Morning Motivation: Give One Important Task Your Undivided Attention

ST. LOUIS — Before the day fills up with messages, errands and other people’s requests, decide what deserves your attention.

You may have several important things to do. That does not mean you have to work on all of them at once. Choose one task and give it a place on today’s calendar.

Be specific about the work. Instead of writing “handle business,” name the call you need to make, the application you need to complete or the paragraph you need to write. Decide what finishing that piece would look like.

Then consider what you can reasonably protect: 15 minutes, half an hour or another stretch that fits your responsibilities. Let someone know if you need a quiet moment. Put aside the distractions you can control.

You do not need a perfect setting to begin, and a disruption does not erase your effort. If something urgent interrupts you, leave yourself a note about where to resume.

When the time ends, look at what you completed. If more work remains, decide when you will return to it. Give yourself credit for following through without turning a single task into a judgment about your whole day.

Today’s encouragement: Make room for one thing that matters, then be present for the work in front of you.