Productive Entrepreneur and Overcoming Distractions

Here are the most common distractions that can keep you from being productive. Along with each distraction is a suggested set of solutions to help you overcome the distractions and be more productive.


Distraction: Social Media

Solutions:

Use an app like “Rescue Time” to physically limit how much you can be on social media.
Delete social media apps from your phone.
Turn off all social media notifications.
Set a social media schedule and only allow yourself to use social media during the allotted times.


Distraction: Email


Solutions:


Avoid responding to email first thing in the morning.
Only open your inbox at specified times of the day.
Turn off all email notifications on your phone and computer.
Create an auto-response that tells others you’re only able to respond to email on particular days of the week and then stick to that schedule.



Distraction: Slack, Skype, Messenger

Solutions:

Turn off all notifications on your phone.
Close apps and only respond to messages at pre-specified times.
Snooze notifications on desktop versions of the chat app.






Distraction: Text Messages

Solutions:

Put your phone in a drawer and only take it out at specified times.
Disable text notifications on your phone.
Disable text notifications on your smartwatch and laptop.
Only respond to text messages during specific times of the day.




Distraction: Phone Calls

Solutions:

Put your phone in a drawer and only take it out at specified times.
Respond to voicemails at the end of the day after you’ve done your most productive work.
Put your phone on silent mode during your focused periods.
Disable notifications on your smartwatch and computer.




Distraction: People Interrupting You

Solutions:

Close your office door.
Put on headphones.

When someone asks for a minute of your time, ask if you can catch them at a later, specified time.

Use these all to your advantage