So, my deadlines are looming and I’ve got everything from a dog breathing heavily to TikTok distracting me. What do I do? Well in the past I have always just done what I wanted and scrambled at the last minute to pull it all together. Did I mention I’m also a bit of a procrastinator? But as I have gotten older I’ve needed to make some changes. I’m not certain I’m an adult yet but I’m getting there and it was time to start acting like one.
I am now the parent of two kiddos who are Neurodivergent. Sounds cool right? Like a super power or something. However when you learn about the different disorders that fall under this umbrella you will realize even the slightest distraction can be detrimental to their success in completing a task. This got me thinking… what if I apply some of the recommended concepts to myself and see what happens? There are a million different things out there but here are some that I tried.
- Eat Something – Okay this may sound obvious, however take a minute and think about how many times you looked at the clock while working and realized you missed lunch? When I’m hungry, I’m angry so I can’t do anything as good as I can when I haven’t skipped a meal. Pack snacks!
- Use Timers- This one works with huge success for my kids, but surprisingly it worked well with me too. If I had planned a post on social media for the day I would take care of it and then allow myself ten minutes of scrolling time. By setting a timer I was able to stick to my plan and still keep up to date with what is going on online.
- Find a Quiet Space – Last week I spent a few days working from my local library. It’s amazing how much work you can do in a quiet space. The added benefit? I couldn’t talk on my phone while I was there, so any incoming calls had to wait.
I still have a long way to go but these few things helped me reduce my distractions allowing me to get even more done. My next change is unplugging! Or at least finding a way to reduce my phone and computer alerts. Things like a email coming in, can pull my attention away from my task at hand and nine times out of ten it’s just someone trying to sell me something.
So let’s talk about it! What works for you? Do you block schedule? Have a writing cave? Share what you have tried in the comments below.
Happy Reading.
-Nikki Rome