Focus – it’s the thing we crave most when we’re building our business and yet it’s the hardest thing to find. Between the school run, the never-ending notifications, the Instagram scroll hole, and the seventeen tabs open on your laptop, it’s a miracle any of us get anything done at all.
But you NEED focused time to move your business forward. So how do you actually get it? Here are 8 tips that genuinely work.
1. Stop Multi-Tasking
I know, I know – we women pride ourselves on multi-tasking. But the truth is, we’re usually just doing several things badly at once. Give ONE thing your full attention for even 15-20 minutes and you’ll be amazed how much more you get done. Close the other tabs. Put your phone face down. Focus on one task at a time.
2. Batch The Quick Wins
Half the reason you can’t focus is because you’ve got a million little things rattling around your brain. Write them ALL down – every tiny task that would take less than 10 minutes. Then batch them together and blast through the lot in one go. Reply to those DMs, send that invoice, schedule that Instagram post in Later, update your bio. Done. Now your brain is clear for the bigger stuff.
3. Stay In The Now
Stop worrying about what happened last week or what might happen next month. You can’t change the past and you can’t control the future, so make the most of right now. If you catch yourself spiralling, take a breath and bring yourself back to the task in front of you.
4. Respond, Don’t React
Just because someone sends you a message doesn’t mean you have to drop everything and reply instantly. Turn off notifications during your focus time. Check emails and DMs at set times – maybe 9am, 12pm, and 4pm. It’s perfectly OK to sit on a message for a few hours while you get your important work done. The world will not end, I promise.
5. Declutter Your Workspace
It’s really hard to think clearly when you’re surrounded by chaos. Piles of paper, empty coffee cups, random cables, a child’s sock (how did that get there?) – clear it all away. A tidy workspace genuinely helps you focus better. Even just spending 10 minutes sorting your desk before you start work can make a huge difference.
6. Use A Timer
The Pomodoro Technique is a game-changer. Set a timer for 25 minutes, work on ONE thing with zero distractions, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat. There are loads of free apps for this – try Focus Keeper or just use the timer on your phone. Something about having a ticking clock makes you incredibly productive.
7. Know Your Golden Hours
When are you at your sharpest? For me it’s first thing in the morning. For you it might be late at night when the kids are in bed. Whatever your golden hours are, protect them fiercely. Don’t waste them on admin or scrolling – use them for the work that actually moves your business forward. Content creation, strategy, sales conversations – the big stuff.
8. Love What You Do
If you constantly struggle to focus on your business, ask yourself honestly – do you still love what you’re doing? If the passion has gone, no productivity hack in the world will fix that. This is YOUR business. You get to design it however you want. Change the bits that drain you, outsource the stuff you hate, and get back to doing the thing that made you start this in the first place.
Focus isn’t about willpower – it’s about creating the right conditions for your brain to do its best work. Try even one or two of these tips and see what happens. You might surprise yourself!