1.
Not
Setting Boundaries – If
people interrupt you frequently, taking your focus away from your tasks, it may
be because you have avoided setting firm boundaries. Tell coworkers or your
family if you work from home, not to disturb you during specific focusing
times. You can always take a break and be with them and help them later.
2.
Not
Turning Off Notifications –
Our society is on the go 24/7 due to the advent of smartphones and internet
technology. Right now, while you’re reading this, you have your smartphone
dinging and giving you notifications of discussions that you don’t even really
need to take part in. So, turn them off while focusing on any task, whether
it’s eating your dinner or doing your bookkeeping.
3.
Not
Getting Organized – It doesn’t
matter what people say about being messy. The truth is if you don’t get your
spaces orderly and the processes you use organized, it’s hard to get things
done within the period you want without a lot of setbacks and stress. Organize
your environment to make each task you need to do simple instead of confusing.
4.
Not
Goal Setting – There is
more to setting a goal than stating you want to be rich or author a book or
lose weight or whatever it is you want to accomplish. To properly set a goal,
you must follow a process that leaves you with a step-by-step task list that
will ensure small daily steps end up where you want. Goal setting works for
housework, personal goals, and business.
5.
Not
Giving Yourself Enough Time
– Most people forget about them before and after tasks, they want to do. They
might say to themselves, “Jonny’s game takes two hours,” but the truth is, it
takes time to get ready for the game, time to get to the game, time to be at
the game, and then time getting home and ending game night. Johnny’s two-hour match
is more like four hours during which you can’t do much else.
6.
Not
Having a Supportive Environment – Whether it’s how the physical environment is set up or how the folks
around you behave, having a supportive environment is essential to reduce
stress and distractions successfully. Setting boundaries, cleaning up the
clutter, and getting organized will help.
7.
Not
Having the Right Tools and Resources – It’s hard to do anything if you don’t have the right tools and
resources. This is true whether you’re attempting to do your dishes or
attempting to create the next million-dollar product launch. Access to the
right tools and resources is essential to success.
8.
Not
Working with Your Personality
– Knowing who you are and how you work best is essential in designing your days
to be most productive. Remember being productive means you get things done, not
that you’re busy. If you’re not a morning person trying to do everything in the
morning isn’t going to work for you.
Stress and
distractions don’t have to be normal things. You can set up your days to be as
stress-free as possible simply by finding ways to reduce distractions that are
lowering your productivity. But you need to understand what’s expected, how to
do it, what you need to do, and how long it takes to make it all work.
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