by Liesha Petrovich
You’re on a tight deadline, and need to be at the top of your game. But you can’t seem to think or focus on anything.
Stress is your new BFF.
Why you are distracted isn’t the issue. The real issue is that life happens. And you still have to work. So you need to learn how to block out the outside world if you’re ever going to become effective and productive.
The Attitude Killer – Stress
Stress is a normal part of business life. But too much stress can kill your attitude and make it impossible to function normally.
Nothing can be done about unexpected emergencies, but you can become proactive instead of reactive. Stop minor problems from becoming major issues.
The key is to change your mindset. If you spend all your time putting out major fires, your stress levels build up. Try these steps to become more proactive:
Make a list of your top stressors.
See if there is anything you can do now (proactively) that will prevent the issue from becoming a major stress.
Don’t choose a quick fix, as it will not solve the real issue. Choose to fix the real problem
The Productivity Killer – Distraction
It’s easy to become distracted when you’re connected 24/7. You may get a notification for every new email, text, or message. That’s okay if you’re not working, but if you have actual work to do, it can be extremely distracting.
Try these easy steps to lessen outside distractions, and stay focused on what’s important:
- Stop wasting time on social networks. Use this eye-opening widget to figure out how much time you’ve wasted on Facebook
- Use Stayfocusd or Rescue Time if you have no self-control
- Turn off your phone. On average, people check their phones at least 10 times an hour. You can’t possibly have urgent messages 24/7
- Schedule distractions. It’s okay to surf some useless (but entertaining) websites. Take a break, recharge, but then get back to work
The Success Killer – Unorganized
You juggle your professional and home life every day. On any given day, your may be a mother, wife, cook, maid, or chauffeur. Then you’re expected to be a brilliant business women. It’s simply overwhelming.
If you want to be effective and productive, you have to become an exceptional organizer. Try one of these organizational resources and productivity tools:
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change: book & organizational system
- Workflowy: app
- Evernote: app, with several additional tools
Become Productive & Effective
Some people thrive under pressure. But not everyone can function well if they are constantly stressed out or distracted. Instead of finding ways to handle negative emotions and behaviors, try to prevent them from happening in the first place.
You will never eliminate stress or outside distractions. But don’t sit back and let negativity kill your productivity. Take action, create a plan, and keep moving forward.
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Liesha Petrovich is the creator of Micro Business Essentials, a unique business blog exclusively for micro businesses. If you’re looking for fast, affordable, and effective tips to help your business grow, click here to grab a copy of Micro Business Essentials Toolkit: Free and Low Cost Resources.
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