What’s going on between those two ears of yours throughout the day?
How much of your time is distracted by multi-tasking, interruptions, text messages, chat windows, email and family or co-workers? Any idea how that impacts your productivity and ability to focus?
I’ve done a bit of research on this a few times – and now that it has become a chronic, yes chronic issue, it’s important for you to get this. The impact of a distraction, even just to check your text messages “real quick,” or social media results in an average 25 minutes and 30 seconds to return to the original task.
25 minutes?!
Now think…when you’re being disrupted multiple times during the day how that impacts your ability to focus and get shit done.
Back in the day, we worked in offices, with doors.
When you had something that needed to be done, you closed the door so you could focus. That is an environment that is long gone, even if you are back in the office for most people. Many companies have gone to “open” work spaces with low cubicle dividers and the increase in noise is significant. Leading to isolation by headphones, and fully utilized mini-conference rooms. But I digress…
Many of the distractions you have during the day are self-inflicted. Whether in the office or still working from home, you need a way to manage your productivity and brain state to reduce the amount of time it takes you to complete your deliverable, project, document, or task.
More than extending the time it takes to complete a task, the distractions are sucking the life out of you. Leaving you worn out, stressed out, and crabby, lacking the energy to make healthy choices to prepare and feed yourself and the family, etc. This leads to a potential spiral of blahs. Blah brain, blah energy, blah mind. So that’s kind of depressing. How do you shift it?
3 Ways to Improve Your Productivity and Manage Your Energy
There is a long list I could provide here, let’s start with three things you can incorporate quickly into your daily routine:
1 – Morning Mindset
Start your morning by taking up to 30 minutes to do deep breathing, meditation, and gratitude. (If you’re new to sitting quietly start with 10 minutes and build up to more time each week.) By taking the time to quiet your mind, it will be easier to be intentional about your day and respond vs reacting to everything that happens.
2 – Awareness
You’re probably hearing about awareness and mindfulness more often.
Awareness is being fully tuned in to what’s happening. In this moment vs. multi-tasking and having distracted energy.
Pay attention to the task you’re working on until it’s done.
The more you practice being in awareness the better your awareness will become.
Example: I’ve often given my clients an exercise to check-in every hour about how they are feeling.
If they feel good, what were they thinking about?
If they are feeling down, crabby or stressed, where was their focus?
If it’s not what you want it to be, shift the focus.
3 – Patience
As you begin to shift your mindset and your energy—give yourself permission to be focused and intentional, be patient with yourself.
You didn’t become “Distracted Debbie” overnight, you can’t make it stop with just the flip a switch.
Take notes at the end of the day. Reflect on what’s happening.
Give yourself credit for what went well.
Make a note of things you want to improve on.
Make the commitment to treat your mind and body better.
Then have the patience and determination to stick with it.
Your productivity, brain and level of energy will thank you!
Need help getting started? Schedule a conversation with me today.
