I’m a process-oriented person. I focus on the things that I’m doing and the results I want to obtain. That means that I think about what I’m doing a lot. It means that my mind is racing in a zillion directions all the time. I’m always aware of all the things that I need to do next, and honestly it clutters my brain.

Too many times I’m at an event/meeting/whatever and all I can think about is the next thing that I have to do. This is especially troubling when I’m at one of the kids sporting or school events. I’ve had to work really hard to focus on being where I am so that I’m not distracted.

I’m working my way through Dave Allen’s Getting Things Done process to try and get a better handle on my life. This post isn’t about that productivity journey. I’m sure I’ll write about that another time. What this is about is one of the core tenets that I’ve come to realize from going through that process.

In some ways, it’s almost a Zen-like thought. It’s one of those that sounds really simple on the surface, but you end up thinking about it more and more. As you peel away the layers you learn that there is even more to think about and learn. I’m still working my way to the core of this idea, but it’s already helped me out a lot.

Be where you are.

That’s it. Four simple words, but a profound meaning. Think about it. How many times have you been at one event and not fully engaged. I do it all the time. And sadly, it detracts from where I am as well as where I think I ought to be.

I have to apply personal “Constant vigilance!”, as Alastor (“Mad-Eye”) Moody said in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I need to be aware that my mind is wandering and pull it back to where I am. Every time I consciously choose to be somewhere, I have to make a second conscious decision that I’m going to focus on what’s going on and why I’m there. It’s tough, really tough, at times. When I’m at the dentist, I’d rather focus on something else. Anything else. And if I make a conscious decision to transport myself somewhere else in my mind, that’s fine. It’s the conscious decision that matters.

But when I’m at the Christmas Musical at the kids’ grade school, I really need to focus on that. Not on my cell phone. Not on my iPad. Not on plans for dinner or any projects that I’m working on. If I make a conscious decision to be at the Christmas Musical, then that’s what I need to focus on.

So it comes down to focusing on what I’m going to do or where I’m going to be. Once I know that, then I have to commit to that action that needs to be taken or that place where I am.

It sounds so simple and easy, but even while writing this post I’ve been all over the place in my head. E-mail has come in. The phone has rung. Text messages have arrived. The doorbell just rang. All those things fighting for my attention. But if I jump off and check out each one as it pops up, I’ll never get anything done. This post will sit, half-finished, until I decide to focus on it again. Since you’re reading it, I finally did get my mind back to where I am.

To do it, I simply repeated to myself “Be where you are.”

It was as simple as that. It’s my focus phrase. Something else might work for you. Whatever works, please let me know about it in the comments. I’m curious how each of you stays on track, and when you get off track how do you get back to where you need to be.

So today I’m going to focus on one thing at a time. I’m going to take my own advice. Pretty simple, yet oh so complex.

Be where you are.