Eliminate Distractions: A Productivity Series for Busy Professionals

by Cathy Gray | Jul 18, 2022 | Professional Articles, Business

There are few things that block productivity with some being in and out our control. The one that is in our control is distractions. When you’re distracted you cannot concentrate and focus properly.

You just won’t get things done. And even if you do accomplish something, it can be stressful and frustrating.

There are two key points which you should keep in mind when you are planning to reduce the distractions in your environment.

1. You must be able to focus on one task at a time

2. You do not want to be distracted by things around you, then you must be able to block out those things.

When you reduce distractions within your ability, you will be productive and get more done.

Find Your Distractions 

You need to know what is distracting you. Are you spending too much time on social media? Do you find yourself looking at your phone or computer when you should be working?

Stop Being Distracted

If you are distracted by phone calls, social media, or other distractions, you need to remove them. You need to be able to focus on your task without interruption.

Cut distractions that are taking away from your productivity. If you find yourself using Facebook, Twitter, or other websites during work hours, take a break and go somewhere else. If you find yourself looking at your phone while working, put it away. If you find yourself wasting time on the Internet, set a timer for 15 minutes and get back to work.

How to manage distractions

Tools such as an Evernote notebook or a whiteboard can help you focus on your tasks.

Set up a system: If you want to remove distractions, set up a system that works for you. If you want to keep your phone on vibrate, turn it off when you begin working on a task. If you want to keep your computer out of sight, put it in a different room.

How to be productive when you are distracted

 Schedule time to end distractions. Set a specific time to use social media or spend time on your phone. Don’t use the Internet as a crutch to get through your day.

The good news is it does not require much time or effort to consider how your habits are affecting your productivity and begin to adjust them accordingly.

Avoid Multitasking to Eliminate Distractions

If you are like most people, multi-tasking has become a part of your everyday life and your everyday vocabulary. There may be several things which you need to do in one day, and you may be doing them simultaneously.

If you overdo multi-tasking, there can be two consequences.

• You might not get everything done 
• You might spread yourself too thin and not have good results. 

The same can be said about distractions. 

Know Your Habits so You Can Improve Your Productivity

Productivity can only be improved by becoming more efficient, by analyzing your habits.

Some people can work with background noise on, people talking around them, or prefer to have the tv on for background noise.

You may even find that you can get the job done better, faster, and more effectively, without any distractions at all.

Experiment with one of the background distractions, and you may find that one of them help your concentration and focus.

While finding whatever works for you is easy if you work on your own, it can be a little more complicated if you work with others. 

Avoiding Distractions When You Work in the Office

For many people, the office is a place of chaos, where there’s never enough time to get everything done. If you work at a desk or a computer, it’s easy to lose track of time.

We all know that distractions can be a real problem when we’re trying to focus. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about that—but there are things we can do to minimize distractions and help us get more done.

Simple and Easy Tips for Minimizing Distractions and Keeping Your Workspace Distraction Free

• Use headphones or keep your office door closed
• Make sure your workspace is clutter-free
• Control your email
• Use a time tracker
• Block time

List of Distractions

This list of distractions is to help you find your distractions so you can focus on them to eliminate. What may be a distraction to you may not be a distraction to someone else.

You can turn off some or all of these distractions and see if you are better able to focus on the task at hand.

• Social media
• Emails
• Phone Calls
• Phone notifications
• Work interruptions
• The Internet
• Instant Messaging or DMs
• Television
• Music
• Other people
• Pets
• Work
• Other People’s Problems
• Your Own Problems

In conclusion, I’m not sure if there’s a secret to productivity.

However, I do know that it’s hard to be productive when you’re distracted. We all have to deal with distractions, but if you can minimize them, you can be more productive. 

Cathy Gray

Cathy Gray is a natural adventurer in her personal and professional life. She adapts to overcome while maintaining an infectious laugh that will make you smile.

