You can get very focused while lost in a project that you care about, or you can get very lost trying to focus on several different things at once.

My favorite is when I am truly lost in deep focus. When I write, hours can go by without me hearing or seeing anything except for words on paper or computer. When I sleep, I dream about those words.

Are you lost or are you focused?

I’ll admit it, I’m a project jumper. I have to work really hard to stay on task. Even with my minimalist desires, there are so many things I want to create and execute.

There are two books that have been instrumental in my attempt to dial down, and do one thing at a time. In the interest of full disclosure, please know that these are not affiliate links. I am recommending these books to you because they’ve helped me.

I also recommend them because they are good books written by good guys.

How to Get Focused and Create What Matters

Dan Goodwin wrote this book in an effort to continue to help artists create, and finish great work. Dan and I met via Twitter and he has been a great friend and supporter of my creative efforts. With chapter names like Welcome to the Crazy Hotel and Slow Burners, Hot Flashes, Stilettos and Red Carnations, this book will keep you entertained.

Dan knows that we creative types all have similar struggles.

Struggles like…

• finding time and space to create
• creating without checking email every five minutes
• trying to quiet our internal negative voices that tell us our work is not good enough

This book will help you with your creative process by reminding you that ideas are endless, but you don’t have to develop every single one that you have. Just getting that permission to let an idea go is very freeing. If you need assistance narrowing down your idea field, creating new ideas, or finishing what you start, this book is for you!

Focus

If you found Be More with Less through my guest post on Leo’s blog, you are familiar with his effortless writing style. If you like that about him, this book does not disappoint.

Leo Babauta designed each section of Focus to lead you through the necessary steps to live life on purpose, and avoid distraction. Those steps include stepping back, clearing distractions and simplifying. All of those things lead to great clarity when starting or finishing a new project.

You’ll especially like that there is a free version and a “full” version, with lots of extras.

The full version comes with useful guides:

• Email Fast Guide
• Decluttering Quickstart
• Habit Change Guide

If your New Year’s Resolution is to be more focused, check out these books. When was the last time you lost yourself in a creative project? What are you working on right now?