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Top 10 Ways to Crush Distraction (6-10)

Posted on by Mark Ford

Part 2:

We all know what we should be doing; we just don’t want to do it. It’s easy to put off undesirable deadlines and assignments until the very last minute, but then we’re forced to pull a stress-induced all-nighter. Seven cups of coffee later, we’re exhausted, frustrated, and turning in a project that hardly showcases our best work. Here are the top 10 tips to crush procrastination and actually get some work done!

 

Last time we covered 1-5:

  • Get organized
  • Set simple achievable goals
  • Create a timeline/schedule
  • Set a deadline
  • Get rid of distractions

Now let’s complete the list and the coaching… (#9 is my “go to”)

 

6. Time yourself 

When loaded with projects and deadlines, it’s easy to overwork yourself. Plus, our brains can really only handle so much information and focus at a time! So how long should you work on one item? Everyone is different, but most experts agree on a range of 50 to 90 minutes. Set a timer for a block of focused work to prevent yourself from burning out.  You may have to experiment to find your “sweet spot” for the length of time you spend on each task. According to the Atlantic, the formula for perfect productivity is to work for 52 minutes and break for 17.

 

7. Take a break

It’s important to take mental breathers from work every now and then. When your timer goes off, take a 10–30-minute break. Listen to music, take a walk, do something less intense, or scream into a pillow—anything that takes your mind off of work and allows you to relax.

 

8. Use incentives

Everyone loves being rewarded. It’s important to give yourself incentives, no matter how small. It could be something as simple as, “If I work on this project for an hour, I’ll take a break to read a chapter of this new book.” Or it could be a bigger goal like, “If I knock the ball out of the park with my presentation at the meeting, I’ll take my significant other to our favorite restaurant.” It’s easier to pay attention when something is at stake.

 

9. Get the hard stuff done first

This may make you want to push everything back farther. It’s hard to do something that you don’t want to do. But guess what? Once you do it, it’s over! It is best to complete your most challenging assignments first. That way everything after it seems easier and takes a shorter amount of time. If you keep pushing the month end report back, you’re never going to get it done. It’s best to buckle down and just do it.

 

10. Tell someone about your goal

It’s easy to forget about assignments or put them off if you’re the only person holding yourself accountable. If you really want to get something done, tell a co-worker, friend, or family member. Now there is someone helping you hold yourself responsible for your goals. You can’t back out or slough it off. As an added bonus, you also have someone to celebrate your victories with, no matter how small. Whether it’s getting the promotion you’ve worked hard for this year or even just finishing a project a few days in advance, your friend will be there to support you.

Top 10 Ways to Crush Distraction (1-5)

Posted on by Mark Ford

We all know what we should be doing; we just don’t want to do it. It’s easy to put off undesirable deadlines and assignments until the very last minute, but then we’re forced to pull a stress-induced all-nighter. Seven cups of coffee later, we’re exhausted, frustrated, and turning in a project that hardly showcases our best work. Here are the top 10 tips to crush procrastination and actually get some work done!

  1. Get organized

You can’t do any work if you don’t know what projects and items need to be completed. Invest in a planner or start using the calendar app on your phone. This makes it much easier to keep track of individual projects and important due dates. Need help getting started? Reach out.

  1. Set simple, achievable goals

Part of the reason we procrastinate is because the task at hand seems too daunting. It’s much easier to start a project when you establish simple, reachable goals rather than to have just a big, vague plan. Instead of telling yourself, “I’ll complete the inventory tonight,” say, “I’ll complete inventorying sections 2 & 3 this evening.” This makes your goals less intimidating and more attainable by breaking them into smaller, more easily achievable tasks. It will help you feel more accomplished and driven to keep going if you’re checking off more tasks as you go.

  1. Create a timeline/schedule

After you set your goals, create a timeline to complete them. This could be a schedule for your big sales event coming up (“Monday – Create the draft marketing plan. Tuesday – find out the pricing for the proposed marketing,” etc.), or it could be mapping out the inventory ordering training process (“I’ll write out steps 1-10 today from 1-2:30 p.m.”). Breaking an assignment into small chunks over time makes it much more manageable.

  1. Set a deadline

So many people get trapped in the cycle of “Someday, I’ll organize my training manual” or “I’ll get to that communication later this week.” The truth is that “someday,” and “eventually” never come. It’s important to set a specific date for when you want your goals to be accomplished. If you have to meet a deadline, aim to have it completed one or two days in advance. Then, if something unexpected happens, you still have extra time to complete it.

  1. Get rid of distractions

It’s important to rid yourself of all potential disruptions before you begin working so you don’t get needlessly sidetracked halfway through your task. If you tend to spend too much time on social media when you should be making cold calls, then set a timer on your phone to go off when you’ve spent 20 minutes scrolling so you can get to work. Distractions could also be external sources, like annoying employees. Try listening to music or white noise to drown out their constant chatter. Alternatively, you could change environments altogether and head down to the local coffee shop or to a private office, where you can clear your mind and study distraction-free.

Next time 6-10.