Eliminate Distractions
July 2009
Are you working too much? Are the lines blurred between when you work and when you are "off?" Does your to-do list feel never ending? Do you check your email all day long? Do you allow interruptions to get you off track? Constant distraction has become acceptable - even fashionable. Multi-tasking sounds cool. It suggests that we're active, talented and needed; but ultimately it's draining. Wouldn't you love to reduce your frenetic activity, cultivate focus, work less and accomplish more? If so, a great read is Less: Accomplishing More by Doing Less.
A Harvard Business Review article, "Beware of the Busy Manger," cites a study that found 90% of managers squander their time in ineffective activities, and only 10% spend time in committed, purposeful and reflective manner. Here are some actions the 10% do to eliminate distractions, get focused and have more energy:
- Schedule regular "think time" - At the beginning and end of each day, reflect through sitting quietly, journaling or prayer. In the morning affirm your intentions for the day. End your day with gratitude and naming three things you did well that day. This will help you reframe, focus and allow inspiration in unexpected ways.
- Keep emails and phone calls to a minimum - Retrain yourself to check email only two or three times a day. Practice not responding to the ring of the telephone or cellphone and return calls at certain times each day. Control your interactions so they don't control you.
- Practice well-developed strategies for reducing stress - Regular exercise, proper nutrition, 7-8 hours sleep, scheduling time for fun, ending work by a certain time, limiting computer time, breathing/meditation are all part successfully minimizing stress levels.
- Prioritize - The act of identifying clear actions has a freeing effect and helps you know you are making progress. Make a list with two columns. Title one column "Aspirations, Plans, Projects." Title the other "Next Steps" and list concrete action steps toward each aspiration, plan or project. Keep updating your next step list as you complete each item. It can be overwhelming to have many projects hanging over your head, so this helps clarify the actions needed to move each project toward completion. Numbering 1, 2 and 3's can help you know what to focus on first. Be sure to update/rewrite your list every few days to keep it current.
- Declutter - A cluttered desk or cluttered home creates a cluttered and distracted mind. There's an emotional and mental cost to living with clutter. Start with the five-minutes and clear one specific area. Come back to it later and do another five minutes. Check out this great book, Clutter-Busting, to get you started.
Food for Thought:
- "We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons." - Jim Rohn
- If you had more discipline in one of the tips mentioned above, what might be different in your life?
Contact Andrea to see how coaching can help you eliminate distractions by cultivating habits and routines that leave you more energized and focused. See how others have made Coaching work for them. Call to schedule a complimentary 30-minute sample coaching session. (847) 971-3643 or email: andrea@hgcoaching.com
