Key takeaways from our focus webinar with Sir JK and Dr Fiona
In this insightful webinar, How to Focus When Life is Loud, Sir John Kirwan and Dr Fiona Crichton explored the topic of focus and how to remain productive in an increasingly distracting environment. Here are some of the highlights from their candid conversation.
Focus isn’t just about concentrating on work; it’s about being present in the moment, whether at work, home, or during personal time. Ask yourself, “What do I need to focus on?” and “When do I need to apply it?”
Distractions aren’t inherently bad. You need periods of engagement (high focus) and disengagement (breaks from focus) to sustain performance throughout the day. You can't sustain high performance without regular breaks.
With the constant influx of information through social media, news, and other platforms, it’s crucial to decide what noise is valuable to you, and what is simply causing stress. Be intentional about what you consume.
Focus should not be limited to work. It’s equally important to focus on family, health, and mental wellbeing. Compartmentalise your day to give dedicated attention to different aspects of your life.
Viewing focus as an investment in your time can be life-changing. By minimising distractions and maximising quality engagement, you create more time for meaningful work and relationships.
Dr Fiona’s FOCUS acronym offers a structured approach to maintaining focus in daily life.
Foster an increased attention span by gradually increasing focused time (like reading for 10 minutes per day for one week, then extending to 15 the next).
Observe the distractions in your day. Do they help or hinder? Understand which distractions are necessary and which derail focus.
Concentrate for set periods, then break to recharge.
Use headphones to cut distractions, especially in open-plan offices. This helps to signal to others that you’re in focus mode.
Silence the noise you don't need, whether it’s digital or otherwise, to regain control of your day.
You can watch the full replay of this webinar here.