by Larry Leech @LarryJLeechII

Focus can be one of the most … Did you just see that? That gray BMW almost rear-ended the car in the drive thru at Starbucks. That would have been a heckuva way to start the day.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

Sometimes that one word can be as elusive as a running back slipping through a hole en route to a long touchdown run.

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Oh, yea. Football season is coming up. I’m rooting for the Forty-Niners. Well, they are my favorite team, although I grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pa. area.

Back to focus. For as long as my mind can stay on topic. For the moment, that’s writing this blog. Limiting distractions as a freelancer is something I had to learn when I left the corporate world more than 15 years ago. I struggled at first, and at times, I still do, but my mantra now is “If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.” Getting paid can be a great motivator.

Staying focused is important, even if you aren’t getting paid. I learned a few things along the way. Some of them seem simple:

Minimize or close the Internet

Close Outlook so I don’t see the new email notifications

Others haven’t been as simple.

When I work at a nationally known coffee shop, a lot of people came through each hour. Being a people watcher is a hobby of many writers, this one included. I’ve had to force myself to keep my head down and not pay attention to what is going on around me.

Let my home office remain a mess until quitting time each day

Avoid my phone, which I now place face down while working

Other things to consider:

Set a timer to work 55 minutes each hour and then take a 5-minute break

Get up and stretch

Set a timer to pray twice a day during your break

Hang a Do NOT DISTURB sign on your home office when you must stay focused

Eat well (For some, this may mean limiting the amount of sugar or, gasp caffeine.)

Establish a reasonable list each day of things to accomplish AND break each into a smaller task with a deadline

Reward yourself when you make your deadline

Those are just a few things that can help you stay … Oh, look at that pretty butterfly. Isn’t it beautiful? Dang, it just fluttered away.

Focus. What a wonderful thing, when achieved. Productivity increases. Peace replaces anxiety.

Your editor will be happy. Your family will be happy. You will be happy.

And you’ll have plenty of time to watch butterflies because all the work will be done.

Larry J. Leech II is a coach and editor of award-winning authors. After a 23-year journalism career that ended in 2004, Larry turned his focus to helping writers through editing, coaching, speaking, and ghostwriting. During that time, he has edited more than 500 manuscripts, ghostwritten 34 books, and his coaching clients have won more than 100 awards in the last 10 years. Larry also is a frequent speaker at general market and inspirational conferences all over the U.S., as well as Master Book Coach and Acquisitions Editor for Illumify Media. Larry spends his spare time hanging out with his wife, playing a tabletop Star Wars game, golfing, or reading a good book. If you want to know more about Larry, find him on Facebook or Instagram, or visit his website: larryleech.com.