How to Overcome Distractions

Here are the top six distractions that business owners can face. Under each distraction, we've listed a few solutions to help you overcome the distraction. Hope these help.

Distraction #1: Social Media

Solutions:

• Use an app like “Rescue Time” to physically limit how much you can be on social media.

• Delete social media apps from your phone.

• Turn off all social media notifications.

• Set a social media schedule and only allow yourself to use social media during the allotted times.

Distraction #2: Email

Solutions:

• Avoid responding to emails first thing in the morning.

• Only open your inbox at specified times of the day.

• Turn off all email notifications on your phone and computer.

• Create an auto-response that tells others you can only respond to emails on particular days of the week and then stick to that schedule.

Distraction #3: Slack, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp

Solutions:

• Turn off all notifications on your phone.

• Close apps and only respond to messages at pre-specified times.

• Snooze notifications on desktop versions of the chat app.

Distraction #4: Text messages

Solutions:

• Put your phone in a drawer and only take it out at specified times.

• Disable text notifications on your phone.

• Disable text notifications on your smartwatch and laptop.

• Only respond to text messages during specific times of the day.

Distraction #5: Phone calls

Solutions:

• Put your phone in a drawer and only take it out at specified times.

• Respond to voicemails at the end of the day after you’ve done your most productive work.

• Put your phone on silent mode during your focused periods.

• Disable notifications on your smartwatch and computer.

Distraction #6: People interrupting you

Solutions:

• Close your office door.

• Put on headphones.

• When someone asks for a minute of your time, ask if you can catch them at a later, specified time.