How to Stop Overthinking Everything: 9 Simple Habits

What is holding people back from the life that they truly want to live?

I’d say that one very common and destructive thing is that they think too much.

They overthink every little problem until it becomes bigger and scarier and it actually is. Overthink positive things until they don’t look so positive anymore.

Or overanalyze and deconstruct things and so the happiness that comes from just enjoying something in the moment disappears.

Now, thinking things through can be a great thing of course. But being an overthinker can result in becoming someone who stands still in life. In becoming someone who self-sabotages the good things that happen in life.

I know. I used to overthink things a lot and it held me back in ways that weren’t fun at all.

But in the past 8 years or so I have learned how to make this issue so small that it very rarely pops up anymore. And if it does then I know what to do then to overcome it.

In this article I would like to share 9 habits that have helped me in a big, big way to become a simpler and smarter thinker and to live a happier and less fearful life.

1. Put things into a wider perspective.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of overthinking minor things in life.

So when you are thinking and thinking about something ask yourself:

Will this matter in 5 years? Or even in 5 weeks?

I have found that widening the perspective by using this simple question can snap me quickly out of overthinking and help me to let that situation go and focus my time and energy on something that actually does matter to me.

2. Set short time-limits for decisions.

If you do not have a time-limit for when you must make a decision and take action then you can just keep turning your thoughts around and around and view them from all angles in your mind for a very long time.

So learn to become better at making decisions and to spring into action by setting deadlines in your daily life. No matter if it is a small or bigger decision.

Here’s what have worked for me.
For small decisions like if should go and do the dishes, respond to an email or work out I usually give myself 30 seconds or less to make a decision.
For somewhat larger decisions that would have taken me days or weeks to think through in the past I use a deadline for 30 minutes or for the end of the workday.

3. Become a person of action.

When you know how to get started with taking action consistently each day then you’ll procrastinate less by overthinking.

Setting deadlines is one thing that have helped me to become much more of person of action.

Taking small steps forward and only focusing on getting one small step done at a time is another habit that have worked really well.

It works so well because you do not feel overwhelmed and so you do not want flee into procrastination. And even though you may be afraid, taking just a step is such a small thing that you do not get paralyzed in fear.

4. Realize that you cannot control everything.

Trying to think things through 50 times can be a way to try to control everything. To cover every eventuality so you do not risk making a mistake, fail or looking like a fool.

But those things are a part of living a life where you truly stretch your comfort zone. Everyone who you may admire and have lived a life that inspires you has failed. They have made mistakes.

But in most cases they have also seen these things as valuable feedback to learn from. Those things that may look negative have taught them a lot and have been invaluable to help them to grow.

So stop trying to control everything. Trying to do so simply doesn’t work because no one can see all possible scenarios in advance.

This is of course easier said than done. So do it in small steps if you like.

5. Say stop in situation where you know you cannot think straight.

Sometimes when I am hungry or when I am lying in bed and are about to go to sleep negative thoughts start buzzing around in my mind.

In the past they could do quite a bit of damage. Nowadays I have become good at catching them quickly and to say to myself:

No, no, we are not going to think about this now.

I know that when I am hungry or sleepy then my mind sometimes tend to be vulnerable to not thinking clearly and to negativity.

So I follow up my “no, no…” phrase and I say to myself that I will think this situation or issue through when I know that my mind will work much better.

For example, after I have eaten something or in the morning after I have gotten my hours of sleep.

It took a bit of practice to get this to work but I have gotten pretty good at postponing thinking in this way. And I know from experience that when I revisit a situation with some level-headed thinking then in 80% of the cases the issue is very small to nonexistent.

And if there is a real issue then my mind is prepared to deal with it in much better and more constructive way.

6. Do not get lost in vague fears.

Another trap that I have fallen into many times that have spurred on overthinking is that I have gotten lost in vague fears about a situation in my life. And so my mind running wild has created disaster scenarios about what could happen if I do something.

So I have learned to ask myself: honestly, what is the worst that could happen?

And when I have figured out what the worst that could happen actually is then I can also spend a little time to think about what I can do if that often pretty unlikely thing happens.

I have found that the worst that could realistically happen is usually something that is not as scary as what my mind running wild with vague fear could produce.

Finding clarity in this way usually only takes a few minutes of time and bit of energy and it can save you a lot of time and suffering.

7. Work out.

This might sound a bit odd.

But in my experience working out – especially with lifting weights – can help me to let go of inner tensions and worries.

It most often makes me feel more decisive and when I was more of an overthinker then it was often my go-to method of changing the headspace I was in to a more constructive one.

8. Spend more of your time in the present moment.

By being in the present moment in your everyday life rather than in the past or a possible future in your mind you can replace more and more of the time you usually spend on overthinking things with just being here right now instead.

