So I sat down with the intent to write an entirely different blog post, but switched to this topic after having several different things suddenly pop up and make it difficult for me to find time to write. I think this is a problem we all can relate to, especially in blogging.

Do you ever have days in which you feel like the world is conspiring against, trying to prevent you from getting work done? Every time you sit down to something productive, a distraction materializes in your way. Then, after you’ve handled said distraction, another problem arises. By the time you have an issue-free moment, you find yourself totally exhausted and have to push your work back to the next day.

Dealing with distractions can be unbelievably frustrating. For me, I think it’s the most difficult when it comes to distractions that prevent me from blogging. I don’t discuss my blog to the people I know in real life, so it’s difficult for me to explain to them when I’m busy doing something blog-related. Besides, even if I did explain it, I often find that non bloggers don’t realize how much work blogging actually is. (Not trying to sound presumptuous, but that’s just been my experience).

Anyways, whenever I’m having one of those distraction-filled days, there are a few things I do that help me get work done. These tips have been especially useful to me in the last several months. If you’ve noticed, I’ve been blogging a lot more frequently since January. I attribute that to these little strategies.

1. Set a schedule

One of my biggest goals this year was to start being more meticulous when it came to my blogging/work schedule. I really wanted to get in the habit of planning out my days and setting small goals for myself. I purchased a planner at the beginning of 2017 to keep track of my agenda and it’s been one of my best decisions work-wise. Writing down my to-do lost has made it much easier for me to keep a consistent blogging schedule. I set times for me to get specific work done and force myself to stick to it. It definitely makes it easier for me to to ignore outside distractions. Any time I start to veer off my schedule, I remind myself that I need to have my work done in a certain amount of time. This makes it much more difficult to get distracted.

You can check out how I organize my planner here.

2. Lock away the phone

I think it’s a general consensus that phones are the biggest sources of wasted time. One minute you’re being productive and accomplishing your goals, then next you’ve fallen down the black hole that is Twitter or Instagram. It’s so easy to let social media deter you, especially when your phone is right at your side. My best advice would be to put your phone somewhere where you can’t see it. Set in under a pillow or in a purse or simply just power it off. As long as you can’t see text messages or social media notifications lighting up the screen, you’ll be able to focus more energy into your work. I find it best to place my phone any place that’s away from my work desk. This way I’ll be less tempted to take a peek.

3. One thing at a time

If you’ve got a hectic schedule, I think it’s best to take things one at a time. Instead of worrying about the ten different projects or blog posts you need to get done, think about the one that’s in front of you. Things seem less overwhelming when they’re broken up. Concentrate on your short-term goals, not the big picture. When you spend time stressing over what you need to get done, you’re wasting time that could be used to actually get that stuff done.You’ll be much more productive focusing on a single thing rather than a dozen. It’s a more detailed way to look at things.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope these strategies can be helpful for you the next time you find yourself riddled with distractions.

How do you handle distractions? 

Sincerely,

Paige

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