Distractions, Distractions, Distractions!

Every day serves up a gazillion choices. If you can choose your highest priorities, focus on the actions that will provide the biggest payoff and ignore the time-sucks, you will be ahead of 98% of the population!

In Charles Duhigg's book, The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and in business, he references a survey by Duke University that found over 40% of what we do everyday is not conscious decisions but habit. Most of us have habits that distract and waste precious time. The great news is when we become aware of these, we can make better choices. I mentioned last newsletter about using a time log to get a good sense of where you are actually spending your time. If you have done this, scan for the time wasters and distractions. Now that you know those things are displacing productive time, make a decision to do something differently next time you start to slide into an unproductive activity.

Sometimes, we distract ourselves to procrastinate. Instead of making calls, we might scan and answer emails or read and post on Facebook! Does this sound familiar? Again, your becoming aware of how much this wastes time is important to shifting this behavior.

A good way to stay focused is, at the beginning of each day, to identify the top 3 things that will move you toward your achieving your goals. Most of the time, these are not the urgent items on your to-do list, but actions that will build and expand your business.

To put this in to practice this week:

  • Identify at least 1 unproductive habit and when a trigger causes you to start the unproductive habit, replace it with a productive one
  • Identify what you distract yourself with when procrastinating.
  • Begin each day identifying the top 3 priorities that day and focus on getting those done first!
  • Don't put off eating frogs!

Here's to a productive week!


 
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8 Comments on How To Be Wildly Productive!

JUL
25
147,820 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

It's good advice to just focus on three things per day...but even then, sometimes there's a crisis and your plans get thrown out the window!  Now that I am not so busy..I am enjoying a slower pace but feel I should be 'more productive' in doing all those pesky tasks Iusually don't have time for!  Thanks for the reminder!
12:50pm • #1

Joann,

Thanks for another great blog as I always enjoy your writings.  It is always hard to remember to stop and do the most important or most dreaded task first to make way for a  more productive day but, when I do this I usually end the day feeling like I accomplished alot more than if I look at that task all day long then realize that I have to stop what I am doing and do that task now really makes things more stressful.  Thanks again.  Peggy
12:52pm • #2
948,361 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Excellent advice, and well said...now, to the "doing" of it!
12:57pm • #3
102,471 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I couldn't agree with  you more! Thanks.
1:12pm • #4
1,337,298 Points 128 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

How to be wildly productive...love your title and this can be so true. Sometimes, we distract ourselves to procrastinate.

Always look forward to your words of wisdom.

Margaret
6:18pm • #5
248,487 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mary...yep the crises do occur but I find it happens less frequently when you've done your prioritizing!

Peggy! My Pleasure! The Swallow the Frog technique frees up so much energy!

Donna Thanks for reading!

Wonderful Miss Margaret!!!!!! Hope your summer is going well! I appreciate you coming by and saying nice things!

Sea To Sky! Yep! Doing outbeats knowing!
6:27pm • #6
DEC
09
552,201 Points 20 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Joeann~ I haven't been "eating my frogs" and I really need to.  Instead, I procrastinate.  I'm going to try the top 3 exercise, maybe that will help me to manage my distractions.
2:05pm • #7
248,487 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Donna~Great action plan!
2:10pm • #8


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Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach

Tucson, AZ

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Advantage Solutions Group

Address: 14000 N. Dust Devil Dr, Tucson, AZ, 85739

Office Phone: (520) 744-8731

Cell Phone: (520) 344-0209

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