Three ways that I often use to reconnect with the present moment are:
Slow down. Slow down how you do whatever you are doing right now. Move slower, talk slower or ride your bicycle more slowly for example. By doing so you become more aware of how you use your body and what is happening all around you right now.
Tell yourself: Now I am… I often tell myself this: Now I am X. And X could be brushing my teeth. Taking a walk in the woods. Or doing the dishes. This simple reminder helps my mind to stop wandering and brings my focus back to what is happening in this moment.
Disrupt and reconnect. If you feel you are getting lost in overthinking then disrupt that thought by – in your mind – shouting this to yourself : STOP! Then reconnect with the present moment by taking just 1-2 minutes to focus fully on what is going on around you. Take it all in with all your senses. Feel it, hear it, smell it, see it and sense it on your skin.

9. Spend more of your time with people who do not overthink things.

Your social environment plays a big part. And not just the people and groups close to you in real life. But also what you read, listen to and watch. The blogs, books, forums, movies, podcasts and music in your life.

So think about if there are any sources in your life – close by or further away – that encourages and tends create more overthinking in your mind. And think about what people or sources that has the opposite effect on you.

Find ways to spend more of your time and attention with the people and sources that have a positive effect on your thinking and less on the influences that tends to strengthen your overthinking habit.

Plus-You Can Now Join Our FREE Mastering Success Facebook Community at www.masteringsuccess.group

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3 Quick Questions for a Simpler and Happier 2017

“New Year’s eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights”
Hamilton Wright Mabie

This year is coming to an end. Just a couple more days to go.

But before we step through that doorway I’d like to quickly share one last article with 3 of my favorite questions of all time that can help you shape 2017 into 365 days that will be simpler, happier and self-kinder.

Stay safe, enjoy your New Year’s celebration and see you next year!

1. Is this useful?

It’s very easy to spend a lot of time on things that do not really matter much. To spend hours, days or even weeks on being angry at someone, replaying a mistake or failure in one’s mind or to dwell on something negative and feeling more and more like a victim.

So I try to ask myself this question as often as I can to question and confront my own thoughts. To catch myself and to wake myself up when I get stuck in negative thought loops going round and round.

By doing so I:
Suffer less.
Waste less time on going round in circles.
Spend more of my time on finding a practical solution.

2. What is one very small step I can take right now to get the ball rolling?
This is my favorite question for when I want to get started with something or if I want to get going again with something that have fallen to the side for some reason.

Because it makes things easier. Makes them feel lighter.

This question prevents me from trying to escape into procrastination and helps me to avoid the side-effects of that such as sinking self-esteem and simply a lot of time being wasted on trying to hide.

3. Will this matter in 5 years? Or even 5 weeks?

This one helps me to simplify.

To let go.

To not make a mountain out of a molehill.

To find the healthier and happier perspective.

To not lose my focus and energy to crippling worries.

To find a lightness in life where I do not have to carry around 5 tons of unnecessary mental baggage.

It is a truly wonderful question.

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22 Smart and Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself

“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”
Wayne Dyer

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”
Zig Ziglar

“I was thinking one day and I realized that if I just had somebody behind me all the way to motivate me I could make a big difference. Nobody came along like that so I just became that person for myself.”
Unknown

Some days you wake up motivated and ready to go. And some days things feel heavy as you arise and it is hard to get going and find that inner drive.

At least in my experience.

So over the past 10+ years I have found some simple and smart strategies that work for me to get back into the right groove and to get things done.

Here are 22 of my favorite tips and habits for doing just that.

Just get started and let the motivation catch up with you. You don’t have to wait for motivation to get started. If you want to work in a consistent way every day then sometimes you just have to get going anyway. And the funny thing is that after I have worked for a while things feel easier and easier and more fun and the motivation catches up with me.

Start very small if big leads you to procrastinating. If a project or task feels too big and daunting don’t let that lead you into procrastination. Instead, break it down into very small steps and then take just one of them to start moving forward. Because the most important thing is to just get going and to build momentum forward.

Get accountability from the people in your life. Tell your friends what you will do on social media, via phone or in real life. Ask one or more of them to regularly check up on you and your progress. By doing this you’ll be a lot less likely to try to weasel out of things or give up at the first obstacle.

Get motivation from the people in your life. Spend less time with negative people who always look at the dark or apathetic side of things. And spend more of the time you have now freed up with enthusiastic or motivated people and let their energy flow over to you.

Get the motivation from people you don’t know. Don’t limit yourself to just the motivation you can get from the people closest you. There is a ton of motivating books, podcasts, blogs and success stories out there that you can tap into to up or renew your motivation.

Play music that gives you energy. One of the simplest things I do when I feel low in energy or motivation is to play music that is upbeat and/or inspires me in some way. A break with a few songs or working while listening to them for a while usually works well.

Be kind to yourself when you stumble. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of beating yourself when you stumble or fail. But that don’t work that well in my experience. You just feel worse and less motivated. So try this the next time: be kind to yourself, nudge yourself back on the path you were on and take one small step forward.

Be constructive about the failures. To make your setbacks more valuable and less hurtful be constructive about them. When you stumble ask yourself: what is 1 thing I can learn from this setback? Then keep that lesson in mind and take action on it to improve what you do.

