Have you ever picked up your phone and ten minutes later wondered what you were supposed to be doing? We’re constantly connected to our devices, and this makes us more disconnected from ourselves, others, and being present.
The inability to stay focused has become a common 21st-century problem. We’ve all felt that sense of overwhelm as we are inundated with pings and buzzes from our phones, or sat through a Zoom meeting that prevents us from completing a task in a timely manner
Technology plays a huge role in daily distractions. On average, people check their phones over 350 times throughout the day. This has influenced human behavior to such an extent that Linda Stone, a former Apple and Microsoft executive, coined the phrase, ‘Continuous partial attention’ to describe the divided modern state of our brains. We are constantly being distracted and this not only hampers our ability to concentrate on tasks, but also negatively affects productivity.
We all want to create a clear path to achieve our goals. If you’re looking for a way to remove the noise from your surroundings and focus on what really matters, here are three strategies to banish distractions and eliminate clutter.
Strategy 1: Write Your Daily Big 3
How long is your to-do list right now? How long is your to-do list just for today? If you are consistently behind on your responsibilities and rarely checking everything off, you’re setting yourself up to be discouraged and feel burned out. That’s why we created the Full Focus Planner.
If you’re a Full Focus Planner user, your Daily Big 3 is your best friend for tackling distractions. This is where you list your three most important tasks for the day that you have to complete. Ask yourself: What is the most high-impact work that will move me closer to my goals? It most likely isn’t scrolling through Twitter or online shopping for a new showerhead. List these three priorities for the day and get ready for that sense of achievement when you can check them off as complete.
Strategy 2: Identify Your Time Wasters
Time-wasting tasks can eat up your precious time and hijack your day. Sometimes we even use that busy work to procrastinate on the work that matters. Keep track of how you spend your minutes and you’ll quickly see how insignificant activities add up.
Do you find yourself checking Instagram every hour? Feel frustrated by outdated and slow office equipment? What about unnecessary meetings with colleagues? Identify these pain points and eliminate them where possible.
We are bombarded with notifications: emails, texts, the Ring doorbell, or the Amazon delivery truck. Studies have shown that the barrage of notifications we receive on a daily basis triggers anxiety, stress, and a constant state of hypervigilance, which interrupts our ability to concentrate on a task. Discover the power of Do Not Disturb mode on your phone and computer. For example, you can use the screen time limits on your phone to block specific apps. You’ll quickly free up time to concentrate on what matters most. Muting irrelevant messages and calls throughout the day will keep you on track and focused on what matters most.
Strategy 3: Set Boundaries With Your Time
Imagine for a moment you could completely control every minute of your time, with no last-minute meetings or unwanted obligations to distract you. A fantasy? Yes. However, you can set yourself up for success with an Ideal Week. This tool encourages you to set boundaries with your time. Download the Ideal Week template for free here.
What are your priorities? What is taking you away from your goals? Use the Ideal Week to intentionally organize your personal and professional responsibilities and reap the rewards of a well-structured week. For example, instead of an open door policy, schedule and communicate times when your coworkers can connect with you.
Banishing distractions is an important step toward controlling your time and maximizing productivity. Try out these three strategies and take a step closer to your goals. You won’t regret it.
Last modified on August 3rd, 2023 at 2:57 pm
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