We all know that distractions are inevitable. Distraction has two sides of a coin. Sometimes it’s good, especially if we’re under stress or undergoing difficulties in life. It served as our diversion than to dwell in things that cause us pain and grief. But like we said, distraction can also be destructive. How so?
“By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” — Christopher Columbus
Distraction can only be destructive when it hinders you from achieving your goal.
Whether you’re achieving a personal goal, milestones, or a business goal, getting distracted is fatal in achieving your success. At all times you need to stay focus. Otherwise, you’ll stray from your priorities. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll fail in your business venture. How do we reestablish our focus?
Here are our five surefire tips to eliminate distraction to increase your productivity.
List down specific, tangible, and achievable goals
We all have goals in life. But sometimes we fail at achieving them because we “feel like they’re out of reach”. So instead of listing vague goals, write down achievable, concrete goals to keep you motivated. Want to start a business? List down the task you need to accomplish. You can start by raising capital, working on a marketing plan, so on and so forth. Want to finish writing a book? It seems a daunting task, but if you write one chapter per week, 1000 words per day? That’s pretty achievable!
Don’t Multitask
The ability to multitask seems pretty cool and powerful, but it is actually destructive. In order to accomplish a goal, you need to focus on one task at a time. Finishing one task at a time is not an easy thing to do. You need to give your utmost, undivided attention to delivering a high-quality end product and accomplishing it. Otherwise, you’ll end up offering a “half-cooked product” that doesn’t satisfy your company’s needs and standards. Remember, one step at a time.
Keep your Desk Clear from any distractions
Bear in mind that distractions are not only influenced by your willpower but an essential element of that came from the external environment. That’s why it’s important to “de-clutter” your desk to keep focused and organized. Do you find yourself staring at your phone every 10 minutes, waiting for his text message? Put your phone in your drawer or closet. Getting distracted by the email you’re getting? Log out your email, turn off all the apps and software that are distracting you from working.
Take “Frequent” Breaks
It may seem counter-intuitive, but taking frequent breaks can help you maintain your focus and achieve your goal. This is because your willpower is like “running a marathon”. At first, you’re at your best. You give your all into running. After a few minutes, that willpower starts to diminish. So, what do we have to do in order to boost that willpower again? Take breaks. Rest. Practice taking a break after 30 minutes of working.
Then when you’re revitalized, you’re ready to tackle another round of work feeling motivated again. Do this until you accomplish that goal! Furthermore, you’ll actually feel more accomplished rather than burned out at the end of the day!
Set your time
To get focused on the task at hand, you need to make time in working on it. That means you need to treat your goal as a business appointment. Surely, you wouldn’t want to miss a business appointment, right? You’ll do everything on your part to accomplish it. As such, you need to set a consistent time to start working on it. Is it in the morning? Afternoon? Or do you prefer working at night?
Whenever that may be, be sure to “commit to your scheduled time every day”. Setting time will also help you establish a routine. Sooner or later, working on your goal will be as natural as breathing, and you’ll be done with it without you realizing it! So what are you waiting for? Start polishing your time management skills to stay focused on achieving your goal!
