If you are anything like me, I have to fight distractions on a daily basis in order to run a successful business, manage family life, maintain a household, and deal with everyday life that is coming at me, fighting to get my attention! And believe me, it can be a chore to stay on track in order to get stuff done. Have you ever felt like this?
One thing I know for sure and that is, in order to become highly effective in LIFE & BUSINESS, we have to learn how to deal masterfully with distractions, because they are everywhere. So how can you overcome distractions?
HERE ARE 6 WAYS YOU CAN DO IT. The first 3 ways are things you must STOP NOW and the next 3 things you must START IMMEDIATELY to Overcome Distractions.
1. STOP MAKING EXCUSES - Excuses are our convenient distractions that we use to let us off the hook every time (i.e. doing housekeeping when you know you have a report that is due or checking Facebook when you have an article/blog due or simply we don't have the time). The bottom line is we make time for what is important to us. So, stop making excuses and just do what you know you should be doing.
2. STOP MAJORING IN THE MINORS – I heard someone say “people don’t have an issue with managing their time because we all have the same amount of time, but rather an issue with managing priorities." Learning how to manage our priorities is key to overcoming distractions. For example, when we don’t know what our real priorities are, it causes us to focus on things that really don’t matter. When you "Major in the Minor" things we spend time paying attention to things that normally wouldn’t register on our radar of what's even slightly important. So plan out your day regarding what matters most. As Covey would say, "fill up your life with putting the big rocks in first and then the little pebbles.” Remember, First things First!
3. STOP ALLOWING OTHER PEOPLES URGENCY TO BECOME YOUR EMERGENCIES – Here is where you set up boundaries for what you will and will not allow to take place in our lives. For example, maybe you have a friend that is running late to pick up her kids due to track of time from work, but because she knows that you’re at home or live close by, she ask if you can pick them up. What do you do? Establish boundaries! If you abide by your set boundaries it will cause others to do the same. Decide what your non-negotiables are upfront in order for those around you to become familiar with your standard for being. Believe me, they will get it and respect it. Lastly, learn how to make the word “NO” your best friend. You don’t have to buy another vowel to make it work effectively.
4. START EACH DAY WITH SOME QUIET TIME – Spend time in prayer and reading the bible or something inspirational to get your mind clear and at peace. Seek God for guidance and direction, then set an intention (target it) towards what is at hand for you to do. You'll watch your day flow so much more smoothly.
5. SCHEDULE TIME FOR DISTRACTIONS – If you know what easily grabs your attention or hinders you from finishing what you set out to do, remove the temptation. Instead, a better way is to schedule your break time, social media time, TV time, and time to return phone calls after you have completed the task at hand. This will help you to resist the temptation to answer every call, respond to every email on the hour, or the “bing” sound you hear on your cell/computer from FB so you can stay focus.
6. IDENTIFY THE BENEFIT OF FOCUS – Decide early in the game what benefit or outcome you want to achieve at the end of the day. This can only happen if you keep your head in the game. Understanding the value of your time is so important. So, remember once it is spent, you can never get it back. Therefore plan your entire day ahead of time, so that you stay on track to accomplishing what you set out to do in the first place.
REFLECTION: What has been your biggest distractions right now? Now, right beside that list what your priorty should be.
SUCCESS ACTION: Apply one of the strategies today to overcome it?