7 Signs that you are distracted!
When we clutter our lives with imagined obligations, unnecessary activities, and distractions that only kill time, we dilute the power of our lives.
– Anne Katherine
Are you someone who will be writing a report with music on in the background, while responding to messages, emails and notifications from your desk in your open plan office where you can over hear everyone else’s conversations, smell their food and get slapped on the back every time someone walks past?
Okay, so it might sound a bit far fetched, however it really isn’t as most of us work like this to some extent, while at the same time, complaining that there are not enough hours in the day as we never seem to be able to complete anything.
It’s so easy to appear to be busy these days – wouldn’t you agree, yet how often do you feel like you are always chasing your tail and achieving only a little?
I talk about the downfalls of multitasking in Hack #2 in my book 21 Hacks to ROCK your Life! as it is such a huge hinderance to you actually achieving that thing that you say you want to do! The hard truth is however, that if you truly want to make you mark on the world, you will need to focus – and that is often easier said than done, because the habits of multi-tasking are so ingrained.
In the same way that 12 step programs begin with the individual acknowledging that they have a problem, you won’t be able to break the pattern of multi-tasking and develop laser focus on what you are wanting to achieve, unless you can first identify that you are indeed distracted and struggling to stay on task.
Here are 7 common signs that you might be distracted – even if you relate to just 3, that is enough to indicate that it is time to make some changes in your behaviour!
1. Distracted people are often addicted to technology.
Do you find yourself constantly checking your phone? Are you always scrolling through social media or watching videos online? Do you need to surf the web or check the news each hour? Digital devices and online activities can be highly addicting.
Take Action: Put your digital devices away. Don’t allow yourself to use the internet unless it’s related to your task. There’s a time and place for everything.
2. Distracted people struggle with knowing how to focus.
Your parents and teachers have been telling you to focus for decades, however no one has ever taught you how.
Take Action: Practise makes perfect! Set a timer for 10 minutes and focus on just one task. Extend the time as you strengthen your concentration. (I give more practical tips on how to focus on tasks more effectively in a number of the action tips found in 21 Hacks to ROCK your Life!)
3. Distracted people try to function in highly distracting environments.
Be it the open-plan office, or your kitchen table in the middle of a bustling house hold, your physical environment has a huge impact on how effectively you are able to focus on a task.
Take Action: If you’re distracted, it’s important to manage your environment as much as possible. Remove all the distractions that can be removed, and reduce the others. Change your environment to support you as you strive to focus better.
4. Distracted people tend to have poor diets.
An unhealthy diet can really affect your ability to focus. Brain fog and a general lack of motivation can be worsened by eating the wrong foods. Take a realistic look at your diet and consider making a few changes.
Take Action: Confused by all of the conflicting information around? Consider booking an appointment with an accredited dietician or nutritionist to get some personalised direction about what healthy food choices will help you.
5. Distracted people are often impatient.
We all know how a toddler wants instant gratification – yet often, we are guilty of the same thing. We would rather choose the easy route of watching Netflix, chatting with friends or raiding the fridge, rather than doing the task that requires effort.
Take Action: Practise saying no to yourself! Remind yourself that there will be time for those things after you have completed your work, and take the time to enjoy them when you are done.
6. Distracted people can struggle with self-discipline.
When your physical surroundings, your workplace and even areas of your life are a mess, it is so much harder to focus. Living like this leads to overwhelm and stress and without the self-discipline to enable you to make the right choices and follow though, – you will continue to struggle.
Take Action: Strengthen your self-discipline muscle by sitting your butt down and doing the important thing that you must do each day, before anything else!
7. Distracted people can lack a purpose.
When you live your life motivated by your own unique purpose, you will find it easier to stay on task and resist distractions. Your purpose might be to help underprivileged people in another country or to improve the reading levels of the children in your own community or to raise a strong and healthy family – it doesn’t matter what it is – just that it means something to you.
Take Action: Be clear on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you are unsure of what you are wanting to achieve, you will find yourself constantly distracted.
If 2020 is the year that you REALLY want to live your life ON-Purpose, it’s time to step up and decide that you are going to start living in a way that aligns to your values and personal dreams! Why not begin by reading my book 21 Hacks to ROCK your Life! and do the actions that I list there? I guarantee that your small investment at AMAZON will have a HUGE impact on your life if you are prepared to actually do the work!
Let me know how you go!
PS: Want a kick start to simplifying your life, by cutting the clutter so you can feel less stress? Grab my FREE workbook, 10 Hacks to Simplify your Life HERE.
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