Cutting down on distractions?

[AmySueN]

How do you keep from being distracted when your business and the distractions are both on the computer? For example, I should be editing photos but I'm hanging out here, checking email accounts, facebooking, etc.

[angilina]

How about you:

Listen to your favorite music while editing photos: may be music will help you forget about the distractions

You can disconnect the internet

You can use two PCs, one only for your business and other one for distractions.

[alter-ego]

Originally Posted by AmySueN

How do you keep from being distracted when your business and the distractions are both on the computer? For example, I should be editing photos but I'm hanging out here, checking email accounts, facebooking, etc.

I probably shouldn't be responding because I'm the worst when it comes to focus unless it's something that's actually holding my interest. The only thing I have found that does work for me is to have multiple long term projects on the go so I can chip away at them as the ideas come to me.

If I have to focus on one task at a time or get caught up in uninteresting yet firm timelines, I lose interest, get bored and usually do a half @ssed job.

I think my fickle nature is both my charm and my curse.

[AmySueN]

Disconnect the net? Bite your tongue!! I get twitchy if I'm not checking in at least every half hour.

Two PCs would be nice if I had another one available...

Thanks for the ideas!

[webcosmo]

oh tell me about it. I guess I waste 1/3 of the working hour checking stuffs.
music helps me somewhat. setting the daily goal might help too.

[dubscrub]

The way I keep from getting distracted is by setting a schedule and holding myself accountable to following it. I have worked from home for 5 years and when I started off I was all over the place doing everything but what needed done. Now, I go through my tasks just like I was at "The Office" and when I am finished then I go play.

[MayaLocke]

Plain and simple self-discipline ;-) You may find this article on Time Management useful - http://www.small-business-software.n...management.htm

HTH

[firecat]

Hi, Amy Sue

Good question --- I'm battling with the same thing all the time! If I don't have a definite deadline for something, you can bet I'm all over the web instead of plugging away at whichever website really needs attention! I'm considering a "Must Do" list for each day so that I get at least a minimum accomplished before heading off to the gardening forum, etc. In my case, having customers come through the door or the phone ringing just makes it easier for me to go off on a tangent.

[Hades]

Originally Posted by AmySueN

How do you keep from being distracted when your business and the distractions are both on the computer? For example, I should be editing photos but I'm hanging out here, checking email accounts, facebooking, etc.

If I am well rested it is usually not a problem, but after a few months without vacations I find it very difficult to focus. I usually start to get up later, work slower and need to take breaks more and more often. I find myself being distracted with nearly everything that the computer offers (net, games, IM and videochat with my family overseas, etc).

The only workaround I found for this situation was staying in close contact with the clients, only having them talk to me frequently can put enough pressure on me to finish the projects in time.

[holyground]

well, yeah distraction is one way to kill your business. To me I would say, turn off your distractions. I mean, close your email clients when you are doing serious jobs, like writing articles, submitting articles, forum posting, twittering etc etc... and you just have to make sure stick to a plan at a time. Allocate one-2hours time slot per task. And concentrate on it.

After you finish a task, take a break, perhaps 10-15 minutes. then another task again..

This always work for me so I hope that helps.

[blazin1]

Originally Posted by AmySueN

How do you keep from being distracted when your business and the distractions are both on the computer? For example, I should be editing photos but I'm hanging out here, checking email accounts, facebooking, etc.

Sounds like me! I do work in bursts and then browse the net in between. As long as I am completing projects it's fine. Well, unless the boss man finds out I maintain my blogs, sites and twitter accounts all at the same time.

[grazhie]

Do things one at a time.It will take much time if you get wrong from those distractions.Concentrate and focus with the most needed up to the least,finish task and do next.

[T0d]

I try to get my "distractions" out of the way as soon as I sit down the morning, then do work, then my "distractions" again at night.

Seems to work.

[Laura Varon]

You can arrange to have distraction times just like you schedule tasks. I've edited pictures too and the great thing about that is that because it's a task that doesn't involve the left hemisphere, it's relatively easier to pick up where you left than if you were doing something else, such as being the administrator of a database.

Getting distracted every half hour doesn't seem like a lot to me, as long as you set boundaries. Every half hour for no more than five or six minutes would be my strategy

I hope that helps!

[ChrisB]

I find when I'm working, I need to turn off msn, aim, and even the phone..

[krahmaan]

Originally Posted by AmySueN

How do you keep from being distracted when your business and the distractions are both on the computer? For example, I should be editing photos but I'm hanging out here, checking email accounts, facebooking, etc.

I like to make a "list of things to do". Or what I call an "Objectives List". I list all the things that need to be done, taken care of, or are high priority. Then I kind of play a game with myself to see how many things I can complete that day.

Each time I complete an "objective" I check it off and write: Mission Complete. This makes work fun, and if I complete them all I create a new list for tomorrow. You may want to try this, it's fun and can help with distractions.

[steadywebber]

I guess it's down to disciplining yourself to do what you know you need to do to get where you want to get. One of the best definitions of self discipline I have seen is this: "Self discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

It is easy to do something when you feel like it. It's when you don't feel like it that distractions seem that much more appealing and deflect your energies away from what you need to be doing. But if you force yourself to do it anyway, that will move you closer to what you want to achieve.

A good place to start is understand what decisions you need to make today in order to start moving toward your goals. Whatever they are, make a decision today and then get started. This single act alone can change the whole direction of your future.

[jonathan figaro]

What i do to keep my self from being distracted is that i keep my goal in my mind while i do my activities online, which keep me motivated enough to stay focused!