Focus module 4: Tiny rituals that will help you to focus

When we're in flow-state, we do our best work. So, here are five mini rituals to embed into your working day for optimum focus...

Whether you’re employed or self-employed, it can take some time to settle into the work day. In fact, I wrote an Instagram post recently about how I piss around at the start of the day - hoovering, eating pizza - and it’s part of my ‘process’.

But there’s always a little element of guilt, because while hoovering is productive procrastination, it’s not what I’m ‘supposed’ to be doing during the working day. Instead, I should be writing.

So I often build in tiny SQ* rituals to start my day, as well as boost my energy and focus throughout. They give me confidence in whatever I’m working on. Right now, that’s a new book proposal. I’ll explain how I am using each ritual for this.

Tiny SQ rituals for your work day

1. Magic spells

Instead of meditating, I do magic spells. There are three that I recite while I’m having my morning sauna if I’m trying to make something happen, like get my next non-fiction book deal.

The first one goes:

Zeus, Zeus, king of gods, pour down upon me the generosity for which thou are justly famous.

When saying this, I look up to the sky and imagine a big, strong male God-like figure floating up there who is transferring some crazy energy down to me. His arms are spread out at either side and it is like he is emanating something like lightning that he is striking me with. Except that it’s a very positive thing. It’s powerful. I say those words over and over again, continuing to imagine Zeus pouring this energy down onto me.

I imagine he his giving me the power to get the book deal.

Another one I like, to counter the masculine Zeus spell, is the more feminine spell recited to Vesta, Goddess of home, hearth and harmony.

Oh wonderful and generous Vesta, goddess of home, hearth and harmony, bring me money and prosperity this day, shine your radiant face on my finances today, bring me all the money I need this day. Thank you, oh divine mother goddess, for thine glorious and generous help.

For this one, I imagine a beautiful female goddess, also up in the sky, and as I look up towards her, again her arms are outstretched and she is glowing with a golden light. Her long wavy hair is floating out all around her and as she looks down on me, she is smiling. She has this lovely energy and she is transferring it from herself onto me, via sort of golden rays.

When I first started saying this, the Vesta I was praying to or asking for help with my magic spell had round cheeks and quite a white face. In time, interestingly, her face has become my own face. Now, I am looking up at a version of myself, in the clouds, and praying to her. This could be referred to as my Higher Self.

I also have a prayer, or spell, that feels slightly more religious though when reciting it, I’m doing so from a place of spirituality rather than Christianity. It goes:

Bountiful Lord, creator and sustainer of the universe, thou who hast made the heavens and earth so overflowing with abundance, flood my life this moment with thine goodness. Let all good things be mine, this day and every day.

For this one, I close my eyes and really imagine the energy of the Earth emanating up into my body. It’s a good one to do while stood on the actual Earth, as in soil, or in water. And imagining that you are absorbing all the energy of the Earth around you.

These spells fill me with self-confidence and belief, and the sense that if I do the work, good things will follow. Like a book deal.

2. Intention-setting

When sat at my desk to start the work day, I light a stick of palo santo and waft it around my laptop, while setting an intention for the day.

That might be something like: today I’ll hear from my agent about a book deal. So a specific result I’d like.

Or it might be more around how I’d like to feel: I’m full of energy and ideas.

Sometimes, it’s really general: today is going to be a good work day.

3. Signs in nature

If I’m stuck with my work, I’ll go for a walk in nature or just out into my garden if I don’t have much time and look for answers in nature.

I’ll say - usually in my head; occasionally out loud - Show me what I need to do.

I’ll then look around and pick up on goings-on in nature that might help me to access the answer I need.

So if I see a bluejay fly overhead, I’ll look up the symbolism of bluejays and see if this unlocks something. Or perhaps the clouds will be a certain shape that sparks an idea.

Nature is full of movement and meaning and potential symbolism if you enter it with an open mind.

4. Gemstones

If I’m sat at my desk and feel my attention drifting off, I reach for my gemstones. Above are my current favourites (amethyst and citrine) and they live on my desk.

I hold them in my palm and roll them around like worry beads. It draws my attention back to my body and the room.

Sometimes, I’ll ask them to bestow me with new energy or focus. I do this only for a few moments and feel almost immediately restored.

5. Tarot

When my confidence is low - say I’m about to share some writing and suddenly feel it might not be good enough - I’ll pull out a tarot deck, shuffle the cards, fan them out and pull a single card.

I look up the meaning in the booklet and derive whatever I need to from it. It might be one word that stands out and makes me feel better; it might be a suggestion that I need to be doing things differently. It’s always reassuring.

So there you go: five tiny rituals to help you ignite - and retain - focus.

Annie x

*SQ stands for spiritual quotient. It’s a measure of how spiritually connected you are. If you’re interested in learning more about this, you might like my latest book Raise your SQ: Transform your life with spiritual intelligence.