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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
- 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.