10 tips for success: reducing distraction and maximizing time

Check up on yourself.
Distractions are everywhere so you can start by looking within. Ask yourself why are you having trouble concentrating? What are the causes of your anxiety and what can you do to control it?

Pinpoint the cause.
When you have determined what you want to accomplish you must find the cause of the distraction. Is it someone you work with? Is it a problem with your work area? When the exact problem is found you will be able to pinpoint and find how to solve it.

Be prepared.
All successful leaders are great planners; they make lists for every major and minor objective. When a task comes your way, spend some time thinking about how you will accomplish it. Write down every step necessary from start to finish, with a timeline. There is a saying that every 10 minutes you spend on planning saves an hour in execution.

Go offline.
Some of the biggest sources of distraction come from email, social media, and cell phones. If you want real focus, take yourself offline until you've accomplished what you need to do.

Give yourself a break.
One of the keys to doing great work is to know when to take a break. When you start to feel distracted, take a break, and then reassess and refocus yourself. It doesn't just act as a reward--a short break can help your mind become clearer.

Tune it out.
One of the best ways to tune everything out is to tune in to music. When everything around you is distracting, put on your headphones--find something that can serve as background music rather than music that holds your full attention. Music can help you concentrate, and the headphones signal others that you're not available to chat.

Break it down.
Especially when distractions are high, make tasks smaller and break down your large projects into smaller tasks to help you concentrate and give you a sense of accomplishment and progress.

Clean up.
What's the state of your office or workspace? If it's dirty, disorganized, or cluttered, invest some time in clearing it out so you can focus.

Set a deadline.
If you're working on a complex task, it takes an average of 90 minutes to accomplish anything worthwhile--and about 30 minutes just to get your mind on the task. Once you are in the flow, set a concentrated period of time--and when the time runs out, stop. It's easier to stay focused when you have an end in sight.

Become an early bird.
Having a strict morning routine and committing to it is very important to the success of many people. Waking up early to get some work done is very productive as it limits distractions and therefore gives you a sense of accomplishment and can also reduce stress.