Feel Overly Distracted? You’re Not Alone and Here’s Why

You’re busy. No, you’re super busy. People might even say super-duper busy. As usual, there’s more to do than hours in the day. And, your schedule isn’t slowing down. You’ve got to do X before Y and then onto Z. But, you can’t seem to shake the notion you’re not actually get anything done. It’s not due to a lack of effort. However, it can easily be explained simply by distractions.

Top Focus Problems People Suffer From

Now, there are several things you can quit doing to be more successful. But, even the most self-disciplined individual isn’t immune from distractions. After all, distractions are everywhere you turn. No matter where you are or what you’re doing. And, it’s not just technology. Sure, smartphones, social media, and more are all culprits. What’s more, you’re not alone if you feel distracted. In fact, the average person’s mind wanders when doing a task between 15 and 20 percent of the time. That statistic, according to Canadian researcher Jonathan Schooler.

We created the labor-saving devices that catalyzed the unplanned explosion within which we live today. But as enlightened managers everywhere are learning, we can learn to manage what we created. When we learn how to take back controls that we’ve given away, we can get better at managing our attention and not surrendering it to every distraction. —Fast Company

Therefore, if a wandering mind is so prominent, what can be done about it? That’s a good question. And, the answer lies in identifying precisely the cause. You know you’re not a scobberlotcher, an idle person who just sits at a desk, twiddling your thumbs. But, you’re certainly not immune to distractions. Distractions break down focus. If you want to improve your productivity, you’ve got to key in on the cause. Here are the top focus problems people suffer from:

  • Lack of sleep. We all know what it’s like to work through a drowsy day. It’s uncomfortable at the very least. So, don’t let sleep deprivation be an obstacle. Get into a routine that helps you to get a good night sleep. Unplug from technology about an hour before you go to bed. And, be sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
  • No priorities. Okay, you have an end goal but along the way, there are many, many different tasks. Without prioritizing them, you’re creating a stressful, chaotic situation. And, it will typically result in a lack of focus precisely because there’s little to no prioritization. Give everything a priority and reap the rewards.
  • Stress. Speaking of stress, when you try to multitask, you’re inviting undue stress. Think about it this way, if you’re trying to do more than one thing at a time, would that cause you to feel more stress? Sure it would. So, put your focus on one thing at a time.
  • Lifestyle. Stress is just one factor; lifestyle is another legitimate cause. You can lose focus because you’re not eating a healthy diet. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and more all make focus easier. Plus, you’ll feel better when you have a healthy lifestyle.

How do you maintain your focus? What methods do you use to keep on task? Have you found different ways to deal with distractions? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Related Posts

Here are the 3 Biggest Self-Imposed Entrepreneurial Roadblocks

More often than not, the person in the mirror is the individual who is most to blame for your problems. Usually, lack of success isn’t due to external circumstances or a run of bad luck. Poor decisions are typically the culprit. And, these mostly come from the failure to recognize certain self-imposed roadblocks. How Modern Culture undermines Businesses Now, this doesn’t mean there are never any real externalities which play a significant role. Just take a quick look at modern culture. Practically everything is now on-demand. We live at a time where immediate gratification is normal. But, that’s a dangerous situation. Success is what every business person and entrepreneur desires from the very core of their being. They have a dream, a genius idea and an initial excitement to make it happen. Having a great idea and building a sustainable empire, however, are very different things and many, if not most, fail. To rank among those who succeed you must master certain disciplines to avoid sabotaging your own success. —Entrepreneur.com You first need to instill self-discipline and realize it’s more advantageous to accomplish your biggest goals in small steps. An incremental approach will cause you to think through scenarios and have a more clear understanding. However, just taking it step-by-step might not be enough. 3 Biggest Self-Imposed Entrepreneurial Roadblocks Let’s get back to how too many entrepreneurs sabotage themselves. They put up roadblocks which keep them from realizing their full potential. So, here’s the three most common self-imposed roadblocks you need to recognize and deal with: Not recognizing futility for what it is. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Wargames,” then you know the scene when Dr. Stephen Falken uses the example of tic-tac-toe to illustrate the importance of recognizing futility. But, that’s the exact opposite of what we hear time and time again. You’re not supposed to give up. Keep fighting and find a way. However, there are times when it’s just futile and you can’t win. Remember Einstein said repeating the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Seriously doubting your own abilities. This is perhaps the most common self-imposed roadblock. It’s natural to have reservations, even to feel fear and/or doubt. Although, too much doubt is a poison pill. It’s simply paralyzing and ultimately self-defeating to give into unrealistic doubts. Saying “Yes” when “No” is appropriate. We’ve all heard the advice to give things away for free or at little cost. Additionally, to always help others. But, saying “Yes,” can easily obstruct your ability to grow your business. After all, you need to focus on your own business to build it up before you can actually be in a position to help others do the same with their companies. What other self-imposed roadblocks have you overcome? How do you move past your own limitations? Please share your thoughts by commenting and joining the conversation! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Read More »

