The Five Most Common Daily Distractions

Distractions can be found in every aspect of our daily lives - both personal and professional. From phone calls to emails to text to meetings, unexpected interruptions can have a major impact on your productivity. That's why it's crucial to have a plan for keeping your productivity on track. To help and inspire you, here are five common daily distractions and ways to combat them.

1. Email....So Many Emails

It's not just the constant barrage of emails coming in, it's also the unreasonable expectation that you should respond to emails quickly. Try setting aside specific times during the day to check and respond to emails. You may also find it helpful to set boundaries with work-related emails, such as not responding after-hours or on the weekends.

2. Phone Notifications

It takes the brain an average of 23 minutes to get back on track after a distraction - and our phones buzz on average once every 12 minutes. No wonder it's so hard to stay focused! When you really need to focus, try putting your phone on silent and turning off unnecessary notifications. Just like with email, set specific times you'll check your phone during the day. If you find yourself still tempted to check your phone during hours you need to be focused and productive, you may find it best to leave it in your bag or even in a completely different room if you work from home.

3. Task-Switching

Task-switching, also known as multitasking, has actually been found to hinder productivity. Rather than trying to do multiple things at once, the most productive individuals focus on just one task at a time. If you've been a multitasker for a long time, you may find it challenging at first to just do one thing. Meditation can be a great way to retrain your brain to focus on the task at hand. Working from a prioritized list of tasks and taking short breaks throughout the day can also be effective ways to boost productivity.

4. Friends and Family

We all have people in our circles that unfortunately seem oblivious to the fact that we have our own agenda and things to get done. Whether it's a chatty coworker at the office or your mom dropping by during the day because you work from home, setting boundaries will help you stay on track and avoid unnecessary distractions. Be polite but firm, and if you want, offer an alternative time and/or place to get together.

5. Getting Distracted by Personal Duties

With so many people now working from home, it can be tempting to try and do some personal tasks during work downtime. It's best to set aside work hours for specifically focusing on work, and non-work hours for personal tasks. If you do choose to complete personal tasks during work hours, set aside blocks of time and use a timer to keep you focused and on task. Avoid doing this too often however, because it takes the brain a bit to regain focus after changing tasks and that time adds up!

The five common distractions we've outlined in this article can be extremely disruptive to our productivity. However, with a bit of organization and mindfulness, we can overcome these interruptions and stay on task. Utilizing the tips we've provided, such as setting aside specific times for checking emails or responding to texts, focusing on one task at a time, and taking breaks throughout the day, will help you boost your productivity and avoid unnecessary distractions.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Tips for Getting Organized So You Can Better Plan Your Day

In order to be productive, it is important to get organized. This means creating a system where you can easily find what you need when you need it. It also means setting aside time for the tasks that are most important to you. A little bit of organization can go a long way in helping you achieve your goals.

There are several ways you can go about organizing your tasks and responsibilities, and we've included some below to help you get started.

1. Set goals

Setting attainable goals can help you stay focused and productive. It's easier to organize your work into manageable tasks when you set specific goals with steps and a timeline. Be sure to create both short- and long-term goals to keep yourself on track!

2. Track progress

Tracking your progress is a great way to make sure you are accomplishing your goals in the timeframe you planned. It's also a really good way to keep yourself motivated - when you see how much progress you've already made it's a lot easier to keep going! You can also use progress tracking to help you figure out what times of the day and week you are the most productive and schedule your most important tasks for those times in the future.

3. Use a planner

A planner is an excellent way to assess the efficiency of your work schedule. You can use a planner to track your daily, weekly, and monthly goals and activities. You're more likely to achieve your objectives and recall important details when you keep a record of what has been done and what is coming up in the future.

There are many types of planners (also called agendas). Some planners have a space for every day, while others are weekly or monthly. Think about what kind of planner would best suit you and your work. If you work on your computer often, you could also consider using a digital planner or app.

It doesn't matter if you use a paper planner (yes, they are making a come-back!) or a digital planner - but the secret of being successful is using something to track you goals, to-do lists and your progress. 

If it's written down - it will more than likely get done - as opposed to just "thinking that you should do it...".

