Time to become less distracted
Time to become less distracted
In our hyper-connect world, there is more stimulation than ever before; sometimes that stimulation actively pokes us (i.e. phone notifications) and sometimes the mere knowing the distraction is an option, is enough to take us way from the meaningful stuff (i.e. scrolling amazon, mid task, for that desk organiser you know it will distractedly change your productivity.)
If you want to limit the effects of these external forces, pulling you way from the stuff that aligns with your deeper values, then here’s 5 tips
Batch email - Set aside time each day when you are intentionally focusing on tackling your inbox; stop responding to emails mid task or on the go. That ‘quick’ email response on your phone whilst commuting, probably took you 10 times longer and was written more poorly, than it would have been sitting a desk. 10 times longer, across 100 emails the average office worker gets per day, will sure build up! If you’re on the go, dive deep in to a single task like reading or listening a podcast. If you’re at a desk, in a non-email slot, then set your email software to ‘don’t disturb’
“ We need to claim back the notion that what is urgent for someone else, doesn’t need to be what is urgent for you”
Refuse meetings -A diary full or meetings can give you, and potentially your manager, the sense that you’re a productive person, but oftentimes what can be achieved in a 30 meeting, can probably be dealt with in 5 minute call or a 1 minute email. If you do take meetings however, make sure; there is an agenda, only necessary people are there, at least some brainstorming happens before and replace devices, with pens & paper to remove in meeting distraction
Delete some apps - As much as I’d love a ‘dumb phone’ I want access to maps, my ring cameras, parking apps… and of course, social media is a big part of my work. So, under the assumption we’re going to keep our phones, lets a least make it less distracting. First step is an easy one; delete the apps you don’t use. Step two is to categorise the apps in to 3 categories across 3 screens, deleting what doesn’t fit; 1) Life Tools e.g. calculator or maps 2) Aspiration - things you’d like to do more of e.g. kindle app, yoga app, or podcast app 3) Work/ Admin - things you absolutely have to have access to on your portable device e.g. emails, social media, pdf viewer. Final step is to turn off as many notifications as possible.
Leave-me-alone mode - if you’re around other people, there will be points in the day where they want something from you; your partner wants to know where they left their keys, you child wants to have a snack, your co-worker wants to access a file. We need to claim back the notion that what is urgent for someone else, doesn’t need to be what is urgent for you. When you want to go deep in a task, find a way of telling people. Direct tactics might be; saying a shut door / a mini sign / a particular hat(!) means don’t disturb unless critically urgent. You could also try just wearing oversized headphones, even if you’re not listening to anything, and hope people get the passive message.
Have intention for each block -If you’re not 100% committed to an activity in a 30min slot of your day, you’ll have nothing to hold on to when a distracting force tries to pull you under the surface. What follows might seem like overkill, but its time to reclaim you focus. Each Sunday night, plan you week and have intention for each slot. Colour code it to 3 categories, in order of priority; stuff for you, stuff for friends/family and then work. If you decide to allocate a period to scrolling YouTube, that fine; knowing it’s there should help you avoid it at other times. I’ve even played with adding tasks for commutes; I have ‘invoicing commutes’, ‘not-fiction commutes’ and ‘social media commutes’!
Let me know how you get on with seizing back your time. I’d always love to hear from you and will respond to every comment . For more of my writing do subscribe to my newsletter.