How to Keep Employees Motivated During the Holidays

With Christmas and the new year right around the corner, now is a time when productivity slips, attention spans shorten, and minds wander. It’s no surprise considering there’s so much going on outside the company: trip planning, shopping, decorating, and family gatherings. Inside, it’s supposed to be business as usual, but, the holiday season takes over. No one wants to be a Grinch during the holidays and it’s easy to let festive spirit slow things down. However, in the remaining days of the year, the pressure is on and it’s not always simple to stay the course. How to Keep Employees Motivated during the Holidays While some team members will be on vacation, others will still be showing up and this creates an unstable atmosphere. What’s more, you are not immune from the holiday fever and find it’s difficult enough just to keep yourself on-task. If you’re not careful, you’ll unconsciously let it be known and that’s tantamount to telling everyone to take it easy and slack off. While you certainly don’t want to portray yourself as Ebenezer Scrooge, you do need to set an example and temper your own excitement with good work ethic. Keeping your employees engaged in their work can be a challenge during the holiday season. Considering that the holiday season lasts roughly from the week of Thanksgiving until after New Year’s, managers who don’t find ways to keep their team motivated risk losing a lot of money during the fall and winter months. —Business News Daily.com Doing so won’t necessarily be simple and might even strike you as unnatural, but, if you want to be an effective leader, you’ve got to learn how to play different roles well. That’s what being an entrepreneur is really all about: being flexible and knowing when to take off one hat to put on another. For your employees, the holidays are not only exciting and distracting, it’s the end of the year and looking forward to next year takes their eyes off today. Here are some helpful tips on how to keep employees motivated during the holidays: Be flexible with schedules. The last thing you should do is create conflict and ill will during this time of year. Try to be as flexible as possible with schedules and don’t be afraid to ask for others to step-up when necessary. If you act with team effort, you’ll get a lot more cooperation and positive responses. Let the excitement in the office. There’s nothing wrong with allowing employees to decorate, exchange gifts, and fill the space with holiday music. It puts the spirit of the season to work for you instead of against you. Openly communicate expectations. No one likes the sneaky, sly boss who surprise employees with unpleasant things. You have goals to reach and tasks to get done, so don’t just bark out orders, communicate in a friendly manner and always open up the discussion to new ideas — you might be very surprised by what you hear. Actively engage and manage your team. While people don’t like to be micromanaged, they do appreciate being guided. You’re in a position of authority and this is a wonderful opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills, as well as demonstrate your ability to motivate. Take time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments. Remind people of this year’s accomplishment and be sure to give congratulations with enthusiasm. Speak about being vigilant and finishing the year strong for the good of everyone in your organization. In addition to these, you should also carve out some time for a party or even a dinner. Keep it simple and ask for ideas from your team about what they’d like to do and where to hold it. Give small gifts or even a Christmas card to your employees and let them know just how appreciative you are of their work and dedication. Want to find out about what a business coach can do for you? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Read More »

Imagine Selling Your Business…

How Would Your Life Change?

You didn’t start your business just to stay busy—you built it to create freedom, security, and options for yourself and your family. Selling your business can be life-changing, but the real question is whether you’re intentionally building toward that outcome or simply leaving it to chance.

Sign up below for a free consultative session to learn what your business could be worth today and in the future! 

Thank you for your interest in learning what your business is worth. We will be in touch shortly.