4. Create to-do lists

To keep up productivity throughout the day, try using a to-do list. To-do lists are simple yet highly effective lists that may assist you maintain focus throughout the day. Write down important activities on your to-do list and organize them by priority.

For example, you could place what you need to accomplish before the end of the day at the top of your list and what can wait until the next day at the bottom.

5. Keep a clean environment

You should be able to quickly and easily find everything you need and want in an organized workplace. This helps your workflow be more constant. Putting objects back where they belong, keeping personal things separate from work stuff, and straightening your work area every afternoon are all examples of keeping a clean environment. A clean workstation makes staying productive much easier.

Clutter in your workstation is a big distraction. Remove any thing from your workplace that you don't use on a regular basis. Tidy up your work area at the end of each day and declutter once a week in order to keep things clean and organized.

6. Clean up your email

If you’re like most people, your inbox is clogged with messages. Cleaning up your mail keeps it organized and makes it easier to locate important messages.

Create labeled folders in your email to manage all of your messages and filters to automatically organize new emails into their appropriate folders. Labeling emails helps you stay on top of replies and keeps important documents together in one location.

 

The goal of being more organized is to help you work more productively. When you're able to focus on your tasks and complete them in a timely manner, you feel better about yourself and your work. There are several tips listed here that will help you get started with becoming more organized and productive. Start out trying one or two at a time and see how they work for you. Remember, there is no one right way to be organized. Do what works best for you so that you can achieve your goals.

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Breaking Bad Habits: Planning for Setbacks

Having a home that is decluttered and organized takes a lot of work. It starts with a vision of what you want your home to look like. And then you need to create a plan on how to get there.

But for a lot of people – it also starts with breaking their “bad habits” (unlearning them) and learning “new habits”. Something as simple as not dropping your coat and backpack on the floor when you walk into your house – and putting it into a designated spot instead.

Once you have decided that you want to make changes to your home and life – people tend to go full speed ahead – usually without a plan – and then come to a grinding halt when things don’t go as fast as they thought they would or they become totally overwhelmed. 

 And then the guilt sets in….

Breaking bad habits can be a challenging and often frustrating process. It can be easy to fall off the wagon and revert to old habits. But it's vital to remember that setbacks are a normal part of the process and can actually be an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Here are several steps you can take to plan for setbacks and get back on track.

Forgive Yourself

It's important to be kind to yourself when you experience a setback. Don't beat yourself up or dwell on the mistake. Instead, recognize that it's a normal part of the process and move on.

Take a Break

Sometimes a setback happens just because you’re overworking yourself. Often you can put things right by going for a walk, or working on something else and coming back to the issue with a clear mind. Planning for frequent breaks will help you minimize the number of setbacks you experience.

Evaluate What Happened

Take some time to reflect on what led to the setback. For example, did you have a particularly stressful day that made it harder to stick to your habits? Did you get caught up in a social situation that made it difficult to resist temptation? Understanding the root cause and triggers surrounding the setback will help you develop strategies to prevent it from happening again.

Set Specific and Achievable Goals

Clear goals keep you focused and motivated as you overcome setbacks. Be sure to set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Be Flexible and Adaptable

Setbacks are a normal part of life. It’s vitally important to be flexible and adaptable in the face of them. If something isn't working, be willing to adjust your plan and try something new.

Find Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Stress majorly contributes to setbacks, so it's imperative to find healthy ways to manage it. Choose healthy options that are proven to work, like exercise, meditation, or talking to a therapist.

Restart

Don't let a setback discourage or derail your progress entirely. Instead, use it as an opportunity to start fresh. Set a new goal and make a plan to achieve it. Don't worry about how long it will take – just focus on taking small steps in the right direction.

Seek Support

It is helpful to have someone to talk to when trying to break a bad habit. A friend or family member who is supportive and understanding can encourage and help you stay motivated. You can also consider joining a support group or working with a coach or therapist to help you overcome your challenges.

Stay Positive

Getting discouraged during a setback is common, but staying positive and focusing on your progress is important. Remember that change takes time, and it's okay to have setbacks along the way.

Planning for setbacks is an important part of breaking bad habits. You can overcome setbacks and progress towards your goals by forgiving yourself, evaluating what happened, restarting, and seeking support. So don't get discouraged – keep moving forward, and you’ll live a better life through positive habits sooner than you think.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....