Focus isn’t about putting pressure on ourselves to focus and achieve. It’s about letting go of the feeling that we need to stay updated and connected. It’s about letting go of fears so that we can find a place of calm and focus and get the things done that we truly love. – Leo Babauta

This is the final installment of a 4-part series entitled Focus: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of True Immersion in Life, Work and Play. I really hope you’ve enjoyed this and found it helpful in your life. If so, please share on or .

You can read the rest of the series here:

Part 1: Eliminate, Eliminate, Eliminate!
Part 2: Finding Focus After Getting Your Ass Kicked
Part 3: How to Pour Your Energy Into What Matters

Today, we’re sitting down and chatting with Leo Babauta, blogger at Top 25 blog Zen Habits, mnmlist and Write To Done. He’s also the new author of focus: a simplicity manifesto in the Age of Distraction and author of the best-selling print book .

The first time I saw was in a Barnes & Noble and I ran to the shelf to pick up my copy before they were all sold out. I ran for a good reason too. They indeed were all sold out the next time I walked in.

Leo is an absolutely amazing figure and leader in the simplicity and minimalist movement. His life is the prolific example.

As a former government employee and smoker, he changed his life drastically, now a healthy runner, vegan, writer, husband and father. He eliminated his debt, lost tons of weight, ran a marathon, decluttered his life so what remains is what he enjoys doing, wrote 2 novels during the NaNoWriMo challenge (first one in 2006, second one in 2009), and so much more.

I’m happy to share with you today my exclusive interview with Leo, as it is a fitting closing to this series Focus: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of True Immersion in Life, Work and Play. Who better to talk about focus than the focused man himself, Leo?

How to Meet Leo

Sign up for Chris Guillebeau’s World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon this June 2011. Leo is on the panel of incredible speakers and will speak on minimalism and building a Time Magazine blog of the year. I can’t wait and hope to see YOU there too!

Part 4: A Focused Conversation with Leo Babauta, Author of Focus

Nina: You’ve recently launched your newest book called focus: a simplicity manifesto in the Age of Distraction. How has the response been thus far? Did something spark your initial reasons for writing a book on focus?

Leo: Readers have been unfailingly positive about the book. I had no expectations or hopes regarding sales but I’ve been very happy with how the book has sold and spread and how enthusiastic the feedback has been.

I wrote a book on focus because I felt it necessary. In my own life and in many other lives there was a sense of being overwhelmed by the distractions and a frustration in not finding the focus we need to do what we truly value. I wanted to find that focus and share what I learned with others.

Nina: And I think that’s why so many people can relate to what you write about. You are living the life that you share with your readers how to do the same. Amazing. So, having said that, having a successful online minimalist business and authoring several books certainly requires a deep level of focus, especially as a husband and a father of six! When pulled in all directions, what’s the first thing you do in order to focus on the here and now?

Leo: I breathe. It reminds me to come back to the present. Everything else fades away as unimportant. What’s important is what I’m doing right now. I feel calmer right away!

Nina: [Deep breath in, deep breath in] Hey! You’re right. Feels great! Leo, what would you recommend as the 3 main things to consider when a busy and time-starved person tries to focus but is consistently failing at?

Leo: First, be conscious of what you are doing and what is distracting you. Second, learn to pause before you give in to the urge of distraction and instead block out the distraction. Third, clear away everything and bask in the warmth of simplicity.

Nina: That sounds so blissful and pleasant. And so very attainable! But on the other hand, pouring all of one’s energy and time into one particular activity or project can really cause a standstill or delay in other pending activities or projects. Do you think focus contradicts a life of balance? Or does it really complement it in the end?

Leo: Focus allows us to have a life of balance. It’s not about putting everything important on hold. It’s about clearing away the non-important things so that you have room and time for the important ones. When we are too busy and distracted we can’t find time to do the things we want to do — the things that bring us balance. Of course it’s possible to be “too focused” but that’s not a problem I’ve found myself. It’s usually the other way — not enough focus.

Nina: Good point, Leo. You’re living a simple, full life that many people want to have for their lives as well. What are your inspirations for a better life with focus? Do you have others you look up to, a particular spiritual path you practice and/or follow that helps ground you?

Leo: I’m inspired by so many people: Thoreau and Lao Tzu and Gandhi and Thich Naht Hanh and Elaine St. James and Jason Fried and Derek Sivers and Erin Doland and many many others.

Nina: Zen Habits is focused on simplicity and productivity. Mnmlist is focused on minimalism. Write To Done is focused on the craft and art of writing. How has making these sites incredibly focused on their respective topics led you to better writing, better quality content and higher reader traffic?

Leo: Each blog is a conversation with readers. When I wanted to start a new conversation with a different group of readers I started a new blog. You’d talk about different things with your mom or your boss or your best friend or your spouse. In the same way, I have different conversations with different people as I blog. That results in a better conversation each time.

Nina: I think that’s very important to re-state: “I have different conversations with different people as I blog. That results in a better conversation each time.” This is so true when it comes to having your writing voice (and any voice, for that matter) show through. Any last words you’d like to share with our readers regarding the art of focus, Leo?

Leo: Focus isn’t about putting pressure on ourselves to focus and achieve. It’s about letting go of the feeling that we need to stay updated and connected. It’s about letting go of fears so that we can find a place of calm and focus and get the things done that we truly love.

Bonus Questions: Can we look forward to a new book from you in 2011? And will you really Karate chop us if we e-mail you? :)

Leo: I don’t know what 2011 will bring. I try to stay in the present and love what I do and see what that brings. As for email: I won’t get violent but I prefer less of it.

Nina: Good to note. Thank you so much for your time, Leo!!

Join 200,000+ monthly readers at Leo’s blog Zen Habits and find out firsthand why Leo is the simplicity and productivity expert that he is. Also, pick up a copy of his new book focus today (free online version as well as premium version available).

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If you’ve found this series on Focus incredibly helpful, please share it with others on and . You guys are great.

The links to the entire Focus series are here:

Part 1: Eliminate, Eliminate, Eliminate!
Part 2: Finding Focus After Getting Your Ass Kicked
Part 3: How to Pour Your Energy Into What Matters
Part 4: A Focused Conversation with Leo Babauta, Author of Focus

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