Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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If you’re like most people, you struggle to maintain focus throughout the day. Maybe you’re distracted by your phone buzzing at your desk, or you can’t seem to stay off email and Facebook during meetings.

o Instead of beating yourself up, take steps to better understand your patterns. For one week, pay attention to when your focus waxes and wanes. What times of day are you able to concentrate? When do you find your focus faltering?

o Most people’s focus peaks in the morning and dips to its lowest after lunch. The pattern varies from person to person, so learn your specific pattern and use it to plan your day.

o Make sure your most important activities and meetings are scheduled around the times when your focus is strongest. Tackle lower-priority items when your focus is weakest. And don’t give in to distractions — notice what kinds of things derail you and do your best to avoid them.

Adapted from “Are You Having Trouble Focusing? These Simple Strategies Will Help,” by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter

To check out that HBR article and join the discussion, please click here.

Here’s a direct link to dozens of other Management Tips.