Have you ever experienced this?
You have a project or task to do. It’s important so you’ve carved out time to tackle it. It’s simple, right? There’s a job to do, so you do it.
Until…
- You decide to check social media first. Distracted.
- Your child comes asking for a snack. Distracted.
- You see an ad that leads you down the rabbit hole of online shopping. Distracted.
- Your friend texts asking a question. Distracted.
- You catch sight of laundry that needs folded or dishes that need washed. Distracted.
All of a sudden, despite your best intentions, that task that was supposed to take 15 minutes has now taken 30 and you aren’t even finished with it.
Sound familiar?
At times, we all experience having our productivity derailed by unexpected distractions. Whether these distractions come in the form of other tasks, other people, or technology, they all have the capacity to knock our productivity train off its tracks.
Here’s the truth: resisting distractions is extremely difficult.
Think of it this way: Imagine I placed a plate of warm cookies, straight from the oven, next to you and firmly instructed you…do not eat the cookies. They are warm, gooey, and smelling oh so delicious. They’re practically calling for you.
Do you think you could resist eating those cookies?
Maybe, but not without a considerable amount of effort and self-control. I’m guessing it wouldn’t be easy, if it happened at all.
Distractions have a similar impact. They are the things (or people) that pop up as if to say, “Hey! I need your attention RIGHT NOW!” And you are supposed to ignore that and keep working?!
Like resisting a plate of fresh-baked cookies, ignoring distractions is similarly difficult.
The key to managing your time well is not “resisting” distractions, but avoiding (or eliminating) distractions in the first place.
How can this be done? CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article as we review three simple steps you can take to help eliminate distractions!
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If you are looking for a meaningful activity to give YOUR focus to this holiday season, I’d love to invite you to join my FREE 31 Day Gratitude Challenge. This quick daily practice will help you stay rooted and focused on the most important things in life. Trust me, this is one “distraction” you’ll actually want!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
