Are you carrying around some extra weight in the form of distractions? This extra weight is particularly harmful when you consider that your focus is the key secret to making your dreams come true. Lose your focus, and you will stay stuck where you are. Fortunately, like any other extra weight you carry around, you can shed a few pounds of distractions. It is just going to require a little diet and exercise.
Learn more about how to shed these obnoxious pounds in this week’s Goal Success by Choice.
Amuse Bouche
Before we get to today’s post, I offer you this light “amuse-bouche” to entertain your mind before we get down to business. Like any other amuse-bouche, you may hate my “dad joke,” but it is worth every penny that you paid for it, right?
I called the police to report my stolen coffee cup. Now I have to go to the police station to look at mug shots.
Goal Success by Choice
Do you have dreams that you are trying to make come true? Do you have a goal that you are trying to crush? Success doesn’t happen by chance. Success is a series of choices that can make you unstoppable. Goal Success by Choice helps you make these choices to move you closer to your goals.
Are you ready to help build a world where no goal dies of loneliness?
Trying Too Hard Might Be A Surprise Goal Killer
I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest.
Venus Williams
How well are you able to focus on tasks at hand without distraction?
Many brilliant and accomplished people have written about the value of focus and how it can help us achieve our goals.
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.”
George Lucas
No matter what you think of George Lucas’ efforts to destroy the Star Wars franchise that I grew up with by remastering, adding prequels, selling out to Disney, etc. (there, I said it!), his quote is an excellent summary of the power of focus. If we set our minds to it, we can accomplish anything and achieve greatness in our own lives.
Focus on our goals is one of our secret weapons to success.
I don’t know about you, but I am feeling more distracted and anxious about the events unfolding around me than ever before. This has just been a rough few years, and I have it better than many who are less fortunate than me. I am guessing that you also aren’t feeling the level of focus and productivity you would like.
Distractions
We are all in a time of intense levels of distraction, which has a real impact. Distraction reduces the quality of your work and causes increased stress levels, which lead to severe health issues. Distractions keep us from being able to focus on our goals.
With the barrage of events around us causing tons of distractions, this is a very dangerous time for goals.
Few of us are exempt from the impact of our distraction culture.
Distractions are a heavy weight that many of us carry around with us for sure. But, like any other extra weight that you are carrying around, it is your choice whether you want to keep it or lose it.
Do you want to know the secret to lose this extra weight?
It is going to require some diet and exercise.
Diet
Losing the weight of your distractions begins with diet. In this case, that diet means managing your consumption of the things that are the source of your distractions. But, like most successful weight loss journeys, you can’t just cut things out cold turkey and be successful. You simply need to consume everything in moderation.
You can still watch the news, even cable news, to stay informed on current events. But don’t just leave it on in the background and binge-watch 24×7.
You can still allow yourself multi-screen time, just do it less frequently and not when you need to focus on a task at hand.
Try practicing intermittent fasting from the constant ding of notifications on your phone by turning on your “do not disturb” function when it is time to focus.
Like many diets, your distraction diet isn’t just about what you cut out; it is about adding healthy things too. In this case, adding in some affirmations, good books, gratitude, and a steady stream of inspiration will help feed your brain too.
Exercise
The other half of any successful weight loss journey, including losing the weight of your distractions, is exercise. Like any other exercise routine, focus and distraction exercises can take many forms. Make sure to try lots of different things and stick with the ones you like and those that work for you.
Let’s tackle the big one first. If you want your brain to perform at its best and focus when needed, it has to be well-rested. Skimping on sleep and rest will make your brain easier to distract. So, work to get your seven or eight hours of sleep each night!
The second way to exercise your brain is to exercise your body. Getting a healthy daily dose of sweat or at least an elevated heart rate is an excellent antidote for your distracted brain. Take some time each day to go for a walk, a run or to get into the gym. Bonus points if you do this without consuming audiobooks or podcasts while exercising. Let your brain be present in the moment and focused.
While we are talking about being present in the moment, meditation is another good exercise to help you lose the weight of your distractions. Spend five to ten minutes or more each day sitting in silence and just focus on your breathing. When thoughts pop into your head (they will), simply acknowledge them and put them aside. This will initially feel uncomfortable, but it will get easier and more beneficial as you continue practicing.
Similarly, adding a daily journaling practice will help you process some of your thoughts and proactively keep them from turning into distractions. Spend some time each morning reviewing your current goals, working Through your affirmations and then start writing. Just put whatever is in your brain at the time onto paper. If you want some structure, just start with recapping yesterday, listing your priorities for today and writing out at least one thing for which you are grateful.
Oops, I just mentioned the “g” word, goals. Do you have goals? Are they SMART goals with a strong why? Are they written down on paper? If you give your mind something important to focus on, it will be easier to maintain your focus. If you need a little help with this step, make sure to grab your free copy of my Goal Success Quick Start Guide.
Finally, there are a plethora of productivity hacks that can help you focus on the task at hand and keep the distractions at bay. For example, the Pomodoro Technique asks you to set a timer and commit to focusing on one task for twenty-five uninterrupted minutes. This is an effective way to push the distractions to the side.
So What
With everything happening around us, many of us are carrying around lots of extra weight in the form of distractions. This extra weight is particularly harmful when you consider that your focus is the key secret to making your dreams come true. If you lose your focus, you will likely stay stuck where you are. Fortunately, like any other extra weight you carry around, you can shed a few pounds of distractions. It is just going to require a little diet and exercise.
Do you need help refocusing your brain on your priorities instead of your distractions? I have many tools and techniques to help you build your focus fitness routine.
Click Here to learn more about my Operation Melt coaching services.
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