The Solopreneur Specialist Newsletter
Every day, employees in traditional work environments are in a constant battle to maintain control of their time and productivity in the face of workplace distractions and interruptions. Frequent meetings, urgent emails, spur-of-the-moment requests from bosses, or chatty coworkers prone to “over-sharing” are daily challenges.
As a self-employed solopreneur, you’ve already taken a big step forward in being able to utilize your time more effectively than the typical employed worker. Strategies such as Action Block Calendaring, as described in my latest book Escape the To-Do List Trap, help you organize your day productively and avoid the time killers usually present in typical workplaces.
In reality, however, you still have to deal with common distractions and interruptions, even if you work for yourself. This is especially true when you’re working alone and there’s no one keeping an eye on you to ensure you’re staying on task. As much as we try, our attention can wander. There are distractions all around us. Here’s a list of common distractions to watch out for and what you can do to deal with them.
- Email – It’s so tempting to keep your inbox open in the background on your computer and check it frequently for the satisfaction of reading and answering new emails. This ultimately means, however, that your attention is constantly divided and you’re not able to give 100% to the task you are currently focusing on. Instead, turn off your email notifications and set specific times during your work day to intentionally check and process your email.
- Phone Calls/Text Messages – Our cell phones have become extensions of ourselves, and those trying to reach us often have the expectation that we’ll answer calls or text messages as quickly as if we were right in front of them. Unfortunately, the more you respond immediately, the more you reinforce that expectation. This can kill productivity, as you lose control of your own priorities and defer to what someone else wants you to do.
There are, of course, urgent phone calls or text messages you should take immediately, but in general, it’s more helpful to schedule calls so you can be better prepared for these conversations. You can designate short blocks of time throughout the day to return whatever calls or texts have come into your inbox.
- Environment – Does your office have a door you can easily close? With a sign that says “Do Not Disturb” so family members can respect your working hours? Are you tempted to watch TV or listen to podcasts while working? Are there other distracting noises in your home that make it difficult to focus?
The environment you set up for your work will either tempt you into distractions and allow for interruptions, OR will permit you to focus exclusively on the task at hand. Having an office door you can close, signs to remind others that you’re working, and eliminating distracting toys such as a TV, can assist you in fully utilizing the time you have available for your work. If all else fails, noise-canceling headphones can do the trick!
- Online Distractions – Social media continues to be a great temptation for many solopreneurs, especially those who work alone and miss real-life interactions. Make it a point to completely log-off your social media accounts, and schedule real, in-person time with your friends and colleagues. You’ll feel refreshed, be happier and have more rewarding relationships.
- Yourself – Our fast-paced world has conditioned us to be easily distracted, jumping from one task to another, believing that we’re accomplishing more, when in fact, we’re accomplishing less. Consequently, focusing on one thing at a time can feel like a superhuman exercise in willpower. The good news is, the more we do it, the more natural it feels and ultimately, we’re better off when we can give our full attention to one full-concentration work task at a time.
Remember, you can always add variety to your day so you don’t feel consumed by work. Ideas include:
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- Taking breaks for exercise – walks, trips to the gym, crunches at home, etc.
- Alternating between work that requires intense mental effort and less demanding tasks that don’t call for the same level of concentration.
- Working in a different location for a while—such as a different room in the house, the backyard, coffee shop, library, or in the park.
- “Unplugging” completely from your work to enjoy other aspects of your life.
- Meeting up with friends or business contacts for coffee or lunch.
As hard as you try, however, you’ll find there are times when interruptions are unavoidable. In that case, it’s helpful to have a plan for how you’ll resume your work when you return to it. Even taking a minute to quickly jot down notes such as “What’s my next thought?”, “What points do I still need to address?”, or “What actions do I need someone to take?” can make a significant difference in how quickly you regain your focus once you’ve dealt with the interruption.
If you’d like help in avoiding distractions as you work, I’m here! Feel free to set up a call and we can talk about strategies to more effectively manage your time and help you be as productive as possible.
