bored or uncertain about your next step? Mentally think it through and decide if that distraction or procrastination is worth taking the detour.

Talk yourself through temptation. If you aren’t paying attention to what you want in the moment, your environment is going to grab your attention. This is when distractions and interruptions pull you off course. After you’ve decided you don’t want to take that detour, keep yourself on course by being your own cheerleader. Tell yourself something like, “Stay the course,” “One thing at a time,” “I’ll take care of that detail later.”

Shift your attention to the positive. Sometimes your mental meandering will take you into the undesirable realm of negative thoughts. You doubt yourself, get upset at something not going your way, or become frustrated at not making progress as fast as you’d like. This blocks the flow of Universal energy. Again, take a step back and ask yourself, “Is it worth it to dwell on these ideas?” “Will this move me forward?” or “How much will this matter in a month?” Then shift your attention to something beneficial and productive. Acknowledge something that you’ve accomplished to change your energy.

In the best of times, mindfulness and vision complement each other. They make each other stronger and improve your success in every area of your life. Mindfulness connects you with the Universal flow and your vision gives the Law of Attraction instruction. As you keep your vision in view, and practice being mindful in your daily life, you’ll make the progress you seek.

Affirmation

The Universe wants the best for me. I develop a vision of what I want, and Universal energy and the Law of Attraction help me to fulfill it. As I am mindful about my steps, I remain on course, and stay in the flow of the Universe.

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Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

10 Ways to Be More Mindful at Work

Mindfulness can be difficult in the middle of the hustle and bustle of life. Time is always at a premium. But you don’t need to meditate every day to experience the benefits of mindfulness at work. Here are a few ways you can inject mindful moments into your day so you can de-stress and do your best.

5 Reasons that Daily Brain Breaks Are Important

Daily brain breaks are key for mental and emotional health. Giving your mind a rest throughout the day allows it to recharge, stay focused and positive. Included with the reasons you need to give your mind a break during the day are ways to do so.

How to Disarm Internal Triggers of Distractions

Everyone has uncomfortable emotions or undesirable habits they want to change. Fortunately, you can develop new methods to cope with those issues and improve your life. Use this 4-step method to handle unwanted thoughts that can derail your focus.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

9 Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Live Your Dream Life

Mindset is at the core of every success and blocks that you might have. It affects how you perceive the world and whether you feel capable of overcoming obstacles. You believe what you tell yourself and then act on those beliefs. To align your beliefs with your desired outcomes, use these strategies to shift your attitudes.

8 Strategies to Manage Overwhelming Feelings

When you feel overwhelmed, your mind shuts down and you can feel paralyzed. So you deal with what’s immediate, or escape to watch cat videos. Instead, use tactics such as taking a walk, breathing or gratitude. If those don’t work, try these tips to keep calm and carry on.

9 Signs You’re Dealing With an Emotional Manipulator

Emotional manipulators defy logic. They derive satisfaction from controlling you and creating chaos. They can cause you to doubt yourself and destroy your self-esteem. But you can learn how to spot them. When you do, trust yourself and stay away from them. They don’t want to be a positive force in your life.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart