FINDING FOCUS | MULTI-PASSIONATE CREATIVE | PRODUCTIVITY

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When it comes to learning how to focus as a multi-passionate creative, there tends to be some struggle involved. I know this because I’ve polled several multi-passionate creatives and I’m a multi-passionate creative myself. So, I know what it’s like to doubt your ability to stay focused long enough to see one project through. Let alone figure out how to integrate various passions into your business.

Multi-passionate creatives often feel like focus is something that’s just outside of our grasp, or that everyone else is great at it except us.

Don’t even get me started on daily time management!

 3-Part Focus Framework

Understanding these 3 different styles of focus does a couple of things:

1. It helps you begin to look at focus as a tool that you can use rather than an abstract concept.
   
2. It gives you the freedom to choose how you’re going to focus, based on your energy levels at the time.

In this post, I’ll outline each type of focus so that you can begin to experiment with them. 

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1. Intensive focus

Intensive focus is time you set aside to look at big-picture goals. This is the kind of focus you’ll need when setting intentions for what you want to create in the next 90-days. Or if you have an idea that feels overwhelming and needs to be broken down into multiple steps.

Tips for mastering Intensive Focus: 

• Make space in your schedule for several hours of uninterrupted time. This could mean spending a weekend afternoon or waking up early before your kids so that you can focus without interruptions.
• Set yourself up for success. Have all the materials you’ll need ready to go. Grab your colorful pins, post-its, and whatever calendar system you plan to use.
• If your planning to use this time to do something like work through the exercises in my free Finding Focus Workbook, make sure you have it printed out in advance.
• Place everything you’re going to need for the next few hours around you, like water and even a few snacks.
• You want to be able to get into a flow during this time, so the less breaks you have to take, the better!

When I use Intensive Focus to set a 90-day focus goal, I reach for my 90-day Focus Planner. It has monthly, weekly, and daily calendars that I can print as needed (or type on digitally on my iPad). The planner also includes worksheets to support with monthly check-ins and reminders to celebrate wins. Shop my 90-day Focus Planner HERE. 

Another tip for mastering Intensive Focus is to make it a ritual. Put on a chill playlist, light a candle, and set the tone for this focus session. You may even want to invite a few crystals to join you during this time.

Plan to schedule a time for Intensive Focus at the beginning of each month, or the beginning of each week if you feel you need this type of focus more often.

Use this stretch of time to check-in on your progress, look at the big picture, plan the next phase of your project, and anything else that fits into that sort of high-level view of your work. During Intensive Focus time you can also take note of what’s working and what needs to be adjusted.

2. Active Focus

The next type of focus we’re going to cover is Active Focus. This type of focus is essential for “getting the job done.”

Active focus requires shorter, more intense bursts of energy.

This is the type of focus you’re using when you’re writing the blog posts, creating marketing emails, and scheduling content to go on your socials. During this time you may also be creating artwork in your studio, updating your website copy, editing photos, or sending follow-up emails.

Whatever it is that equates “getting in done” in your business, Active focus is the type of focus you’ll need to lean on.

Tips for mastering active focus:

• Distractions are the enemy of active focus. Having a plan to eliminate distractions in advance will be key to your success.
• If distraction is the enemy of active focus, breaks are its bestie. Using a tool like tomato-timer will help you remember to work uninterrupted spurts of 25 minutes, followed by a 5 or 10-minute break. 
• Again, the key here is no distractions! That break you have coming once the timer buzzes is time you can use to stretch use the bathroom, or (let’s be real) scroll Instagram for a bit. But until then- it’s you, your work, and your Active Focus.
• Having a checklist to mark off each element of the task you’re working on while in active focus mode can be a great motivator to keep you on track.

3. Passive Focus

This last type of focus to master as multi-passionate creative might be my favorite.

Passive Focus is the silent underdog of Intensive Focus and Active Focus. 

This is the kind of focus that keeps you moving towards your goals even when you can barely adult. It’s the background music that gets the song of your dreams stuck in your head so that you don’t put them aside for too long.

On days when you’re energy is low, or you feel yourself edging towards burnout, use Passive Focus to continue making progress, passively. 

This can be done by listening to a podcast about the topic you’re working on, attending a webinar, or recording voice memos about ideas that pop into your head while you’re relaxing (funny how that always happens right?).

Tips for Mastering Passive Focus

The key to mastering passive focus is to not feel guilty about it. 

Sometimes you need a break. All you can do is press play on a podcast or listen to a chapter in your audiobook, but guess what? That counts too! It all adds to your ability to begin embracing focus as a multi-passionate creative.

Let’s Recap

let’s look at the process of publishing the blog post you’re reading now as it relates to the three types of focus:

Intense Focus: 

• Blocking out an entire afternoon off on my calendar to think about what thoughts I have to share when it comes to focusing as a multi-passionate.
• Grabbing a blanket, notebook, markers, and snacks, and heading out to the park where I can sit under the open sky to encourage big picture thinkings.
• Using my markers and paper to begin writing down ideas. Organizing them if that feels aligned.

  Passive focus: 

• Recording voice memos about what to include in the blog post based on my notes.
• Listening to a podcast about focus/productivity during my downtime to keep the topic at top of mind.

Active focus: 

• Grabbing a cup of coffee, sitting at my desk, turning on the tomato-timer, and writing the blog post.

PIN THIS TO GO BACK TO LATER:

Now that you know the three types of focus to master as a multi-passionate creative, you can stop feeling like focus is something out of your comfort zone, and begin to see focus as the powerful tool that it is.

Before you go, be sure to check out these additional resources!

RELATED POSTS:

The 3 Types of Focus Every Multi-Passionate Needs to Master

8 Spotify Playlists Every Creative Needs for Increased Focus

5 Things to Try When You’re in a Creative Rut

For more content, along with mentorship and community, be sure to check out the Joi Knows How Collective, an online community for multi-passionate creatives and multi-passionate entrepreneurs. Learn more here.