Go Distraction free

In today's fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere when we sit down to work. It's crucial now more than ever to carve out a space free from interruptions so we can concentrate on our priorities.

Even though I’m a jack of all trades when it comes to writing, artistic endeavors, business consulting, and life coaching, I also read other fields to learn about real estate, finance, banking, politics and so much more. I’ve found many successful people such as real estate mogul, Gary Keller gives great advice when it comes to being successful in business. He once said, “Success is not a marathon but a sprint, fueled by discipline until good habits take over.” He’s absolutely correct because I find when things start spiraling out of control, it's time for me to pause and evaluate my actions and determine what's effective and what's not.

In this article, I'll be sharing the daily habits that I find helpful for me to establish a distraction-free environment and boost my productivity every day. Let's cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.

1. I suggest you Unplug from the online world

Let's face it, most of us are hooked on the internet, especially in this day and age where our gadgets are practically glued to our hands.

We're constantly bombarded with endless content, making it super tough to concentrate and get stuff done.

So why not do yourself a solid and switch off that internet connection? Power down your Wi-Fi router, switch off your mobile data or find a spot where the internet doesn't exist.

If you're in a busy office, classroom, or even your home, sometimes it’s beneficial to shut down those internet-dependent apps and focus on offline tasks. Split up your work - do your online research, save it, and then switch off to tackle the rest of your project offline.

2. Time to say goodbye to your television

It's time to break up with your TV. I kicked mine to the curb years ago and don’t miss it at all. The internet has made us less reliant on traditional television, so why not give it a break?

Having the TV on in the background while you work is just asking for trouble. It’s a distraction and time-stealing device, kick it to the curb.

You'll get sucked in by something interesting and before you know it, your work is forgotten and so is your day.  

Challenge yourself to put that TV in storage for a while and see if you even miss it.

You'll be amazed at how much more productive you can be without that distraction.

Say goodbye to mindless channel surfing and hello to more meaningful activities.

3. Some say to produce a list of priorities each morning, I however, believe that you should make your list on Friday before shutting down for the weekend of the things you wish to accomplish the following week. I use a Microsoft application called Microsoft To Do List which is probably on your laptop. I have been successful in getting things done every day because I’ve listed what blog writing projects I want to work on, tasks I need to accomplish, and appointments I’ve scheduled in advance. It’s a great piece of software that will pop up each morning when you turn on your computer or laptop. I look at the list of things to do or plan for the week on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning and I can change things around or work on things ahead of time. It’s kept me productive for a while now. I’ve accomplished so much these last few months since I started using this one application. Try it you might fee the same way.  But remember, keep it realistic - limit yourself to just 3-5 achievable tasks each day.  Then print out your list each day and tackle it with gusto. Then turn off the internet completely.

Don't burden yourself with an endless to-do list that will only stress you out. Save those extra tasks for later, either in a task manager or a separate list for your brain dump.

Letting go of all those thoughts swirling in your head can be freeing. So go ahead, dump it all out on paper, and clear your mind for the day.

4. Feeling overwhelmed by constant notifications? It's time to take back control. Apps are always vying for your attention with push notifications, but do you really need to be constantly bombarded with alerts?

Push notifications can make you reactive, constantly checking your phone when you should be focusing on work. It's hard not to be swayed by those pesky pop-ups, but you can regain control by simply turning off all notifications.

Allocate time to check your apps on your own terms, without being at the mercy of constant interruptions. Don't let notifications dictate your day – take charge and reclaim your workflow.

5. Discover your peaceful oasis

Whether it's a cozy café, a serene park, or a secluded corner in your workplace, experiment with different spots to find your Zen zone. Shake things up by switching locations - I personally enjoy a waterfront vista or a visit to my go-to coffee spot.

I always feel more focused and efficient in my chosen spots, yet I still question why I don't frequent them more often!

Once you uncover your tranquil haven, prioritize regular visits by scheduling time in your weekly agenda. Your mind and soul will thank you for it.

My Zen zone is my kitchen. I allocate a couple of hours a week to spend time in the kitchen creating yummy meals to take my mind off my writing and consulting work, to cook and be creative in the kitchen. I also zone out with my artwork each week to help clear my head and be the utmost creative in my life – creating a painting or designing jewelry. I find when I’m creative in one area of my life it opens up my creative juices to be produced in the writing aspect of life.

6. Get rid of the mess

I find if I have way too many projects going on at the same time, (I write 6 blogs plus always coming up with ideas for new artwork) plus throw in extra pens, cables, phone, and hand written notes all piled up on my desk and side tables. Having a cluttered workspace drives me nuts and makes me less productive. So, every Friday, I take an hour at the end of my day and clear my desk of all the unnecessary items. The less stuff I have, the clearer your mind will be without all the distractions come Monday Morning.

7. Focus on one window at a time.

This is one area of workflow I have a problem with, I always have about 10 or more windows open every morning when I’m doing my research. After a while I am so distracted that I’m complaining about a chaos headache. I suggest you research one item at a time then close all the windows and turn off that blasted internet. 

It's easy to get lost in the sea of tabs and messages.

To be productive, learn to single-task.

Close distractions and concentrate on the task at hand.

Whether it's emails or browsing, stick to one thing.

It may feel limiting at first, but it's effective.

9. Get your inbox in order

I stumbled upon David Allen's GTD method a while back and ever since, I've been all about clearing my inbox. It's like hitting that inbox zero is the ultimate power move.

Forget about creating tons of folders - just hit that archive button. Whether you're using Outlook, Gmail, or Apple Mail, archiving is the way to go. No need to stress about organizing everything into folders.

I typically archive most of my emails and delete the rest. Keep it simple and cut down on decision-making. Remember, less is more when it comes to inbox management.

10. Learn to prioritize

The key to being more productive is knowing when to prioritize your tasks and when to turn down additional responsibilities. It's okay to decline meetings, new projects, or phone calls if they don't align with your goals.

Don't feel pressured to please everyone. Overcommitting yourself will only lead to burnout and inefficiency.

Take the time to evaluate the tasks on your schedule and consider how saying yes could impact your current workload. By learning to prioritize, you can focus on what truly matters and avoid spreading yourself too thin.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Pheonix University in Business Management, then a degree. Herass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. In her spare time, Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, Gouhere, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 6 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, and opinion or history pieces each week.