We make plans and schedule events into our calendars, but at the end of the week, find that we missed accomplishing all that we set out to do. What happened to all the time we had? We all get the same 168 hours each week, but why do some people have no problem hitting their goals while others struggle to cross one item off their to-do list? Distractions. Your cell phones, computers, tablets, and TVs are huge distractions that we need to manage. Here are my top 3 ways to avoid distractions.
Find Your Time
We all have specific times of the day in which we perform best. For me, it’s morning time. I like to get up early usually around 5 am and spend time alone either writing for my own blog or catching up on other blogs. I get up before anyone else is moving and enjoy the silence and the time to focus on my own thing. It’s the same thing I used to do as a child. Growing up with two older brothers meant chaos in the house, but in the early morning hours, after my father left for work, the house was quiet and I would go downstairs, sit on the floor in a corner and read. It was my time and the only quiet time I could get in that house. But when I was in High School, I thought I was a night owl, not a morning lark. I stayed up late doing homework and watching TV and then struggled each morning trying to wake up. I kept at this horrible schedule for several years, sleeping through the most productive time of day for me and then slogging through the rest of the day. It wasn’t until I was introduced to morning pages that I started getting up early again. And once started, I haven’t stopped.
Turn It Off
Once I found my productive time, I needed to protect it. And the first thing I did was establish some ground rules with my husband. He knows that my morning quiet time is important and respects it—and it helps that he hates getting up early. This was my time to write or read without the sounds of the TV or the distractions of cell phones or computers. When I’m writing, I write the old-fashioned way, pen to paper. No need for the computer until I’m ready to start putting it into the blog. On the days that I’m catching up with other blogs, while I need the computer, there is still no TV during this time. It’s basically writing or reading time for me.
This might be harder for anyone who finds they work better in the afternoon or evening—when your family is also up and active. You will still need to set ground rules, you need to gain commitment from your family to respect your time and you’ll need to find a place (like your bedroom or an office,) that takes you away from most of the noise. At times when there are other noises in the house, I put my headset on and listen to something like the Creative Mind System by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. No lyrics to distract me. Just music that is both calming and conducive to my creativity.
Plan In “Fire-Drill” Time
This is important. We can plan out all we want to in our calendars, but if we’re not setting aside time for the unexpected, then we are the creators of our own problems. What are you going to do with your goals if you have to spend 4 hours in the emergency room because your child sprained an ankle? What if you forgot a special birthday or anniversary and need to run out to do some shopping? Where are your plans for writing or crafting or studying then?
What does that look like in a calendar? It’s really about planning ahead. Your calendar for today can’t include something that is due today (or even tomorrow.) If you are a blogger, that means your posts really should be scheduled out at least a week in advance. How can you meet a deadline of tomorrow if you have nothing written and an emergency comes up? But the follow-through is also important. And this is something that I’m sometimes guilty of….if this week, you write next week’s post, then you have to keep going. Don’t stop and think you’re good for a week and don’t have to worry about writing anything for the rest of this week. Just continue on with the plan, follow the schedule in your calendar. Stay ahead and then you can weather the emergencies and last minute to-do’s as they come up.
I hope these help you and I’ve love to hear about other ways that you use to avoid distractions.
Great suggestions! I like to get my work done in the morning too — but a 5 am start is a little early! : ) Thanks for sharing your tips.
I have to be in work between 8am and 9am. A 5am start allows me time to write and get ready to leave on time. On the weekends I ease back to 6am
Stumbled, Good tips. I find myself running around like I in a six car pile up after escaping a dumpster fire sometimes. Maybe I’ll heed your advice :).
Shari…my comment was going to mirror yours. I am a morning person for sure…but my mornings start with a 6 (or 7, or 8 😉 I love that you use pen and paper and that you have clued your husband in. I always love reading about other people’s process.
Thanks for sharing what works for you. I love the early mornings, too, and find it’s my most productive time of day. I also spend a few minutes at the end of my work day to organize my thoughts and priorities for the next day. It helps me leave my home office with a clearer head and transition more fully back into “home.”
I so hear you, distractions are so tough when blogging, I come across posts that I love which leads to other ones. I need to carve out some quiet morning time to write. Great post!
Gosh this is true! I am so brilliant and awesome and witty at night, but mornings make my brain numb. I know — you’re wondering if it’s really early for me now. Ha ha. Good post. We have to “protect our productive time!”
Get writing while the time of night is right
Oh how I wish I was a morning person sometimes…. I’d fit in better with what my world seems to want from me! I’m a night owl through and through, but I’m currently attempting to change to much earlier times in an effort to fit both my full time job and blogging in, and still maintain some semblance of sanity! Getting home at around 6, then writing or working on my blog, plus doing my correction for school work until 10 or 11, then reading or mucking around on the computer until after 12 does not fit well when my partner has just started getting up at 5.30 for his new job. That means I’m awake then too (very light sleeper), and don’t really go back to sleep. I’m thinking if I could get up when he does, I could fit in a couple of hours before I leave for work at 7.45.
I just love the night time so much though! Plus, I’m just over 50 and my hormones are starting to play havoc with me….. so sleeping has become even more difficult.
I’m very intrigued by the ‘Creative Mind System’ music you mentioned. I will definitely have to check that out. I’ve also been hearing about a book called ‘The Morning Miracle’, which helps people set up a beautiful routine in the morning. That’s the next book on my list to read…. after my current pile!
Lovely to find your blog via Blog Share Learn! Linda. 🙂
I have a schedule that starts at 5am and ends between 10 and 11 at night. But I still do my writing in the morning. That’s the best time for me. You’ll have to figure out what works best but maybe you should take all that “extra” stuff and put it in the morning so you can still write at night. I’d be interested in knowing how this experiment in changing from night owl to morning lark works out for you.
I love writing Morning Pages too – it really wakes me up like nothing else does. As for blog posts, I’m usually someone who writes on the fly, but I really need to change that soon. Thanks for helping me see how an emergency could put a spoke in the wheels!
Great advice here. Like you, I like to write in the morning when no one else is around and the house is quiet. No distractions means I get more done. I also have posts planned weeks in advance – never sure when I’ll be called in for extra babysitting or some other family emergency.
Hi Jennifer,
I was always more productive at night in the past and I knew that mornings are killing my creativity. To me, when the night comes, it soothes my soul and I am able to work better. I believe it is all about finding the right schedule so as not to get distracted. I don’t own a TV because I see no point on it. When I had in the past, I felt it was only a distraction. If I want to watch a show or read the news, I can do that by surfing the net.
Great advice! Have a beautiful day!
Zaria
Definitely a morning person too (says she stirring from a very rare afternoon nap!) My own mind is my biggest distraction – I used to be called a scatter brain at school and after working with children with ADHD, I am sure I have that. I have a list system that works for me – if it ain’t on the list, it ain’t getting my attention (unless it’s a broken leg or flood etc). Even then I struggle to stay focused because it’s like living with a brain that streaks ahead with 100 more ideas before I have hardly started on the previous 100. It’s very tiring at times and counter-productive. Since being self-employed, I miss having a manager.
I know what you mean. I try to deal with my ADD mind by writing lists or hitting the idea down in my notebook. If I don’t pay attention it will be lost, but if I pay it too much attention my other project will be lost. So I think to hi e it just enough.