105: 5 Distraction-Crushing ways to get more done and live productive.

Whether you’re a content producer, business owner, or working 9 to 5, if we don’t have our priorities straight, we’ll remain distracted. These distractions keep us from remaining focused on what’s most important in life.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about keep distractions at bay and remaining focused to accomplish our tasks. Without the proper tools, you’ll get sucked into facebook or youtube and you’ve wasted your day before you know it.

I write and talk about distractions because I’m easily distracted. Knowing where my weakness helps me remain focused on getting the job done. Does it mean I’m perfect, no? What it does mean, when I find myself drowning in work, I realize I’ve been too distracted in life and I need to make a change.

Distractions in our work-day are akin to texting while driving. It causes more harm than good. I’ve found 5 ways to help keep our eyes focused on our main goals.

1. Begin with a plan.

The Bible says to write the vision and make it plain so that he who reads can read it on the run. In the morning hours, after you’ve arrived at your desk, make a game plan of what you want to accomplish that day.

Take 20-30 minutes to plan out your day. Use a notepad, or tablet and make a list of everything you want to do. Don’t worry about your computer. Don’t check your email. Just write your ideas down. With a plan in place, you’ll be more focused on achieving those goals before the clock strikes 5.

2. Stick to your plan.

It’s easy to become distracted by emails, phone calls, Facebook, and even Youtube. But because you’ve written down your game plan for the day, you’ll be more attuned to staying motivated to finish the job. I use a combination of written notes, task management software, and my calendar to help me stay on target.

When I’m consistent in creating a to-do list, I’m more productive in a single day. When you find yourself getting distracted, take a moment, walk around, then come back to your task. Breathers are good but don’t get sucked into the electronics.

3. Use Pomodoro to block off your day into chunks.

This one thing will take your productivity to the next level. You take your to-do list and you break your day into bite-sized chunks. When you’re feeling overwhelmed by a project, make it manageable by using the Pomodoro technique.

What is it?

You split up each hour of the day into 20 – 30-minute segments. Find a task on your list, set the timer for 20 minutes and you work on it without stopping. Take a 5-minute break, then begin again.

When you break up your day and schedule it out, it gives you the freedom to structure your day in a more productive way. Take email, for instance, you can get sucked into an email. Break it up into one chunk, and you’ll not have to touch it again for a few hours.

4. Create an ideal week.

This one thing has revolutionized my life. I took my week and broke it up into themes. Each day has a specific theme I plan to accomplish. Each day is broken up into self, work, and family.

It’s color coded. Things in green are negotiable and can fluctuate, things in red are nonnegotiable, like traveling home. You’re stuck and can’t be productive.

I also have negative gray areas, these areas I purposefully don’t schedule things so I can spend it with my family. My family needs to remain my highest focus, that ‘s why I don’t schedule anything in those areas.

5. Know your priorities for work and home.

We exist in two places, home, and work. It’s easy for work to interfere with home life. I’ve made this my top priority, the family is non-negotiable.

If you want to be successful in your family, you have to make sure they know they’re your top priority. I’ve made the choice when I’m at home I keep the office at the office. Even though I bring my computer home each night, I limit my work to the next day.

For this website and podcast, I wait until my family goes to bed, Fridays, or early morning to do my work. This way I can spend as much time investing in my family so they can succeed in their lives.

This is why we need a proper order in life. Here’s mine.

• God
• Myself
• Wife
• My Daughter
• Work
• Everything else.

If you know your priorities and keep them ordered, you’ll have a structured life and a healthy family. We too often live with distractions. They keep us from fulfilling our purpose. but, if you remain focused, use this list you’ll have a distraction-free life.

[reminder]Where do you struggle in staying focused on your priorities?[/reminder]