Professionally, Cathy currently works for an industrial hose and hydraulics company. While she was a green-horn in the hose business, she spearheaded the company’s eCommerce site from the ground up from a blank canvas to live and selling within 6 months. She continues to grow the company’s online and digital presence while increasing sales year over year.

More About Cathy

Articles

My articles categorized into 3 areas: adventures, professional, and inspirations.
I also have a few guides:
Goal Setting Guide
Ultimate Guide to Choose the Right eCommerce Platform
Productivity Strategies for Busy Professionals

Create a Game Plan: A Productivity Series for Busy Professionals

by Cathy Gray | Jul 17, 2022 | Professional Articles, Business

Effective time management is a factor that all successful people have in common. It may be called structure, setting yourself to the task, or a game plan.

No matter what the word or term you use, just as long as you take it seriously, and put it into practice, you can create a basic game plan.

Structure and time-management may come easy for you, if they have been a regular part of your life. If you are not use to it, now is the time to implement them into your everyday life.

It’s important to be organized and have a schedule. We all know how important this is, but it’s not always easy. You have to have a plan, and you have to stick with it.

When you’re creating a game plan, keep things simple at first. You can use an electronic planner or a simple pen and paper. This way, you’ll be able to keep track of what you need to do.

Set an Overall Goal for What You Want

A goal is a general idea of what you want to achieve. It’s good to have a goal in mind, but you must set a realistic one that you can actually accomplish.

If you set an overall goal for what you want, you will be more likely to achieve it. If you don’t set a goal, then you are less likely to achieve it.

There is also guide to goal setting.

Develop an Action Plan for Your Goal

An action plan is a way to break down what you need to do in order to achieve your goal into small steps. If you don’t have an action plan, you are probably going to get discouraged when you don’t see any results right away.

 The 4-step process for creating a game plan. 

Step 1: Define the goal: What do you want to achieve? This could be a specific goal or it could be a general goal.

Step 2: Identify the Obstacles: What are the things that will prevent you from achieving your goal? This could be external or internal.

Step 3: Plan How to Overcome the Obstacles: What are the steps you need to take in order to overcome the obstacles?

Step 4: Implement the Plan: Once you have a plan, implement the plan.

Schedule Your Time According to You Game Plan

It is important to schedule your time according to your game plan so you are more likely to finish. This will help you to avoid procrastination. Procrastination leads to the failure of your goals.

Step 1: Create a schedule: Create a schedule for your week, day, and/or hour. You can use a calendar, a whiteboard, a notebook, or anything else that works for you. Think about your deadline for each of your tasks.

Step 2: Review your schedule: Review your schedule daily. Check your schedule to make sure you’re on track.

Step 3: Be honest with yourself: When you schedule your time, be honest with yourself. If you don’t complete a task on your schedule, be honest with yourself. Don’t procrastinate.

Step 4: Use your time wisely: If you’re not using your time wisely, you’re wasting your time. 

If You Have Difficulty Getting Started with Your Game Plan

The first thing to do is to set aside some time. Set aside an hour or so and then go at it.

If you don’t have an hour, start with 15 minutes. You will be amazed how much you can get done in just 15 minutes.

If you do this once a week, you will soon find that you have a lot more time than you thought. This is a simple and effective way to increase the number of hours in a day.

With a game-plan, you may find yourself getting more done each day than you usually accomplish in a week.

Not only will you be more productive, but achieving each goal will come much easier. You will soon appreciate this all-important factor in your success.

Cathy Gray

Cathy Gray is a natural adventurer in her personal and professional life. She adapts to overcome while maintaining an infectious laugh that will make you smile.

Professionally, Cathy currently works for an industrial hose and hydraulics company. While she was a green-horn in the hose business, she spearheaded the company’s eCommerce site from the ground up from a blank canvas to live and selling within 6 months. She continues to grow the company’s online and digital presence while increasing sales year over year.

More About Cathy

Articles

My articles categorized into 3 areas: adventures, professional, and inspirations.
I also have a few guides:
Goal Setting Guide
Ultimate Guide to Choose the Right eCommerce Platform
Productivity Strategies for Busy Professionals