Any of you that live in the north (…or the midwest…or the central states…or out east…pretty much anywhere except Texas, Florida and California actually…), have driven in a snowstorm. You know “The One.” The One you remember. The One that causes you to white knuckle at 10 miles an hour because you can’t see 5 feet in front of you. You are all hunched forward, tense, squinting and all you can see is white specks flying at you. You get to where you are going…eventually. I once drove from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Marquette, Michigan in such a storm. A 3 hour trip took 5. And I was towing a boat for some reason, but that is another story…

My work day today was like that snowstorm. A blizzard of distractions. I went into this nice spring  day knowing I had a lot to do… but getting it done efficiently was not in the cards. I caused distractions. Other people caused distractions. The nice weather was a distraction.  “Nothing” caused distractions. My susceptibility to distractions was extremely high and the world seemed to be more than happy to take advantage of that fact. It was a Monday after a nice weekend of being outside and my head was all rubbery. So everything – and nothing – distracted me. Everyone has days like this. Especially for high school students this time of year …with sports, final exams, prom, graduation and the quest for a summer job looming in the not so distant future.

If a blizzard of distractions is keeping you from getting done what you need to get done, then give this a try.  

1. Get away from everyone. Change the scenery. People are very distracty. (Look that up in your Geof-tionary). Find that corner of your house or office where no one is or will be for a while and get something done.   

2. Put on the headphones. Block out the world with some good tunes and concentration. When I write I listen to the Allman Brothers, but you make your own choice.

3. Don’t check Facebook or LinkedIn or Twitter or Youtube or Google+ or any form of communication that is instantaneous. You don’t need to see a kitten or inspirational quote right now. You just need to get some work done. Go ahead and go through your emails,  but none of the others.

4. Keep hydrated.  Mental or physical, work is work. Keep a bottle of water with you. Not a Monster. Or a latte’ or a monster-sized latte’. Water. Plain, pure water.     

5. Concentrate on one thing at time.  I know, Mr. Multitasker is saying to stick to one thing at a time. It is true. You will get more done by doing one thing at a time very well instead of doing several things at the same time. This is especially true on Days of High Distraction.

After my blizzard this morning, I ate lunch and got back to work. I shut my door and turned on the tunes, didn’t check anything on my computer, sipped my bottle of water and concentrated on working. The windshield became clear. I worked as I traveled in peace with the the Allman Brothers and enjoyed the ride. No more blizzard. No more distractions. I got tons of work done. I killed it on this nice spring Monday afternoon.