Compare yourself to yourself and see how far you have come.Instead of deflating yourself and your motivation by comparing yourself to others who are so far ahead of you.

Compete in a friendly way. When you’re in school or at work make it a friendly competition with a friend to for example finish a boring or routine task first. Just that element of competition tends to liven things up. And if you want to you can also add a small prize for extra motivation, like the winner getting a free ice cream or a beer from the other person.

Remind yourself of why you are working toward this. When you’re feeling unmotivated and low in energy it is easy to lose sight of why you’re doing something. So take 2 minutes and write down your top 3 reasons for doing this work, getting an education, working out, saving that extra money or something else. Put that note where you can see it every day or keep it in your smartphone for easy access when you need a motivational boost.
Remind yourself of what you’re moving away from. You can also motivate yourself to get going again by looking at the negative impact of staying on your current path. Ask yourself: What will the consequences be if I continue on this path for 1 more year? And if I do if for 5 more years? I have found that this exercise has given me the kick-start I needed many times in the past years.

Be grateful for what you got. When motivation is running low then it’s easy to start seeing your life and the aspects of it through a negative lens. To put your focus on what you still have and who you are – and to recharge with positivity and motivation ­– ask yourself a question like: What are 3 things I sometimes take for granted but can be grateful for in my life? My answers would, for example, be a roof over my head, clean water and not having to go hungry.

Mix things up. A rut will kill motivation. So mix things up. Make a competition out of a task with yourself or with someone else. When you work out vary what you do instead of going through the motions. Listen to music and podcasts that you usually don’t listen to. New input and variation tends to be a good way to keep the motivation up (or to recharge it).

Declutter your workspace. Take a couple of minutes to clean it up. I find that having an uncluttered and minimalistic workspace helps me to think more clearly and I feel more focused and ready to tackle the next task (or small step).

Don’t forget about the breaks. Few things can in my experience drain the daily motivation like just working non-stop. Instead, work for 45 minutes each hour and use the rest for a break where you eat snack, got out for some fresh air or do a bit of stretching. You’ll – perhaps somewhat counter-intuitively – get more done in a day and week and do work of higher quality because your energy, focus and motivation will simply last longer.

Adjust your goal size. If a big goal in your life feels overwhelming set a smaller goal to find your motivation again. And if a smaller goal doesn’t seem inspiring try to aim higher and make it bigger goal and see how that affects your motivation.

Exercise. Working out doesn’t just affect your body. I find that just 20-30 minutes of lifting free weights releases inner tensions and stress and makes me feel more focused and motivated once again.

Take 2 minutes to look back at your successes. Close your eyes and let the memories of your biggest successes – no matter in what part of your life – wash over you. Let those most positive memories boost your motivation.

Do a bit of research before you get started. Learning from people who have gone where you want to go and done what you want to do can help you to avoid pitfalls. And to give you a realistic time-table for success. This is important to not get demotivated when things aren’t happening as fast you had wished.

Take a 2 minute meditation break. This is something I have only done for the past few months. When my mind is a bit tired or perhaps even overloaded my energy and motivation goes down. So in the afternoons – or when needed – I tend to sit down with closed eyes and just focus on my breathing for 2 minutes. This clears my mind and releases inner tensions.

Go out in nature. Few things give me as much new energy and motivation to take on life as this does. So I often go out for a walk in the woods or by the sea and I’m just there in the moment with the nature, the fresh air and I don’t think about anything special.

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25 Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself

Feeling less than motivated all too often? I do. Well, perhaps not too often. But sometimes I just feel really lazy and unmotivated.

Want some practical solutions to that universal motivation-problem? Here are 25 of them. Try a handful.

Let me know which ones work well for you.

I’m sure you’ll find at least one or two that do just that among these suggestions.


1. Make a deal with yourself. Good for overcoming procrastination and getting things done. You can make the deal small or large. You simple tell yourself something like: When I’m done with this chapter/these reports I can take a walk in the park and enjoy an ice-cream.


2. Act like it. If you don’t feel motivated or enthusiastic then act like it. The strange thing is that within a few minutes you actually start to feel motivated or enthusiastic for real.


3. Ask uplifting questions in the morning. Here’s what you do; every morning ask yourself five empowering three-part questions this way:


What am I ______ about in my life right now?
What about it makes me _______?
How does it make me feel?

Put in your own value in the blank space. For instance, a couple of my questions are:

What am I happy about in my life right now?
What am I excited about in my life right now?

It’s important that you really feel how it makes you feel. When I think about the last part about what makes me happy right now I really feel it. These morning questions are great because the way they are set up makes you recognize things you take for granted and then they really get you to feel those positive feelings.


4. Move the goalposts. Set a large and specific goal. This will motivate you much more than small goals. A big goal has a big effect and can create a lot of motivation.


