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This article is merely a note to me as I’ve been getting distracted too often lately. Examples are:
- A call from a (potential) customer or someone from my network
- Flashmob videos like this one
- This music video:
- The contractor (after the roof came down, we are working on a new renovation)
- Social media (Twitter)
Do you recognize this?
This blog helps you to be less distracted so that you can focus better on what is really important on a (work) day.
Time management
I’m getting tired of all the distractions. It takes effort (and time) to get back to a task after a distraction.
At the end of the day, I sense little fulfillment if I’ve been distracted too much.
Recently, I heard on the radio about a psychological study into the effects of time management on people. It turns out that people who manage their time well experience more fulfillment from their work and that this also has a positive effect on their private lives. I experience more peace when I am less distracted and do those things that need to be done.
Below, I have a number of suggestions to allow you to be less distracted so that you also experience more fulfillment from your work and your life. Some are obvious (but you have to do them) and others may be new to you.
Do a brain dump
Often there is much more to do than just what is on your to-do list. If I get anxious about everything I have to or want to do, I make a do dump. I recommend that you regularly do such a brain dump and put everything in one of the following four categories:
- Important and urgent
- Important and not urgent
- Unimportant and urgent
- Unimportant and not urgent
After doing a brain dump I experience much more peace. I find myself often doing things in the last 2 categories. That is not the intention.
Allocate time
That is why it is important to set aside a certain amount of time for each important and urgent task. The advantage is that you don’t do too much in one day, but it also helps you to focus. An advantage is that you often complete tasks on time.
You may have time to spare. Then do things from the first two categories.
It can also happen that you don’t have enough time. Then take a critical look at whether you really need more time (to prevent perfectionist behavior) and if so, how much more. Then continue if you have time to spare or schedule it for the next day.
For more focus, you can read my review of the book “Focus On/Off”.
Park distractions
As I write this article, I have many other ideas or tasks coming to me. I immediately write them down or put them in my Evernote or in the Braintoss application. By parking it, I experience more peace because I don’t forget it.
While looking for the beforementioned scientific research on the effects of time management, I came across another nice article. I left the article tab open in the web browser and continued with my work. Of course, I could have also pasted it into Evernote.
Turn social media OFF
What also helps me is to log out of social media completely. I have to manually enter my login and password if I want to check my Twitter feed “quickly”. Of course, notifications from mail on the desktop are turned off and I have no notifications on my phone. What also helps is not to have WhatsApp enabled via the web browser.
Make it fun
In the article with 8 tips to be more productive, I mentioned that you should give yourself rewards when you complete a task. I still do that, but now I also try to make the task fun by having good music in the background, sitting comfortably, and still having a cup of coffee or tea with it.
Too much to do?
Delegate the work or ask if you can do tasks later. You have to be sure that you can do them then.
Set goals in line with your WHY
To get even clearer about what you actually need and want to do, you can create goals and tasks that are in line with your WHY. Your WHY is your unique contribution that has an effect on the world. I experience more enthusiasm, energy drive. Read this article about how to successfully set goals in line with your WHY and download a FREE roadmap that also explains what you need to stop, continue or start with to achieve your goals.
What do you do to not get distracted? How do you know what you want and need to do so that you experience more fulfillment? Let me know in the comment field below. The other readers of this article. and I are looking forward to reading from you!
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