Dear Dr. B,
I get so easily distracted that it keeps me from being more effective in my personal and professional life. How can I keep my mind from wandering or being distracted by a million things?
Sincerely,
Driven to Distraction
Dear Distracted,
Everyone gets distracted from time to time, but it sounds like what you are describing is more than an occasional distractibility.
Several factors can make a big difference in our ability to focus and maintain our attention and concentration.
First, strive to maintain a consistent bedtime each night. This helps ensure that your brain has the optimum ability to regenerate those chemicals (neurotransmitters) that help foster sustained attention and concentration.
Second, pay attention to your diet, and aim to eat a serving of protein at least three times daily.
Third, aim to get at least ten to fifteen minutes of physical exercise daily. If you notice that you struggle most with sustained attention and concentration during the afternoon hours, you may want to take a short break during that time and go for a short 10-15 minute walk to help foster improved focus.
Fourth, to the degree that you can, try to structure your daily tasks so that you work on those tasks that require the most sustained focus during the time when you are best able to concentrate. Leave those tasks that do not require as much sustained attention and concentration for those times of the day when your focus is more likely to wax and wane.
Fifth, set up your work environment to be as distraction-free as possible. Avoid clutter, and put things away that will only serve to distract you from the task you are currently working on.
Sixth, keep a notepad handy so that when you begin thinking of other tasks that need to be done which serve as a distraction, you can jot those things down on the notepad so that you will not forget them, but won’t be unnecessarily distracted by them any longer than absolutely necessary.
Lastly, set a timer for your work. Work for that amount of time, then allow yourself a break to get up and do something different that was serving as a distraction, before coming back to work for another uninterrupted period of time.
I’d love to hear other ideas of what you have found to help you avoid distractions, in the comments below. Your ideas just might help someone else!!
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
DrB
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Oh, I can think of one more: print this out and tape it to my wall!
Great tips Dr. B! I love that you mention how important physical activity is. My mornings start very early (in lieu of getting some work done before my 2 year old wakes up), so my energy tends to wane in the afternoon, which is why I schedule my workout when she naps. This renews my energy and allows me to focus on the second half of my day. Tanks so much for sharing such great tips with us on #shinebloghop!
Gosh, I need to remember all these. Especially sleep!
Thanks so much for the reminder. 😀
What a terrific list – not only to avoid distraction but also to make us much more productive! Thank you for sharing!
Love these tips! Thanks so much for the great reminders!
Great tips! I frequently use the notes app in my phone when my brain gives me writing ideas in the middle of the night. I have used it many times. Glad to be your neighbor at Holly’s today.
These are all great tips to being more productive. I know many people don’t see how some of these tips relate to productivity, but they are all important in some form or fashion.
Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you again when we open our doors at 12 AM EST on Friday.
This sounds like great advice, Michelle. I get distracted easily and I know from experience that these ideas all help. I need to be reminded though, so this post was just what I needed.
Thank you for linking with Grace and Truth last week!