As you may know, I have switched to a biweekly cadence for publishing new blogs. On my “off” weeks, I will continue sharing some Best Of Operation Melt posts from the past (with a little sprucing up). My blog has a ton of spectacular content you might never have seen before, and it is just as relevant today.
Enjoy this Best Of Operation Melt blog, and stay tuned for a new post next week.
Are you ready for a dad joke?
I offer you this "dad joke" as a light "amuse-bouche" to entertain your mind before we get serious. My dad joke may be groan-worthy, but it's worth every penny you paid for it, right?
I told my wife, "There's only one thing that scares me during
Halloween..."
My wife responded, "Which is?"
I said, "Exactly!"
Best of Operation Melt: How To Lose The Obnoxious Weight Of Distractions
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 feel 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 you also aren’t feeling the 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 you carry, 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.
Your distraction 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. The more effective approach is 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.
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; you’ll also want to add more healthy things. In this case, adding affirmations, good books, gratitude, and a steady stream of inspiration will help feed your brain too.
Exercise
The flip side of your successful distraction weight loss journey 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, strive to get seven or eight hours of sleep each night!
The second way to exercise your brain is to exercise your body. A healthy daily dose of sweat and 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 and focused in the moment.
While talking about being present in the moment, meditation is another good exercise to help you lose the weight of 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 with practice.
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 begin by 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 help with this step, grab your free copy of my Goal Success Quick Start Guide.
Finally, a plethora of productivity hacks exist to 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 carry lots of extra weight in the form of distractions. This distraction weight is particularly harmful when you consider that your focus is the secret to making your dreams come true.
Losing your focus likely means staying stuck where you are.
Fortunately, like any other extra weight, 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 distractions? I have many tools and techniques to help you build your focus fitness routine. I would be honored to be your coach and help you create the focus to make your dreams come true.
I believe in you; let me help YOU believe in you!
Meet Coach Tony
My name is Coach Tony, and I am a coach, author and project manager on a mission. I am working to build a world where no goal ever dies of loneliness.
I almost allowed one of my biggest life goals to die without ever being attempted for forty years. My goal almost died, not of failure but of loneliness. But, I took a risk and leveraged a simple, logical process that helped me wildly exceed my goal.
I transformed my life, and you can do the same with the help of Operation Melt.
Operation Melt provides engaging, practical content and hands-on coaching to inspire, motivate and equip project managers and other left-brained high-achievers to pursue and accomplish their biggest goals.
Breathe new life into your goals
Download my free ebook to learn how to create goals that actually work and get the jump-start you need in life!
