Six Steps to Renew Goals and Stay Focused–Divya Gugnani

by Divya Gugnani

One of the biggest faults with the working world today is our inability to focus. On occasion, we find ourselves cluttered, chaotic and stressed out. It hurts our business, our social life and occasionally our personal life as well. The best way to deconstruct those faults and move forward? Renew your goals! These six steps will explain the process of moving forward with your career and lifestyle, to refresh your ideals and smooth out the wrinkles in your day-to-day business.

Step 1 – Simplify. Work can be stressful and chaotic, but the best way to feel at ease when in the office is to get rid of the clutter. The minute you unclutter your life, you will unclutter your mind. Get rid of all the things you don’t need; shred the papers/contracts you haven’t read and don’t plan to, and dispose of the food that’s been sitting out for days. Remember, less is more, so the best way to focus at work is to simplify the environment around you. Less clutter means less stress.

Step 2 – Stay Fit. Fitness is one of the most important aspects of day to day life. Lift five-pound dumbbells during conference calls, escape for mid-afternoon jumping jacks or simply walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Everything counts!

Step 3 – Go Green. Get out of the office for at least 10 minutes a day. Take a little stroll around the block and look at the sky, the trees and breathe in the fresh air. Studies have shown that taking short walks and getting outside can lower your stress hormone levels. So take advantage of this warm weather and get moving!

Step 4 – Eat Clean. By concentrating on eating well, stress can dissipate. When stress is present in your life, you are more likely to binge on high-carb, fatty foods. Incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet with snacks, smoothies, salads–you name it. Your dinner plate should be colorful!

Step 5 – Build a Community. As a businesswoman, I work 12- to 20-hour days, so the people I work with are my lifeline. When building a team and a company, you must invest time and effort in choosing the people you want to work with. Always hire individuals who are motivated and have good energy. Get to know your co-workers, understand what inspires them, and the workplace will be more pleasant. A happy office brings success and progress in your organization.

Step 6 – Reflect. At the end of a busy day, sit back and think on what you’ve accomplished and what you still want to achieve. See what worked for you in the past year, and what plans in the future may bring. Learn from your mistakes, make changes, and test, test, test. A growing business is all about trying new things, and testing what works best.

Divya Gugnani started her business career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and then moved on to private equity and venture capital. Currently she serves as the CEO of Send the Trend, which offers curated fashion accessories for women online. She also serves as CEO of Behind the Burner, a culinary media brand focused on tips, tricks and techniques for food, wine, mixology and nutrition. She will speak in a panel titled “Spark Tank: How to Pitch to the Pros” at the 2011 Texas Conference for Women.