About Distractions

Distractions are an annoyance. They divert your attention away from what you are supposed to focus on. They interfere with your plans. They affect your productivity and delay your progress. Interference and diversions come in many forms. Telephone calls, urgent matters, petty issues, and many others can sidetrack your concentration. Most of them are time wasters.

When you have a purpose in life, you are aware of what's important to you. When you know what you want and the reasons behind it, you will look for the best solution under any circumstances. You'll find it easier to say "No" when the need arises. You'll know what and whom to avoid.

According to Stephen R. Covey in his First Things First, you should plan your activities around your roles. You have a role to play. You are an employee or a boss, a parent, a friend or whatever. Break them and write them down. This strategy will help you prioritize, overcome procrastination and develop self discipline.

You may have written down your plans. But how do you measure your accomplishments? An effective way to notice is to record your activities. And at the end of your day or week, check them out. See how much time you have spent on checking emails, socializing or on other distractions. Compare those to what you did that were productive. This should make you see why you are not making progress.

One of the ways to minimize distractions especially at work is to communicate effectively. When you give instructions to your subordinates, ensure that you communicate clearly and that they understand what is expected. And when you receive any instruction, make sure that you understand and don't misinterpret the orders given.

Regardless of how busy you are, you should insist to have your alone time. During this "Do not disturb" time, tell people to respect it. Use it to plan, read, learn and to contemplate. Don't put yourself at the mercy of others. You should give your attention and time for others. But that doesn't mean that you have to be present all the time. You don't have to get too involved in other people's problems and lives. There is a time and a place for everything.

Suppose you have a project to finish on a certain date and you fear that you will not make it. That thought will attract all kinds of distractions to prove to you that you are right. You'll procrastinate. You'll focus on the unimportant things. You'll make excuses.

Everything that is happening on the outside has to do with what's going inside. Check your thoughts. You may need to change your thinking and the way you feel about things and people. Set your intention to complete a task and imagine its completion. This will drive you to take action. And you will attract corresponding events to make things happen.

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