Distractions are a big reason we find ourselves stuck or going around the same mountain.  I am easily distracted and find myself getting off course at times.  I can be going to the laundry room to put a load of clothes in the washing machine but see dirt on the floor on the way to the laundry room.  I’ll stop and clean up the dirt before washing the clothes.  Or I find myself picking up my phone to send an email only to be distracted by my Facebook notifications.  Have you been there?

I usually tell myself it’s okay to get distracted because I’m still accomplishing things.  The clothes still got washed. The floor got cleaned. The email was sent and I got to check in with social media.  What could be wrong with that?

Wrapped up in our daily distractions are minutes and hours we will never get back.  It is time taken away from our goals and priorities.  I understand there are times we must balance things that pop up and times we’ll need to do things that we hadn’t planned for but we must also beware of distractions that are time wasters.

Here are a few tips to help eliminate distractions:

• Setting a daily schedule and evaluating how you spend your time can be helpful.  Are there moments when you are wasting valuable time?  Do you need to make more time for certain activities and less of others?
• Knowing what your values, goals and priorities are will help you stay focused.  Weed out things that don’t align with your values, goals or priorities.  If spending time with your children is something you value, you may have to give up some time on social media or time socializing to make time for your children.
• Keeping a checklist of things you know must get done may be helpful too.  You can reward yourself after completing a certain number of tasks.  Force yourself to stay focused.

Keep moving forward by eliminating distractions.  Focus on what’s most important!

~Coletta Jones Patterson

Coletta is an author, life coach, business executive and weekly blogger.  Connect with Coletta at info@moveu4ward.com.