Why It’s Important to Determine Your Core Focus

You need to focus on the core components of your life if you want to be happier and more successful. 

The ability to focus on the core components of your life is crucial for success and well-being. But first you have to know what they are. Look at your goals, think about your long-term plans in each part of your life. As a starting point; think about what you’d really like to accomplish or what’s important over the next three months. You can re-evaluate periodically as plans and priorities change.

Consider all the relevant areas of your life and work:

• Self – mental, emotional & physical health – include personal growth and creativity
• Relationships – marriage, children, family, friends
• Spirituality – however you define it
• Community – local or global contribution
• Home – purchase or maintenance and improvement
• Career – job, business, education
• Finances – income, investments, debt, retirement, etc.

To illustrate this, I am willing to share my personal and professional third quarter core list as an example:

Mental & physical health – Where do I start? Focus on being consistent with my exercise, eating to maximize my energy and taking time out to decompress.

Family – Focus on reinforcing relationships with my children – especially the ones out of the house and increase one-on-one time with my husband. Grandson gets top billing…no matter what.

Career – Focus on developing business ideas, expanding my writing and building my reputation.

Finances – Focus on financial planning for the future and being disciplined about savings.

Friends – Focus on expanding and strengthening network of support , both in-person and virtually.

Keep in mind that everyone’s list will be different and will vary depending on the life and work situation. My list will be different in 6 months and was certainly different last year. Also, many business owners create a separate list for their business as an entity in addition to their personal list.

Once you have this list save it, print it or write it on an index card, tape it to your desk, hang it on the wall, whatever you need to have a constant reminder. Use this list as the basis for setting goals, determining weekly and daily priorities and selecting which projects and activities make the cut.