5. Do something small and create a flow. Just clean your desk. Or pay your bills. Or wash the dishes. You just need to get started. When you have finished that small task you’ll feel more alert and ready to go do the next thing. You just to get started to get motivated. So if you really don’t feel like doing anything, start with something small and work your way out up.


6. Do the toughest task first. This will ease a lot of your day-to-day worries and boost your self-confidence for the rest of the day. Read more about doing the hardest task bright and early right here.


7. Start slow. Instead of jumping into something at full speed start slow. When you do that your mind will not visualize the task as something hard that you have to do fast, fast, fast. If your mind sees such things guess what often happens? Yep, you don’t get started. Actually getting started, even if it’s at a slow pace, is a whole lot better than not getting started at all.


8. Compare yourself with yourself. Not with others. Comparing what you have and your results to what other people have and have accomplished can really kill your motivation. There are always people ahead of you. Most likely quite a bit of people. And a few of them are miles ahead. So focus on you. On your results. And how you can and have improved them.

Reviewing your results is important so you see where you have gone wrong in the past to avoid similar missteps further on. But it’s also important because it’s a great motivator to see how much you have improved and how far you have come. Often you can be pleasantly surprised when you do such a review.

9. Remember your successes. And let them flow through your mind instead of your failures. Write down your successes. Consider using a journal of some kind since it’s easy to forget your successes.

10. Act like your heroes. Read about them, watch them, listen to them. Discover what they did that was special and what made them tick. But remember that they are people just like us. So let them inspire you instead of looking up at them admiringly.

11. Remember to have fun. Or create fun in a task. Then you’ll stay motivated to do and finish it.


12. Get out of your comfort zone. Face your challenges to get a real boost of motivation. If you are holding yourself back have a look at 5 Life-Changing Keys to Overcoming Your Fear and the methods in this article. They can help you get started and take that first scary step outside your comfort zone.


13. Don’t fear failure. Instead redefine it as feedback and as a natural part of a successful life. As Michael Jordan said:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Also, try to find the valuable lesson(s) in each of your failures. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this?

14. Do some research on what you are about to do. Then your expectations will be more grounded in reality and you can also get good hints on what difficulties that you might run into along the way. Managing your expectations can lower the often almost explosive initial enthusiasm. But it can also lessen the lack of motivation that usually follows when most of that enthusiasm has dissipated.

When you know what has happened to others in similar situations – what path they have walked – you can adapt and try their solutions (and personal variations of those) and your own. This makes the worries and challenges easier to handle. Both emotionally – since you know at least some of the things that will happen and that others have lived through it before – and practically.


15. Figure out why you are doing something. If you don’t know or don’t have good enough reason to do something then it will be hard to get it done. Do things that you have really strong reasons to do. If you want to do something then figure out a good reason to do it. If you can’t find one consider dropping it and doing something that you have a good reason to do instead.


16. Write down your goals and reasons for working towards them. Tape them on your wall, computer or bathroom mirror. Then you’ll be reminded throughout the day and it becomes easier to stay on track and stay focused.


17. Take The Positivity Challenge! Learn to think more positively most of the time. Learn to let to go of negative threads of thought before they have a chance to take hold of you. You might not be able to be positive all the time no matter what happens. But I think most of us can improve on our positive thinking and the results it can lead us to. Perhaps more than you realize right now.

18. Cut down on TV. Do you watch it too much? Watch less of what they are doing in TV-land and do more of what you want to do in life.


19. Break it down. Break down your task or project into small steps. And just start with focusing on that first small step. When you are done move on to the next and just focus on that one. The small successes will keep your motivation up and keeping your focus away from the big picture stops you from becoming overwhelmed and discouraged. It’s amazing how much you can get done if you follow this simple method.


20. Reprogram your information intake. Program out negative and cynical thoughts from the media and society. Reduce your information intake. Then program in positive news and entertainment, more of your own thoughts and useful information such as personal growth tapes and books. Be selective and keep it positive.


21. Make use of your creativity. Take out a piece of paper. Write at the top of the page what area in your life you would like to have more ideas about. Perhaps you want ideas to earn more money or become a healthier person. Then brainstorm until you have written down 20 ideas on that topic. Then try for 10 more. Not all ideas will be good. But some will. And as you make use of your creativity you not only discover useful ideas. You also discover just how creative you can be if you try and how motivating and great that feels.

22. Find out what makes you happy. Then do that. As much as you want or can.

23. Listen while you’re on the move. Build your own small library of motivational/personal development tapes. Listen to them while you are driving, riding the bus or your bike, while you are out running or walking. Take a peek at my recommended personal development products if you are looking for a good place to start.


24. Think outside your box. Don’t imagine the future from the box of what you have now. Just because your mind is in box of previous experiences doesn’t mean that´s the limits of the world. Your possibilities are much larger. Create the future from the now and from nothing rather than your past to experience bigger changes with fewer limitations than you would if you created it from what you can see from your box.


25. Make each day count. We don’t have all the time in the world. So focus on today and do the things you really want to do.

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How to Approach Tasks You Really Hate Doing & Win

Everyone needs to do things they hate from time to time.

It might be anything from basic chores to a dull part of an otherwise interesting project. Those who get things finished know how to push through the tasks they hate in order to work on what they love.

Nobody is immune to procrastination, and even the most hardworking people around have their weak moments. While procrastination happens occasionally with neutral tasks, it’s a common problem people go through when facing things they really hate doing.


How to Approach Tasks You Hate Doing

Here are 9 strategies to help you find the motivation for doing tasks you hate and win every time you push them to completion.

1. Create a To-do List & Tackle Your Hardest Tasks First

To-do lists are the single best solution for making sense of your work and daily life.

Organization and scheduling is much easier if you’ve got a daily, weekly, or monthly to-do list as your point of reference.

Most of the time, you’ll spot your least favorite tasks at the very bottom of your to-do list. The trick to getting these done is simply moving them to the top.

This way you’ll gain a boost of motivation when thinking about more pleasant things that come right after the hard part.

Moreover, after completing your hardest tasks, everything else will look very easy in comparison. In other words, your to-do list will become a downhill ride.


2. Give Your Tasks More Depth

Boring tasks are annoying because they’re very narrow and don’t allow you to be creative.

A good solution to this problem is giving your task more depth. This is how you’ll make it more interesting and become focused on the task, consequently completing it faster than ever before.


CONSIDER YOUR ACTIVITY AS AN ART FORM THAT DESERVES TO BE MASTERED.

Instead of seeing it as an on-off kind of task, look at the potential ways in which you could achieve more in less time. Take small steps to make the task more enjoyable and always look for smart ways to optimize it.

3. Measure Time Spent on Various Tasks

One of the best methods to stop wasting time is to start measuring it. Record how many hours you spend on various activities during your day and put them all into a chart.

Every time you look at this chart, you’ll want to keep it moving in the right direction. That’s how you get a powerful motivation boost for your work. If you procrastinate, you’ll see its consequences right in front of you.

If you’re facing a series of things you absolutely need to do but don’t enjoy, create a chart to keep track of the time you spend on working towards their completion. This anti-procrastination technique is excellent if you’re having a bad week and can’t find the motivation for tackling the hardest or dullest tasks in your schedule.


4. Come up With Another Goal

Transforming an awful task into something pleasant isn’t always an option. But you still need to get it done. This is where you can use your objectives as effective leverage.

Instead of despairing over your activity, try to think about it in broader terms. How does it relate to your final objective? What is its meaning for your bigger picture of success?

This perspective will help you to see the task in a different light and get a motivation boost when you realize that it’s necessary for reaching your final goal.

Remind yourself of this goal once in a while to push through the things that you don’t find that exciting.


5. Set a Timer

If you need to complete a short mindless task, set a timer to ensure that you get it done as quickly as possible.

Create a specific window of time and you’ll be challenged to keep your focus throughout the activity. This way you’ll also get to more pleasant tasks sooner.

6. Make the Most Out of Your Time

Sometimes the most boring tasks are those which involve waiting, driving around, or mindless repetition of the same activity. Use this time to do something meaningful

If you’re stuck in traffic, listen to calming music or audio-books. If you’re waiting for an appointment, read a book or meditate. Listen to an interesting podcast while folding your laundry.

You can actively prevent this time from going to waste by adopting these habits that allow to live a fuller and more mindful life.


7. Focus on Your Task

If you think that getting over with a task as quickly as possible is a measure against procrastination, you’re making a huge mistake. This kind of attitude actually prevents people from getting started at all.

One way to stomach the unpleasant activity is to simply focus on it. Sometimes intense focus can help you start loving tasks you previously hated.


COMMIT TO THIS ACTIVITY AND INVEST ALL YOUR ENERGY TO CONCENTRATE ON IT.

Instead of thinking about all things you could be doing instead of this one, focus and do your best to complete it as efficiently as you can. Who knows, maybe you’ll start enjoying it in the process?


8. Break it Into Smaller Parts

Getting started is where things get difficult. We generally like to avoid tasks we hate for as long as possible. When we finally get started, we might get stuck for ages.

That’s why the key to boosting productivity lies in making it easier to get started. If an activity looks intimidating, you should break it into smaller components and commit to every single one of them.

If you’re a writer, set yourself a goal of one paragraph a day. This will make your task seem less daunting and give you motivation to complete the job once you stop actively avoiding it.


9. Delegate Tasks You Hate to Other People

Look around and you’ll inevitably find people in your life who could help you with these activities. If you build an image of yourself as too capable, others might easily start taking advantage of your ability and willingness to work on such tasks.

If you can’t find anyone to whom you could delegate your tasks, why not hire somebody to do them for you? Sure, it’s not a solution that will work for every kind of activity, but if the tasks in question can be outsourced, and you can afford it – just go for it.

This is especially valuable for managing tasks which are time-consuming. Just think of all the time you’ll gain to spend on other, more profitable or enjoyable activities. Plus, by hiring someone you’ll be helping them out as well.


Summary

Use these strategies and you’ll be on your way to getting more work done, consequently gaining more time for rest and doing things you really love.

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6 Ways To Eliminate Distraction, Find Focus and Get More Done

We live in a world of distraction.

From the constant buzz of incoming text message alerts through to ceaseless chatter and noise in the office, it can be hard at the best of times to concentrate and get work done.

Think about your daily routine – do you ever find yourself:
Feeling distracted from your work?
Struggling to find focus?
Procrastinating important tasks?
Not getting as much done as you would like?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you need to keep reading.

In this article I’m going to teach you six of the most effective ways to eliminate distraction, find your focus and get more done by beating procrastination.

Whether you’re a student struggling to concentrate on your studies, an office worker needing to get more done to keep your boss off your back, or an entrepreneur whose very business survival is dependent on, you will get value from this article.


Use Website Blocking Software to Free Dozens of Hours Each Week

How much time do you think you waste on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking websites?

According to a 2013 Ipsos study, we spend an average of 3.6 hours a day getting social online.This figure doesn’t even include the use of other websites such as online stores or message boards.

My point should already be obvious – if you are wasting precious time every day on social media or other specific websites, then you need to do something about it. Otherwise you are simply throwing time down the drain, which you can never get back.

The easiest solution is to deploy a site-blocking tool (I use StayFocusd for Google Chrome) that allows you to set up a blacklist of websites that unnecessarily consume what would otherwise be productive time.

There are different solutions depending what browser, operating system or device type you use. However, any solution that allows you to create a list of sites and a maximum daily time limit for them (before you are blocked until the next day) will work fine.

All that is left is for you to identify the sites that waste your time, and then add them to the list. It pays to be honest here; don’t leave a site off the blacklist if you do have a problem with using it to waste time.

Think about the productivity and future benefit you can generate by using your “social media time” in a more effective manner.

Here’s a personal anecdote to show you the value of diverting focus from time-wasting websites to other tasks: A few years ago I was spending at least two hours a day on Facebook.

This meant that every week I was losing 14 hours scouring albums of friends’ party photos, and clicking pointless cat video links. This was time I could never claim back. I decided that something had to be done and blocked myself from visiting Facebook for more 30 minutes a day using a site blocking browser tool.

This extra 1.5 hours I now had in my day was put to productive use. I started a blog (about overcoming laziness and procrastination, funnily enough) which has continued to pay dividends ever since.

It now earns me some handy extra money every month, which I can put towards paying bills or keeping myself in guitar equipment. The blog also serves as a fantastic channel for my “creative energy”, which keeps me feeling positive and energetic.

Had I not banished that 90 minutes of daily Facebook browsing, I would never have had enough time to create my blog (although I would have been a mastermind on cat videos!)


Interval-Only Phone Checking to Enhance Focus & Beat Procrastination

Search around your desk or workspace for your mobile phone. Is it within arms’ reach? Chances are it most likely is!

Cell phone addiction 21st Century affliction, in which we find ourselves constantly checking our phones for the latest text message or missed call.

Unfortunately, this is disastrous for productivity. Constantly checking your phone for missed texts or calls will distract you from productive work, and encourage hours of needless procrastination on a weekly basis.

The best solution I have discovered is to be absolutely ruthless with allowing yourself an opportunity to check your phone only at set intervals.

When I need to get work done I will only check my phone once every thirty minutes. If there are no messages or missed calls, then I put it down immediately and get back to work. During this “phone free time” I actually place the device in a draw, so it is out of sight and out of mind.

By keeping your phone checking to a regular schedule you are less likely to become distracted by the oh-so-addictive nature of text messaging and mobile browsing!



Write a Daily To-Do List to Guide You to Productivity and Action

I’m a firm believer in to-do lists as being one of the most effective ways to help you find focus and prevent distraction from taking hold.

You should enter every new day armed with a comprehensive checklist of tasks you want to complete.

These tasks can encompass work-related items, such as completing an important report or filling out your expenses through to everyday tasks like fetching groceries or arranging a service for your car.

Before you go to bed each night, you should create a to-do list for the following day. Leave some time free for tasks or duties that pop up unexpectedly (such as when you get to work and your boss tells you that you have to drop everything and do something urgently) but nonetheless be as detailed and as comprehensive as possible.

A to-do list that has been well thought out will help you to overcome procrastination, as it challenges you to ensure that every item is completed in time.

Make it a personal credo to never get to the end of the day without having finished all the tasks on your list.

The amount of extra work you will get done by following this strategy will astound you.


Use Noise-Canceling Headphones to Prevent Distraction & Improve Mental Clarity

This is one of my “secret” strategies for eliminating distraction, especially in an office or college library environment.

I’m sure you don’t need reminding how frustrating it can be when people come up to your desk or workspace when you are supposed to be working, and then distract you from getting stuff done.

The solution is simple: You need to create the impression that you are hard at work.

As a rule, most people are loath to interrupt others who appear fixed deeply in a state of productivity.

By wearing headphones while you work, you are sending a strong message to your co-workers that you are doing important work, and you should therefore not be interrupted.

I recommend noise-canceling headphones because they also provide the benefit of blocking out distracting noises, such as others talking around you, and help you to establish a mental sanctuary from which you can elevate your focus and drive.

Take a look in your local electronics store (or online) and find a pair that suits your budget. If you want to eliminate distractions and get more work done, then you cannot afford to ignore this method.


Discourage Unnecessary Face-to-Face Interactions with Colleagues to Minimize the Risk of Distraction

If you find yourself in an environment where the headphones trick wont work (e.g. your office has a policy against allowing employees to wear them) then you need to be a bit more overt when it comes to telling others not to distract you.

In any place that values productivity and effective work, you should not have to feel bad about asking those around you to refrain from disturbing you.

In a few different offices I’ve worked in, I asked my managers whether they had any problem with me sending a friendly group email to my colleagues asking if they wouldn’t mind emailing me first with any requests before coming to see me in person.

The benefit of this strategy is immense: It allows you to “screen” for pointless distractions before they invade your personal space bubble.

The annoying co-worker who was about to come and divert your attention away … just to tell you spoilers from the new Game of Thrones episode? Now he either has to email you first (and how likely are you to give him permission to distract you?) or more likely he will just not bother at all.

Another tactic worth using is to put up a do not disturb sign, during times when you really are pressed to get lots done. This will help you to prevent distraction by discouraging others from interrupting your important work.

If you’ve ever read The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss, then you’ll probably recall that he was a big fan of creating a working environment where you control other peoples’ access to your time and focus.

I support this idea too; and by politely requesting that your colleagues (and even friends and family) avoid “unsolicited” attempts to pull you away from your work during the times you need to be productive, you’ll soon develop much better focus and grow a productivity mindset.


De-Clutter Your Workspace to Create an Environment That Promotes Taking Action

Visual clutter is highly distracting for most people. It provides an avenue for diverting full attention to the work you need to complete.

Therefore, one of the most effective strategies you can deploy to enhance your focus and prevent distraction is to reduce that clutter.

I suggest starting with your physical surroundings. If your desk looks more like a battleground than a cohesive workspace, then you need to start tidying in a ruthless manner.

If you’re working in front of a computer, then try de-cluttering to the point where you only have your screen, keyboard, and mouse in front of you.

Invest in some drawers (if your desk doesn’t already have them) and put other items, such as notepads and pens, in there – keeping them out of sight and unable to distract you, but still within arms’ reach if you need them.

Another thing to consider is removing clutter from your computer itself.

A computer desktop that is littered with icons and folders does not make for a streamlined or efficient workspace, where you can easily take action and get work done.

Arrange your documents using a precise folder system, and try to keep visual clutter to a minimum. Another benefit of this is that you’ll be able to use your computer more efficiently – you’ll find it easier to locate important documents and files.

While I’m on this subject, a true distraction demon that you need to avoid where possible is tabbed browsing. As computers and smart devices have become ever more powerful, the ability for us to have loads of browser tabs, windows, and programs open at once has grown dramatically.

While more powerful computing is a great thing, it also has its downsides for those of us who struggle with distraction and wasting time online: Tabbed browsing and multiple programs make it too easy to flick from work to play.

Your brain simply cannot process all that information as once; so stick to having a couple of tabs/windows/programs open at once. Your favorite online shopping site isn’t going to disappear if you no longer have it open every time you hit the Internet!


Conclusion

You don’t need to be a slave to distraction, lack of focus, and inaction.

By deploying the strategies you have learned in this article, you’ll be able to develop hawk-like focus, and kick procrastination to the curb.

I’ve armed you with the tools … now get out there and finish the job! The benefits you’ll see in everyday life that accompany better focus and motivation will last you a whole lifetime.

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How to Defeat Procrastination & Start Being A Go-Getter

We have all been there. You have a major deadline or task to do, and yet you sit around and waste hours of your precious time on Netflix or some other time wasting endeavor.

We try to console our mind by saying we have enough time to do it later on, but all we are doing is treating our mind with cookies and letting it become a ‘Couch Potato’.

How to Defeat Procrastination

If you don’t defeat procrastination, you are prone to wasting thousands of hours of precious time that could have been used for improving your health, building a business or any other major goal you have.

Procrastination, if untreated, will suck the motivation out of your life stage by stage. It is like cancer.

To avoid procrastination and become a High-Flying Go Getter, follow the following 7 steps that have helped me become a highly efficient individual.

Step 1: Use The “5 Goals Per Day” Technique

This should be your first step towards annihilating your procrastination habit. The technique will help you build discipline (which is the opposite of procrastination).

Here is how to use the “5 Goals Per Day” method:
Before going to sleep or every morning, set yourself 5 ultimate daily goals that you must accomplish before going to bed that day.
The Goals must not be huge, because if the goal is too huge and you don’t accomplish all your goals by the end of the day, you are only feeding your mind thoughts of you being a weak person.
For example, if I wanted to build a blog, my daily goals would be “Write 500 words today” or “Read chapter 2 of how to build a blog”. They are small but require effort.

Note: Whatever you do, make sure that you accomplish those 5 goals at the end of the day. You defeat procrastination by proving to your brain that you can accomplish goals and are a strong individual.


Step 2: Find Your “Optimum Efficiency” Time

Your optimum efficiency time is the time where you are most inclined to work and put in effort.

Are you a night owl or an early bird?

Well, if you already know what time you are most effective at, then you can jump this step.
If not, I have a defined plan that will help you find out. Here it is:

1. Sleep 8-10 Hours; Wake up early (5-7AM); Take a bath and start 

accomplishing your tasks.

Are you concentrated?
Are you yawning a lot?
Do you accomplish at least 75% of your goals…

Evaluate your results and if you were energetic and efficient, then, you are an early bird! High-Five!! That’s me too! If not…

2. Sleep 8-10 Hours; Wake Up; Take A Bath; Do your daily tasks until it becomes night time and start accomplishing your tasks.

Ask yourself the above questions I mentioned before.

Evaluate your results and see if you were efficient. If yes, then you are a night owl!
If both times are not your optimum time, then try noon, afternoon… and evaluate your results.


Step 3: Use The “Pomodoro” technique or an adaption of it

If you haven’t heard of the Pomodoro technique, here is a simple explanation:
Work for 25 minutes and take 5-minute break
Repeat
Repeat again, but now take 15-minute break
Now Repeat from the Top.

What makes this method effective are those 5-minutes breaks. They are basically rewards for working 25 minutes.

Now, you can change this technique by making an adaption of it, but I advise as a beginner, you don’t lengthen the 5-minute break part. It is a sweet spot.


Step 4: Make Sure Your Working Space Is Organized
Yes, it might not seem like a big deal, but if your working space is dirty and unorganized, you will lose concentration and motivation.

Make sure your table is well lit, well-spaced and well organized. Make sure everything you need to accomplish your goal is on the desk before you even start working.

When I am talking about organization, I am also talking about your computer. A disorganized computer can feed your procrastination like nothing else.

Step 5: Stop Multi-Tasking

This expands on the previous step. Even though, many people say that multi-tasking is effective, it actually hinders your effectiveness.

When you doing an important task on your PC/laptop, make sure you don’t open 12 tabs at once. It will casually lead to you opening another tab of YouTube, Facebook or some other time wasting endeavor.

This also relates to goals. Don’t focus on two of your goals at once. Make sure you finish and concentrate fully on the first goal before going on towards your next goal.

Step 6: Have One Major Long-Term Goal

On the first step, we discussed laying out daily goals that will help you become efficient, but what is also important is having one long term goal that you can focus 110% on.

How long should a Long-Term Goal be?

Well… in my eyes, the perfect long term goal should be between 3-6 months. The reason this time interval is effective is because it is not too far away as to inspire procrastination or too short to cause stress.

In the perfect world, your daily short term goals should lead to your ultimate major long term goal.

It is fine to have unrelated daily goals, but effectively, 80% of your daily goals should be goals that build your long term goal.

For example, if my long term goal is losing 30 pounds of fat in the next 3 months, then…
My daily goals would be similar to the following:
Track my calories
Full Body Workout
Drink 2L of Water…

Step 7: Do What You Hate First

In the perfect world, all your goals and tasks are going to be things you absolutely love doing, but we aren’t in that perfect world.


As a result, you should accomplish the tougher goals before doing the easier ones.

If you start out doing the easier goals first, you will eventually burn out by the time you get to the harder tasks. And almost always, the tougher goals are the more valuable.

So before accomplishing any other goals, make sure you are obliterating the tougher goals before you move forward.

If you have extreme discipline, then this is no matter to you, but why are you reading this if you are disciplined? Right.

To build discipline and defeat procrastination, you need to prove to your mind that you are a goal-oriented individual.

Procrastination can render your life goal-less if undefeated, as a result take the above steps seriously and you will develop a goal-oriented mind in under 6 months.

You can enjoy a lazy day once in a while, but make sure you don’t get trapped into over extending your lazy day to a lazy week and then a lazy month. I am not joking; it can happen to everyone.

This is why losing fat and becoming healthy is hard. People start for a week and then decide to have one lazy day and that lazy day transforms into a lazy year and then they are back to a new year’s solutions the next year.

The cycle continues…

This is why you should start defeating your procrastination habit early on and with full vengeance.


What is the best way to defeat procrastination? Well…

It is by following the above steps, but what is the most important is having goals that you accomplish. It literally does change your life if you become a goal oriented individual.

If you don’t know how to set goals, then make sure you give this guide a read.

But what is ultimately vital is that you take action. All this steps I gave you are absolutely worthless if you don’t put them into action.

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