Everyone get’s distracted to some degree, and if you’re a millennial with a phone (like me), there’s a pretty good chance you struggle staying focused.
I mean, who can blame you? We grew up with new, exciting technology coming out every year, video games becoming more and more immersive, and social media basically became our lives in high school.
Not to mention. . . it’s SUPER fun to get distracted.
Let’s be honest, how could we not love the idea of escaping work and our daily problems by scrolling through Instagram/Facebook/Steemit and forget about all the shit we have to do.
Trust me, I hear ya. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD in college, there’s not a day that passes where I don’t battle the urge to avoid my responsibilities or the task at hand.
In the moment, it feels great to just turn off our brain for a bit and enter into our own digital world, but once the fun is over and we realize we just wasted 3 hours (or more) playing Battlefront II or binging Stranger Things on Netflix: reality hits us and it’s back to square one.
Now, I’ve had yet to master it, but I’ve learned a few tricks over the years to reduce the temptation of veering off and “buckle down” on the things that matter:
Now, I LOVE to sleep in, but forcing myself to get up early instills a powerful sense of motivation. I’m not saying go crazy and get up at 4:30 or 5 everyday - I know some of you crazy people do - but if you’re a snoozer like me, try getting up a little earlier like 6 or 7 and take that time to exercise, drink some coffee, or whatever you have to do to become fully awake. It’s also a great time to contemplate on the day, your life, and build some confidence knowing you just got your day started before the majority. If you already HAVE to get up that early for work then I truly feel for you. :)
I personally like physically writing down my list, but there are a plethora of apps you can get to aid you with this. Also, try to prioritize the list; start with the more tedious/less enjoyable items, then move to the more enjoyable ones. There’s something about seeing all of your tasks laid out, it makes all of it seem a lot less daunting and relieves anxiety (at least for me). There’s definitely a feeling of accomplishment through using a pen to cross each task out as you do them, and it’s usually motivating enough to move on to the next one. If you have a big project that will take weeks, try just delegating a specific amount of time to work on it each day; Spending all day on one project can be super draining so try and space it out. I find that making the list either late at night for the next day or early in the morning when you get up are the best times to do it.
Whether it’s your phone, computer, TV, ect. we all have that thing that’s always calling our name. If you have a paper to write or a book to read, just turn off that phone and go to a secluded place where you can’t see or hear whatever is distracting you. Obviously, if you have to be on your computer just try your best not to browse, maybe turn off your WiFi if you can. I found this to be more liberating than anything. Detaching is good for us to do because it allows us to generate our own internal thoughts more efficiently and honestly.
If you have a work schedule, this has already been done for you. I, for one, make my own schedule and have found it beneficial to reserve some time to unwind or relax. It’s unhealthy to work and work the entire day without any breaks, so a couple 15-30 minute breaks will serve you well in the long run. The tricky part about this is having the discipline to get back to work when your break is over, but don’t let the idea of getting back to work take away from your down time; use that time to refuel the brain and step away from the work, hopefully being able to come back with a refreshed set of eyes.
If you have a successful day of staying on task and accomplished what you set out get done, be proud and treat yourself! Go grab a drink with some friends or make yourself a good dinner with the time you have left. There’s no greater feeling than working diligently and having a relaxing night, knowing you deserve it. Oh, and remember to get to bed on time because you’ve got an early morning!
I know just as well as anyone that wasting time can be discouraging and frustrating, especially if you have a deadline coming up. The key is to accept the fact that you got distracted, stay calm, and keep moving forward. Aggravation will only lead to a more distracted mind, so try to get the bad thoughts out and focus on the good. We all can’t have good days everyday so don’t be too hard on yourself. Learn to love yourself and the work that you do on good days and bad.
Like all of us I have my good days and bad days, but I focus on daily improvements, no matter how big or small they are. Remember that everyone has their struggles, so don’t feel ashamed of yours. ADHD is something I’ve faced my whole life, but now I welcome the challenge because it has made me stronger.
If you enjoyed reading this, let me know! Give me a follow because I will definitely keep posting about creativity, creating a work ethic, humanity and the love that keeps us going.
