overcoming distractions at home

It sounds cliche but the thing that keeps me, and my students, on track is the power of a dream - an emotional dream - and reviewing it often

The problem is that few people know how to clarify their dream.

I've written a post about exactly how to do it at my StartBusinessMentor training blog but I don't think I'm allowed to post a link to it here.

But defining your dream -and writing it down - is a powerful motivator!

"If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place." – Nora Roberts

I know exactly where you're coming from, "I really should be working to get this done for my tomorrow deadline but there's a new episode of The Walking Dead on and I swear that this will be the last time I procrastinate"...

Weirdly enough, that quote was what stopped me procrastinating.. Not avoiding doing something one last time..

Now when I think of avoiding doing something important in relation to my business, I think of my BMW 1 Series that I'm saving up for never becoming mine. I don't like thinking of that so I try not to even consider procrastinating.

See when you think of procrastinating, you look at the short term benefits of it. What you don't think of is the long term loss. Sure, the thought of watching one more hours TV does sound more exciting than contacting potential clients but funnily enough, it's when I nearly procrastinated but then decided to work instead that I got my most high paying clients.

The only REAL way of beating procrastination is to do what you're avoiding.

Obviously spending time with your family is not a form of procrastination, it's something super important that you should do!

Try making time for family, and making time for work! When you work, it's your time! Even if it's only an hour a day and you make sure that work flat out for that hour!

Talk to your family, I'm sure you'll be able to arrange something!

Taking small steps on a regular basis is much better than taking big steps now and then.

Hope this helps

Joe Crosbie

Hey guys!

Great quote Joe! And a very valid point from Allan James, I think you need to clarify your dream and visualise how big you want to become or what you want to achieve. I'll probably start of by writing down all the goals you want as that's a clear motivated written plan.

Now the point you have rick is a bit of a tricky one as sometimes as your mind always plays tricks on you to just chill out and watch tv or to do something relaxing. Working at home could be a big distraction.

I'm going to try and go to the library a few days in a week, that was you can just knuckle down and get straight to work, maybe give that a go...

Regards, Manie

If you work from home and have kid(s) like you do then you are better off creating a home office and let your family know whenever you are in your office it's a no go area.

What keeps me motivated i think is about setting up my home in a conducive manner.
Everything is handy, i barely have to go out for anything except lunch.

Above all, your home office should be very quite as this will greatly help you stay focus on your job. I love working online because i don't know when time flies, that's me anyway..

As far as being your own boss is concern, you need to have self-discipline.

What works for me MAY not work for you..

I live alone so I don't have the same issues as most people BUT I still need to structure my time. I have pen and paper (yes, real pen and paper) and list every job that needs doing each day.

I include non-work stuff so that it gets done as well. I then prioritise the items in order of importance so if something doesn't get done, it's not the most important thing.

It's vital to not spend all your time on the computer for health reasons so by breaking up the day, you get to move around and stretch, etc.

I cross off each item as I complete it and by the end of the day I have done all or at least the most important items.

Then the key to achieving your goals is focus. When you're at your computer, you focus on what needs doing and you get it done!

White noise helps a lot too.

I know what you are saying. Each and every time when I want to start working, something or someone else distracts me. For a couple of weeks I gave into it easily, but for a month or so I have made myself a strict program, designed in steps, and I try to check as many steps as I can in a single day. I never thought that I can become so focused and motivated, but I realized that if you are detrmined, you can make it. I hope my way of overcoming distractions can help you. Have a nice day!