Extract the Distractions


Television. Radio. Books. Internet. Work. Kids. Spouse. Friends. Mobile phones. Chat. School. Girlfriend. Boyfriend. Responsibilities galore! 

There’s no shortage of distractions in the world. But everyday we wake up and immediately get sucked right back into them once again.

  • Is there really a way to escape the distractions?
  • Is it possible to minimize the impact they have on our lives?
  • Can we regain control in order to boost our productivity?

Some distractions are good and the commitment we give them is well-deserved, such as devoting time to our loved ones. But when your life starts to spiral out of control, then it’s time to determine which of your activities are hindrances and which are actually necessary obligations that need to be better prioritized into your schedule.

Courtesy of Dreamstime

Courtesy of Dreamstime

Are distractions hindering you from fulfilling a dream or committing to a career goal?

I’ll be honest, there are times when I welcome the distractions. Especially when I feel like life’s responsibilities are getting the best of me and I just want to escape. Plus, I admit that I’m a procrastinator at heart. But in the end, it leads to regret once the reality hits that I didn’t make most efficient use of my time.

What about you? What results when you’ve let distractions get the best of you?

Courtesy of Dreamstime

Courtesy of Dreamstime

Here are the top five signs that could indicate you’re allowing diversions to monopolize your time.

1. Regret. Is regret eating away because you spent too much time doing something that could’ve waited till a later date or eliminated altogether?

2. Guilt. Devoted too much time watching your favorite television show marathon, instead of finishing that project? Now, your client or employer is waiting for the finished product and you’re without a good excuse?

3. Procrastination. This is probably the Number one indication you’ve fallen into a distraction trap. Are you notorious for waiting until the very last minute to get things done? If you’ve heard the saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” then you know it’s always best to be a step ahead of the game, instead of lag behind.

4. Missed Deadlines. This one goes hand-in-hand with procrastination. If you continue to put off tasks, eventually it’s going to come back and bite you.

5. Hurried. If you’ve felt rushed to complete something it’s probably because you didn’t prioritize or you devoted energy to something less important. 

Do yourself a favor and carve out enough time to complete a specific task. That way, when you’re down to the wire, you’re not racing against the clock.

Keep the Discussion Going

What your biggest distraction? Food? T.V.? A hobby? Facebook?

Comments

comments

  • http://www.thecareerpioneer.com Emily Brown

    Good for you Sherry!! Go get ‘em!

  • Sherry Spence

    As I read this particular blog, I just logged out of Facebook but can easily riddle off five things I am avoiding. So, with that being said, I am going to say thank you for reminding me of my monster and make that list shorter right now.

  • Tasheka Cox

    I’m DISTRACTED!I meet the criteria for all of the five indicators of diversion…HELP!

    • http://www.thecareerpioneer.com Emily Brown

      The first step is admitting you are distracted. Now, decide what you can eliminate and you’re on your way to distraction-free! Thanks for being bold enough to share! Don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone!