I love running my own business.

I love being a mum.

And I love the brilliant things technology can do.

But blimey, sometimes when they’re happening all at once, it can get a bit much!

This morning before I even left the house, I’d already dealt with my son’s lost homework… received a text from my husband who had left already and forgotten something important … PLUS my phone’s email inbox pinging with messages and some Facebook Group that I’d been added to that was flooding me with notifications.

It felt like I was spinning plates!

And I know that life can be like that for you too – for almost everyone, in fact.

It can be really damaging, because distractions like this can knock you off your stride and prevent you getting the most important stuff done. By that I mean the things that will actually make a difference to your life rather than just keeping the status quo.

To show you what I mean, I’d like to try a really quick experiment. It won’t take long but I think it might be an eye-opener for you.

Ready?

OK, since you awoke, how many of these have you had…?

☐ Text messages?
☐ Social media notifications?
☐ Direct messages?
☐ Email notifications?
☐ Phone calls?
☐ Calendar reminders?
☐ RSS notification

And have you done any of the following…

☐Watched something on YouTube?
☐ Read an online article or blog post?
☐ Listen to a podcast or music streaming service?
☐ Opened and read an email?
☐ Clicked through to an article you saw on social media?
☐ Googled something?
☐ Used an app on your tablet or phone?
☐ Clicked on an ad link?
☐ Seen a pop up ad?

Also, have you…

☐ Dealt with a family/pet issue?
☐ Read a newspaper?
☐ Listened to the radio?
☐ Watched TV (terrestrial, Netflix, catchup or DVD)?
☐ Been interrupted or asked a question by a colleague or family member?

How did that go? What’s your tally?

If you’ve ticked barely any of the above, then I envy you. I assume that you live free of distractions and have plenty of space in your head to focus on the important tasks.

As for me, I can probably tick ALL of those by the end of any given day – even the weekend!

Crazy isn’t it?

It wasn’t like this ten years ago, that’s for sure…

Twenty years ago, there seemed a lot more space to think, and a lot less noise in life.

And thirty years ago (gosh I’m ageing myself here ;-))…?.

Well it was a different world.

No texts, no mobiles, no email, no social media, no Google.

But of course, this highly connected world throws up amazing possibilities for running a business, finding customers, communicating, making art and creating products…

I’m not knocking it.

It gives you an opportunity like never before in history to create your own destiny, set up a business and make money without any of the old obstacles (privilege, investment capital, bank approval, premises and staff costs).

However, it’s a double-edged sword.

If you want to achieve your goals with the internet, you need to protect against the many distractions of the internet. Because it can be like an engrossing dream, a wormhole that swallows your time, and also seriously addictive.

Being aware of how many demands on your attention there are is a vital first step…

So I hope my little experiment has shown you something.

But I’m afraid that’s not enough.

These distractions, lures and interruptions are a problem that needs addressing with tough practical action….

That is, if you want to reach your goals.

A practical way to attain hyperfocus

I’ve written you a few emails on the topic of ‘focus’. They’ve covered ways you can clear your mental space, switch off distractions, calm down your mind and get ready for work.

Now you need to attain something known as ‘hyperfocus’.

Today I want to show you THREE practical ways to get this.

First…

The calendar technique

For this you can use a traditional calendar, Google Calendar, whatever you like.

Decide first on what task you need to carry out which demands your focus. Perhaps you need to create a special report, make a video, write a sales letter or create a blog post.

Give yourself an amount of time to get it done. Don’t overthink this or ‘waste’ time trying to estimate it perfectly…you will usually find that things take as long as you give them!

Now schedule it in at a time where there are the fewest potential disruptions. For instance, Wednesday 2pm-5pm, or Saturday morning, 8am-1pm.

My recommendation, if it is possible, is to find a way to rise early in the morning and do this work in the peaceful few hours before everyone else gets up… before the phone calls, emails and interruptions even become a problem.

Perhaps the task will take a few days, or more, in which case break the task down into smaller tasks and schedule those across the week.

Think of this scheduled work session as something fixed – in the same way as a job interview, or a meeting with a client. Treat it in the same way, as something you wouldn’t dare avoid.

Next up…

The de-clutter technique

This is what I wrote about in the last two emails – effectively, clear space for you to think before the work session, that means switching off notifications, removing the mobile from the room, keeping a pad handy to write down any nagging tasks that spring to mind, so you can do them later.

I’d also recommend that you make it clear to friends, family, partner and anyone in the vicinity that you need to do something important and you’d appreciate their help.

Now try this…

The Pomodoro technique

This requires one of those little tomato, egg or lemon timers people use when cooking. Or a little clock with a timer on it will do. Avoid using your phone stopwatch or alarm or you are at risk of online distractions.

Set the time to ring in 25 minutes. Then start work

When the timer rings, put a mark down and take a 5-minute break. Allow your mind to un-focus, as I recommended in a previous email, by staring out of the window, making a coffee, walking around the room, lying down.

You may well find that at this point of relaxation, ideas start flowing, in which case write them down.

You may also find that other thoughts intrude, like “I wonder if that email has arrived” or “I forgot to buy milk”. Write these down too, so that you know you can do them later.

Now set the timer again.

Do this three or four times, then either stop the work session entirely, or take a longer break. Make food, go for a quick walk, listen to a record or CD (avoid internet streaming or you could slip down a wormhole). Then come back for another session and start the process again.

Try it and monitor the results

What you are doing, using these three techniques, is giving yourself space and time to hyperfocus… but also allowing your mind to un-focus.

Remember, you are not a machine. Nobody can stay hyper-focussed for hours on end. So give yourself a break!

Even better, give yourself a reward at the end of a successful session – and if that means plunging joyfully down an internet rabbit hole, then by all means do it, you deserve it.

Try this strategy for the next major task you need to do and see what happens. See how that compares to your usual productivity.

If you get great results, do write in and let me know!