I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of experience with distractions! I have had to find ways to work around mine and put them into their proper places and I have some tips to pass along to you (and I’d love to hear yours!).
1) It’s good to ask for help! If you struggle with getting work done with your kids around, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Find a sitter or a loving grandparent and ask for them to watch your children away from your house once- or twice-a-week so you can have some distraction-free time that you can count on.
2) Have a place you can go to work away from your home. Find a place that works for you. If you can’t write at Starbucks because it’s too loud, find a different place where you are productive. If you have nice weather, a neighborhood park could be nice–and that also limits your internet access and helps get you away from the online distractions.
3) Have set days for your chores around the house. Scheduling the house and yard work will help you to maximize your time and it helps to keep the house in better shape–at least it has for me! Trying to cram every chore into the weekends just leads to burn out and then the writing doesn’t get done.
4) Only allow yourself to look at your phone/social media during real breaks. If you stop for lunch, take that time to check in to your online life or to play your Words with Friends game, but don’t allow yourself to constantly be distracted by your games or social media. Turn off all notifications that might buzz or ring during your work time. I haven’t turned off my phone yet, but that’s not a bad idea either!
5) Give up watching some of your shows. You’ll find you don’t really miss them once you aren’t watching them!
Breaking bad habits is always hard at first, but the reward comes with the increased productivity!
How do you overcome your distractions?
Battle Back from Writer Burnout!