Avoiding Distractions

You sit down at your desk, put your phone in the other room, and stare at that long list you need to complete. What now? This isn’t looking too good.. You need some coffee, that’ll help. So you get up, make a cup of coffee and realize you need to go check the mail. Oh right! You still have that camping gear in the back of the car to come inside. All of a sudden, six hours have passed and it’s time to get the kids off the bus. You’ll try again tomorrow.

Ahh, now for the big question.. How do we stay focused in our current times? This is tricky. Especially in our modern world where texting, emailing, calling, Facebooking, and LinkedIn, all have to be daily activities for you to stay up to date. Pile on personal tasks; grocery shopping, dentist appointments, kids to the soccer game, and you’ve got six full-time jobs just trying to keep track of your own stuff!

Scouring the internet for answers, I complied a list that will amplify your efficiency and lessen the headache that forcing yourself to do something is. What works for someone else may not work for you. That is why each one of these tips can be tailored to fit your exact needs. Create an environment that nurtures and encourages your success. You ARE capable of getting those horse blinders on and zeroing in on your goals.

Make A Plan The Night Before

• Organize your thoughts and break down your day into blocks. This is kinda like picking out your outfit and laying it out the night before a big day. Less stress when you wake up. Start your day off ahead of the game.

Get Comfortable (drink, fidget, windows open)

• Comfortability is more important than you think. Make sure in five minutes you're not going to get up to get a drink. And then twenty minutes later a snack. Then fix your hair so it’s out of your face. And on it goes. Think ahead of what you may need and set up your space for success.

Set Smaller Goals

• Overwhelmed by the big project sitting on your plate? Keep putting it off until “you have more energy”? Break it into smaller sections. You’ll begin feeling accomplished sooner and find motivation in these smaller successes. Before you know it, you’ve done five bite-sized projects and it was somehow way easier than the one big one.

Music That Encourages Work

• Now, this is different for everyone, BUT it’s very important to find what works for you. Personally, I can’t listen to anything with words and it has to have a higher tempo for work sessions. Some people prefer classical music, or maybe even whale sounds. Find what works for you and create a work playlist that encourages efficiency.

Clean Work Space / No Distractions

• Clear space IS equal to a clear mind. Make sure to keep your workspace minimal and clean. If your space is cluttered then so will your mind, making it harder to focus. This way you’re not going to be fidgeting and organizing your desk when you should be working

Take Breaks / Work Block

• Yes! You do need breaks throughout the day. Schedule them ahead of time (even during the night before planning) to optimize your work time. Working in blocks and shortening the finish line is great for recharging your mental battery throughout the day

Delegate / Ask For Help

• Some things you can’t do alone! Or rather are much more difficult. Delegating some of your tasks may not be your MO but it will certainly help you to accomplish everything else sitting on your plate. If you’re not comfortable or capable of passing some tasks on then get some help! As cliche as this sounds, two minds are always better than one. You may just be overlooking a simple solution.