Scatterbrained. Flighty. How many times has a man called you that? How many times have you thought it yourself? Why is it that you have a deep desire to grow your business but often you just can’t seem to zero in on one particular priority or goal?

Well, it’s simple, actually. Women just aren’t “designed” that way.

As Alison Armstrong explains in “Making Sense of Men”, Mother Nature split survival responsibilities between the genders. Men are single-focused by nature, enabling them to hunt and put food on the table. This ability, driven in part by testosterone, makes them naturals for pushing ahead in business. It also makes them completely unaware of the socks on the floor right in front of them.  They’re not insensitive, just…micro-focused.

Women, on the other hand, fulfill the role of gatherer, taking their cues from their senses as it relates to the environment around them. It was the woman’s role to find berries, to know which are safe and when to pick them. It’s why when a woman walks into a room, everything in it talks to her.

Women are wired to notice our surroundings every second we’re awake, making us natural multi-taskers with minds constantly searching for new input. This can make focusing on a single issue for extended periods of time challenging, and puts demands on our adrenal glands to make it happen, since women don’t have the testosterone that men do.

Working with women entrepreneurs in my Monarch Circle program, I’ve discovered  that many struggle with this “focus” deficit—myself included. To help them grow their business quickly, I’ve developed a focus technique that gets Mother Nature to play along by doing what comes naturally.

Since women connect to the environment through their senses, I use those same sensory impulses to support focus, satisfying the part of your brain that’s wired to be on the lookout and freeing the rest to concentrate on other things.

Explore these sensory suggestions to discover the one that best works for you:

Smell
Light a scented candle or burn incense when you begin a major task. Let the aroma surround you while your mind concentrates on the work at hand. When you find your mind starting to wander, take a moment to breathe in the scent.  You’ll find immediate focus renewal.

Touch
Ever twiddle with your hair while you work? You could be the type who focuses on tactile sensations. Find a fuzzy scarf or shawl that pleases you and drape it around your neck. Take a moment to caress it if your attention starts to stray.

Sound
Your favorite music on the stereo in the background may be just the distraction your external senses need to allow your mind to stay on point. You  may have to experiment with the right kind of music. Lady Gaga may not be appropriate. Remember: it’s to help you focus, not take you away.

Sight
The color or clutter of your working space may be distracting you. Try adjusting the colors, creating a clear place, or even putting a couple of framed images of your best friend or favorite quote on your desk. They might just provide the momentary distraction you need to stay the course.

Taste
For years, whenever I would start a client project, I would prepare a big bowl of popcorn and a whole bag of celery. I found that crunching stimulated my creativity. Other possible support foods: fruit, jicama, radishes, baby carrots, even a good cup of tea or a couple of crackers can soothe that sensory craving and allow your mind to dig into the project at hand.

You might find that one or a combination of the senses will do the trick.  Also, try to schedule your focused time in two- or three-hour chunks, and give yourself time in between to connect externally before diving into the next one.

For women struggling to meet deadlines, try working with Mother Nature, and watch your focus—and your business, grow and grow and grow!

P.S. For you guys with female partners or employees, this works so much better than “scatterbrained.”

Written by Kim Castle