Get Unstuck and Focus: The Power of Single-Tasking (Even If You Suck at Everything Else)

The answer – “Single Tasking”

My Story: I have 50 ideas per day that often end up on a digital notepad, filed away and never implemented. Ahhh, so frustrating every time I think about it. Sometimes I look back at these ideas, and all I can say (to cope with the monumental impact these ideas could have had if implemented, even a little) is that I am grateful for the things that are right in my life.

Hindsight is 20/20 (man, I detest saying that cliche), but life is about now and what’s next, not yesterday. My wife of almost 25 years is exceptionally good at this. Like a dog with her bone, she can focus on the now at hand no matter what happened an hour ago. This is one of the many reasons I love this woman. Don’t get me wrong—she admits she can go from task to task, like a busy bee collecting pollen without regard for what lies ahead, but unlike a bee, she can sometimes get caught up in the least important tasks on her list. That is why we complement each other. She’s in the now; I’m in the future. She’s on the ground, I’m in the clouds.

So, daily I endeavor to bypass this particular flaw in my operating system by ingesting different approaches and perspectives to help me get unstuck. One dude I have followed for longer than I would like to admit is Tim Ferriss.

Check out his short video where he breaks down his strategy for managing his idiosyncrasies, getting unstuck, and focusing on the right things:

Tim Ferriss’ Productivity Strategy:

1. Wake up early: Start the day at least one hour before looking at a screen. Avoid email and reactive habits.
2. Analog journaling: Write 3-5 tasks that cause the most stress or discomfort.
3. Focus on discomfort: Identify tasks that, if done, would make the day feel successful. High-value tasks are often uncomfortable.
4. Prioritize one task: Choose the single most critical task to move forward. Ignore everything else for now.
5. Time-block distractions: Dedicate 2-3 uninterrupted hours to that task without multitasking.
6. Single-task only: Avoid cobbling together short bursts of time; commit fully to one thing.
7. Accept imperfection: If distracted, gently return to the main task without spiraling.
8. “Being busy” is lazy thinking: Busyness often avoids the harder, important tasks.
9. Focus on outcomes, not volume: Doing fewer high-impact tasks is more effective than chasing quantity.
10. Remember you’re not alone: Even the best struggle with procrastination and self-doubt. Tim reminds us to keep going.

My Perspective on Tim’s Strategy:

1. I relate to feeling overwhelmed with too many ideas and not executing any.
2. Writing down the most stressful tasks makes me confront avoidance head-on.
3. Blocking 2-3 hours forces me to overcome procrastination, which is my kryptonite. For example, I recently used this approach to tackle a long-overdue project—balancing the family accounts. By dedicating a focused block of time, I was able to break through the mental resistance and make significant progress—something I had been putting off for weeks.
4. Single-tasking feels like a superpower compared to my usual scattered approach.
5. I appreciate Tim’s honesty about distractions—I’m not alone when I get derailed.
6. “Busyness as laziness” hits hard—I often mistake activity for productivity.
7. Identifying discomfort as a signal for importance helps me prioritize effectively.
8. Accepting that progress comes from one impactful task per day is freeing.
9. I now understand why volume isn’t success—quality tasks drive results.
10. Tim’s vulnerability reminds me that it’s okay to struggle; what matters is showing up and trying again.

Key Takeaway: Focusing on one impactful task at a time might seem simple, but it’s transformational. Single-tasking helps me prioritize, overcome resistance, and ultimately get unstuck.