Written by Feeling overwhelmed over unfinished writing projects?
Specifically, for books and blogs? This one complaint comes to me so frequently, I decided to look deeper and give you productivity-minded business people a way to leave discouragement to take the path to new a-has.
Remember Bill Maher and his comedic examples of the unpopular divided politicians who think in a bubble? I suggest that if you really want to finish your book or blog that you too, work in a bubble-shutting all out low payoff distractions.
In my early days as a book coach, I knew I needed help because of my low techie savvy. Instead of trying to figure it all out myself, I hired first a virtual assistant and then, my webmaster who still works with me today. Then, I could focus on my book coaching, which involves all kinds of writing including copywriting for marketing.
Two Ways We Distract Ourselves
1.Instead of finishing a bigger writing project, which is usually done in short pieces and takes longer, we tend to distract ourselves spending time on little tasks such as paying attention to some else’s agenda such as answering emails.
(Maybe, like me you delegate them to your team.)
Working on small things may give us a feeling of accomplishment, but mostly they waste our time. I’ve been guilty until I reminded myself, what has the bigger payoff ?
2. Our brains are naturally wired to want to complete our tasks, so we feel guilty, frustrated, even angry when we go for the distraction that speaks louder to us, but has a much lower payoff.
5 Tips to Squash Low Payoff Distractions That Keep you From Your Main Project
- Turn off your phone or check messages at a lower productivity time after you attend top writing priorities.
- Postpone email announcements from others whose agenda is theirs, not yours. (Unsubscribe to those who no longer serve you.)
- Stay away from online sites that distract you, especially social media platforms.( delegate this work out like I do.)
- Let associates, family and friends know about your scheduled writing sessions. Announce it’s a no interruption period. (Hey, it works! I don’t want to miss my nurturing friends, so we connect after or before work hours. Today, I feel confident and peaceful after finishing a four month writing project to attract new fast track entrepreneur bookcoaching clients.)
- Create an environment that lets you focus (I write down, my 5 High Level Activities (HLAs) daily for a week at a time. You may chose less such as 3 days a week from 10AM TO 12 NOON, I’ll finish writing chapter 3 entitled_____. )
Book Coach’s Hot Tip: When you write specific tasks ahead, you allow your subconscious to partially solve them while you sleep.
60 beats per minute music helps your heart slow down, relax and focus on what’s in front of you. I use classical and also some blues I like.
Remember, we create the distractions when we don’t say no to other people’s agenda. When you focus on your goals fully and get the help you need, you will finish the important longer term projects and get the rewards you seek.
Got questions? Send me an email to get answers within 48 hours. Or, call my coaching telephone number on T or TH between 11, 12noon, and 1PM at (619-466-0622) only at Pacific Times and get me in person.
Judy Cullins
Latest posts by Judy Cullins (see all)
- Finish your Book Project Fast – Write High Level Activities – October 3, 2020
- Build Your Book’s Promotion Platform Before & After Publishing – September 14, 2020
- The BestPlace to Sell Books is Not a Book Store – September 11, 2020
