WE are just a few weeks into the new year, and for many of us, new year's resolutions are long forgotten.

In fact, it's estimated that only ten per cent of us will manage to keep our new year’s resolutions. All is not lost though, there are simple steps you can take to stay focused and instead set achievable goals in 2019.

“Lack of focus is one of the greatest destroyers of goals, dreams and productivity. Constant interruptions lower your performance, burns unnecessary glucose in your brain causing fatigue and makes you waste your valuable time.

"Keeping focused this year means you will drive everything that you do and help you to achieve your desired outcome a lot quicker,” says Hampshire-based Life Coach, Carolyne Bennett.

Her top ten tips on staying focused are…

1. Get distinct on what your daily goals are. Break bigger goals into smaller achievable daily goals. Writing down your goals is a powerful declaration of intent! Write down a statement of what you are going to accomplish that day and have a plan of action.

2. Plan your day. Carve out time in your day that you will spend completing your intended tasks.

3. Put a ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign up on your door, or make sure you tell your family or your colleagues that you will not be available between certain times unless there is an emergency.

4. Remove distractions. Mute your phone and turn off notifications on your computer or other devices for email and social media.

5. Boost your focus by using the ancient art of mindfulness. This helps to reign back an unfocused mind and is soothing for the nervous system, leaving you feeling more relaxed.

6. Restrict mindless online browsing. Browsing on social media can really rob you of your valuable time and energy. Save your brain power for tasks that will help you achieve your dreams. (This is not to say some level of browsing isn’t good because you can find really inspiring things which are great for your personal development. You know the difference between mindless browsing and life changing content!)

7. Stop saying 'yes' to everyone and everything! Say 'no' just at first so that you can check if what you are about to agree to is in alignment with your goals and mission. If you fill your life doing everything for everyone else, when will you have time to focus on your purpose? Start learning to say 'no' sometimes and make space to concentrate on the things that mean so much to you and help you build your dreams. This is not to say that you can’t help people when they are genuinely in need, it just means that you establish healthy boundaries, freeing up valuable time to focus on your life too.

8. Exchange phone time for focus time. Set a timer on your phone for 25 minutes at a time. During these 25 minutes all notifications are off, the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign is on your door and it is focus time. Resist the temptation to look at your phone or emails for the full duration of that time. Then you can reset the timer for another 25 minutes after a short break.

9. Write it down. In order to stay focused on a task, have a pen and paper next to you and write anything you need to remember. Promise yourself that you’ll be able to look at it once your focusing session is over and your break has arrived.

10. Reward yourself. Give yourself a reward every time you achieve one of your daily goals. Spend some time doing things you like such as listening to music, going for a walk, having a hot chocolate or a chat with a friend.