2 Super Simple Ways to Remove Distractions

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." - Stephen R. Covey

I'm guilty of wanting to do it all so I keep squeezing in more things. Then I'm stuck doing more than I can handle or I keep myself stuck working on something that I shouldn't.

I can be my worst enemy. I’ve had a history with committing to too many things and not giving my best to any one of them. That usually left me feeling horrible about myself and gave the impression that I wasn’t capable (or worse, that I didn’t care).

I wish I had learned earlier that I had options. You can make room to focus on putting 100% into high-value tasks and commitments.

Here's what I've discovered:

1. We need to cultivate the habit of non-finishing. Not every project you start is worth finishing. Sometimes we get into it and realize, “This is a waste of time.” Give yourself permission to quit.
2. Saying yes to continue working on something that you're not good at OR not completing OR doesn't fit your goals means you’re effectively saying no to the things that matter most.
3. Saying no is an art, and there's science you can practice getting better at it. Be kind and listen actively. Offer a confident response; spare the details. Share another resource or invitation to return for something else.

Regardless of How, the What is important. Remember to quit before it pulls you further away from what matters.

Tip One: Scale it up.

If I don’t have a hint of a plan for my week, I will stumble my way through my work trying to get everything done at once. Those are the kind of weeks where I feel totally unfocused and flustered, and naturally I want to avoid that as much as possible.

Starting the day without a plan is a guarantee for wasting time. Instead of proactively doing the work that will move our business forward, we end up responding to the demands of others. We’re always going to have these kinds of interruptions—some days it feels like that’s all there is. A plan helps us get reoriented and back on task.

I came across the PARA Method for organizing information, and I'm hooked. I believe kicking off a good plan with strong structure is essential. Steven Covey has a great Time Management Matrix that you can apply to determine where to start, even today:

Segment into one of the following:

• HOT: think of things that are urgent and important
• COOL: think of things that are not urgent but are important
• WARM: think of things that are urgent but not important
• COLD: think of things that are not urgent and are not important

Focus on HOT and WARM. Set aside COOL and COLD.

Remember, not everything is equally important, AND not everything needs to be done by you.

Delegate. Defer. Delete. Repeat.

Tip Two: Reduce friction.

Saying no may feel aggressive, like you're rejecting the person.

Most people do not want to be an aggressor. There's a negative connotation to it. It's tough to confront people when you're concerned with feeling like the bad guy.

Remember, saying no saves you time, saying yes costs time in your future. From this, we can see that no is more of a choice and yes is a responsibility.

If people do say no, they usually do it in ineffective ways that come with an excuse. Don't! Try this instead:

Don't beat around the bush or offer weak excuses. Say No. Try these:

• "I appreciate your asking me for help, but I'm stretched too thin right now." Be kind and honest at the same time. People appreciate that.
• Turn it around on them. "Sure, I can help. I have xyz amount of time; will that be enough to get the quality you need?"
• Set clear boundaries up front. I like to be clear on my role and expectations, up front. That way, rejection is done before they get formal.

Don’t reinvent your no. Identify recurring requests, formulate boilerplate answers in email templates, customize as necessary, and send them.

I've often found myself playing too many instruments at once, trying to create a masterpiece of productivity. The result? A cacophony of unfinished tasks, unfulfilled commitments, and a nagging feeling of inadequacy.

It's as if I've been my own worst enemy, sabotaging my efforts to give my best to any one thing.

The good news is, I've learned that there's another way.

5 key strategies to overcome overwhelm.

We’ve started exploring?how to trim 10 hours off your workweek. Why? Because time matters to us (and the people around us, that matter most).

As of today, we’ve covered:

• Protect:?You can't grow without it and you can't afford to lose it. It’s important to take permission and protect it.
• Prime:?Health is a key factor in maximizing it. Which is why we need to make wise choices and prime your environment for success.
• Plan:?If you don't have a plan for your time, someone else is ready to plan it for you. Learn to plan in order to get ahead.
• Process:?Avoid the time wasters and time drainers. I learned to adopt systems and processes to maximize time.
• Pass:?You can't commit to everything without compromise. Make sure to pass on what doesn't matter, most.

Up next:

• We will go over the 4 question game plan for decision making. These will give you the tactics you need (that I used) to scrub away distractions and get more traction.

That's a wrap!

If you enjoyed this, I would appreciate if you considered reading or sharing one of the previous articles:

• Get UnStuck with Systems & Processes
• Three Top Tips for Planning to Get Ahead
• 3 Ways to Prime Time for Smarter Success

Rooting for ya!

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Edwin Almonte