What are the best ways to stay on task when distracted?

I do this: Create projects. Within those projects create tasks. Rank those tasks by order of importance and calendar them. I do my major priority tasks first, and my low priority when my energy level is less. If I try to create a daily or even weekly to do list, it is all too easy to do unimportant things first.

- Calendar the task you need to get on - Turn off notifications / activate 'Do not disturb' during this time - Place your mobile phone in another room/out of sight - Use the Pomodoro Technique - With the Pomodoro Technique, you pick one task to complete, set a timer for 25 minutes, and work until the time's up. Then you take a five-minute break and repeat the whole process three more times. After that, you take a 15- to 30-minute break, depending on how you feel. During the break, you can reward yourself with listening to two songs, reading a bit of book or taking a stretch. - Put on music that may help concentration - Spotify have deep study playlists.

What I have found helpful: Work according to items booked in my diary. Everyone I work and family know if its not in the diary its not going to happen.... Planning helps. Sometimes things need to shift, or the other party I'm meeting reschedules so leave some ' wiggle' room. Set a 'false' deadline. Complete the task / project in good time so if unexpected delays crop up you can adjust and still meet the actual deadline. Schedule tasks that require creative thinking in mornings when I function best. Schedule tasks that can roll over or don't need serious concentration for late afternoon.

List down your task by priority level and add timeline. It would also help if you write it to your journal. You might need to pamper yourself if you are stressed so that you can perform your task the next day well and enjoy it. Don't for get to enjoy what you do too by knowing your purpose and intention task will be easy :)

Sit down, look at your Kanban board full of tasks and choose the top 3 things that you want to work on. Don't do anything else. No Whatsapp, no E-Mail, nothing. Just those three things. Then start over again.

I can't emphasize enough the need for strong routines, processes, and single-purpose tools. Routines eliminate choice, and that is a good thing. Having a choice is the archenemy of achieving your objectives. You waste your decision-making energy and willpower on decisions you shouldn’t be making. Establishing the right processes requires having a consistent and predictable schedule. Schedule your focused work at the time that is not prone to external interruptions. By minimizing distractions, such as access to social media, you won’t constantly have to resist the temptation to check them. You won’t have a choice but to focus on work.

Use social media platforms in the phone browser. They are not properly mobile-optimized, as these platforms want you to download their apps for a smoother experience. The sturdy experience will make you want to quit using the platform after a few minutes.

Deactivate all notifications for social media platforms and mute WhatsApp group chat that are not work related. This helps dramatically to stay focus on the tasks you are trying to achieve. Also, mark yourself as busy on Teams, Slack etc when performing task requiring all your attention. You will get things done faster and will be able to move to the next priority on your list.

Although turning the phone off is difficult for many people, it can be done. In fact, we enforce this rule in our event as if I see anyone playing with the phone or answering message, a fine will be imposed. Even during bedtime, my phone is away from me as I leave it on my working desk. All I am saying is that it is possible and the question remains 'how badly do you want to get things done?"

If focusing for 25 minutes is too difficult, try the Reverse Pomodoro technique. Whereas the Pomodoro Technique involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, the Reverse Pomodoro Technique flips this around. So you work for 5 minutes followed by a 25-minute break. Once you are able to deeply focus for 5 minutes, gradually increase the time under focus while reducing the breaks. This will develop your ability to sustain deep focus.

1)-Prioritize tasks: 2)-Create a to-do list: 3)-Break tasks into smaller steps 4)- Set specific goals 5)-Remove distractions 6)- Use time management techniques 7)- Set a timer 8)- Mindfulness and meditation 9)- Stay organized 10)- Take regular breaks 11)- Use positive reinforcement 12)- Practice self-awareness 13)- Learn to say no 14)- Limit multitasking 15)- Seek professional help Experiment with these strategies to find what works best for you, and be patient with yourself as you work to improve your ability to stay on task when distracted. Help: If distractions are significantly impacting your ability to work or study, consider consulting a therapist or counselor for strategies to manage underlying issues.

What helps me is carving out time that I will only work on a specific task and stepping out from anything else. Study/focus music in the background and no taking calls or responding to messages, mails etc. This allows for deeper concentration, efficient work and higher quality of the work to be done, regardless of how long I'm on the task.

My teacher, Alex Mandossian, also known as the Warren Buffett of Internet Marketing, strongly advocates for a technique that has truly made a difference. He would set a timer, not a digital one, but an inexpensive one from the DIY store, for a 50-minute duration. During this time, he would wear a cap with the phrase "Do Not Disturb" to ensure no interruptions. . I decided to try this technique during my early days of copywriting exercises, and I must admit, it was quite challenging at first. However, as I immersed myself in crafting my copy, time seemed to fly by effortlessly, simply because my focus was solely on my work.

Dan Sullivan from the Strategic Coach imparted a crucial lesson to me as a business owner. It's not about HOW, but rather WHO. Rather than asking how to accomplish a task, ask yourself "WHO can do this?" This simple shift in mindset directs my focus towards finding the right person for the job and silences the nagging doubts in my head. That's why I have a reliable VA, an independent contractor, and my dedicated team to assist with tasks that I can do, but someone else can excel at. Remember, it's all about WHO, not HOW!

Balancing sleep, nutrition, and physical exercise holds utmost importance. While in my 20s and 30s, it may have seemed inconsequential, at this stage of life, attaining high-quality sleep for a solid 8 hours has become indispensable. This is precisely why I find the principle of WHO not HOW, taught by Dan Sullivan, incredibly empowering. It grants me the freedom of time to prioritize myself, allowing me to do what I love and make up for any sleep deficit.

Get Present! when your mind wanders around..spot on, be aware that this happened & will continue to happen, when aware bring your mind back to the task in hand , exercising this will make you more aware of your distractions & how to eliminate them!

Don’t be seduced by so-called productivity tools. All the instant messaging tools that allow you to reach out to others in real time for answers may sound like a gift from heaven, but in reality, they are a gift from hell. They act as constant distractions that prevent you from focusing and producing exceptional work. What’s worse, they make you lazy. The more we rely on email and instant communication options, the less we are forced to think ahead. We tend to plan and predict less, ultimately introducing more chaos into the workplace and our lives. If we couldn’t rely on instant responses, we would be forced to be more diligent in our planning. Instead, rely on good old routines and processes that won’t even allow distractions to occur.

Procrastinate better. If you have ADHD/ADD, or think alot, you WILL procrastinate. Learn to accept that. I create lists of diversionary activities. E.g. Duolingo to study languages, 2-3 books I'm reading, walking, brainstorming. And I also have a list of 'mindless procrastinations' I love, which fuel my creativity and rest (vs. shooting them down). They include: tv, instagramming (scrolling + posting), WhatsApp chats with my friend groups. Allocate the % of procrastination time spent you'd like for either category. And knowing that you have them down-pat, 1. Set timers for your tasks that suit your focus capacity. 2. When the timer rings, set a new timer for your procrastination. 3. When that finishes, set one for your tasks. Etc

One can do some offbeat methods like visualization. Before starting a task, one can visualize the end result and how one would feel if the job was completed. After every task is completed, drink water, take deep breaths and start with a new job after a 5-10 min break.