by Debbie Robus

Created on: July 20, 2010

Virtually all of us have distractions in our lives.  We wake up to an alarm clock, turn on the television, and plug in the coffee maker.  For the rest of the day, we are surrounded by noise, electronics, people, movement and activity... and more.  Everywhere we look, something or some one is vying for our attention.

So how do you remove distractions from your life? 

* Begin by dialing back the volume.  Turn off the television and radio.  Vow not to talk on your cell phone while driving ... much less exchange texts with anyone.  Concentrate on dressing for work, driving to your destination, and performing other tasks in the virtual silence of the room.  Recently, I turned off my television and sat in my living room, and I heard all kinds of unfamiliar noises, from the whir of the refrigerator to the ticking of my mantel clock.  I also heard birds chirping outside and frogs singing in the trees!

* Vow not to multi-task ... or at least vow to reduce time spent multi-tasking.  When I was talking to a friend on the telephone and heard her typing away on her keyboard in the background, I realized that too much multi-tasking can be a bad thing.  She was not hearing half of what I said to her.  Some of her answers were a mere "Uh-huh," or vague acknowledgment that told me she was distracted and not really participating in our conversation.  By the same token, I have found myself trying to upload photos to my blog and perform other tasks, and I either forget what I was doing, or I do a poor job of one or more of the tasks.  Focus on doing one thing at a time ... and doing it well.  Then move on to another task. Both will turn out better.

* Do a time audit to see where you are becoming distracted and losing focus.  Take a look at how you spend your time and see if you recognize major "distractors" in your day that you can adjust or even eliminate completely.

* Make a concerted effort to stay focused.  Play a mental game with yourself.  Make a deal... "I won't get up from this chair until I have finished this task."  Plan a reward... "When I finish folding these clothes, I will sit down for twenty minutes and read a new magazine."  Set a timer and see how quickly you can finish a task, i.e. unloading the dishwasher, scrubbing the bathroom, or washing the car.  Soon you will recognize that you can complete tasks quicker and more efficiently when you stay focused and avoid distractions.

As you practice working in quiet conditions and staying on task, you will find it becomes much easier.  The first step is the hardest.  But you'll be amazed by the time you gain... and how much your "performance" is improved.  Removing distractions in your life can be accomplished.  All it takes is effort and exercise.... and a desire to improve your life and buy some additional time.

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