Conquer Your Distractions
I've been doing a lot of thinking about how we can better manage interruptions and distractions to help us get more done. So, I wanted to share my thoughts and some resources with you.
Picture the scene: you're finally in the zone, working on something important, and ping, a notification or a sudden urge to check your phone pops up. It's a constant battle… and it's one we can win!
Here are three tips to help you conquer distractions and reclaim your focus:
The Pomodoro Technique: This classic technique can be a game changer. The idea is to work in focused bursts of 25 minutes, followed by short breaks of 5 minutes. This structure helps maintain concentration and prevents burnout. Plus, knowing a break is coming can make it easier to resist distractions during the focused work periods. There is also a fab app called Forest, where you grow trees during the time you are focused; if you interrupt your focused time, your tree doesn’t grow.
Tame the Notification Beast: This is a biggie for me. Those notifications and the desire to ‘step into’ social and news apps, hugely impact my focus. This week I deleted a few social apps from my phone, meaning I now need to actively log on to a web browsers to access them - a very powerful change for me. Perhaps try this out for yourself or consider turning off non-essential notifications on your phone and computer. You'll be amazed at how much more you can concentrate when you're not constantly being pulled in different directions.
Mindful Moments: Take a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness or meditation. Even a short session can help train your brain to be less reactive to distractions and improve your ability to focus.
Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus. - Alexander Graham Bell
To further help you on your focus journey, here are some resources I've found helpful:
Quote to ponder: The above quote from Alexander Graham Bell reminds me that focused energy is powerful energy! What rises to the surface for you when you read it?
"The Art of Focus" by Christina Bengtsson: This TED Talk explores the concept of focus as a skill that can be developed and practiced. Bengtsson shares insights from her experience as an athlete and offers practical tips for improving concentration.
Feeling Distracted? 10 Tricks For Getting Your Focus Back On Track: This article from Forbes offers practical strategies for identifying and eliminating common distractions.
What strategies do you use to stay focused? I'd love to hear the tips and tools you have! Comment below and share your thoughts if the feeling takes you.
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Here’s to productive and focused days ahead!
