Please say I am not the only person who struggles with staying focused while online: so many links to click, articles to read, and pics to Pin!
For example, I love twitter. It’s so easy to navigate through tweet after tweet, with most of them offering a link to click or picture to view. But recently I have been swimming in information and it is time for me to come up for air and get back to what matters most, including taking active steps towards my goals.
If you follow me on Twitter, you got a glimpse of this struggle last week as I started to tweet bits of wisdom from my latest read, “Getting Things Done.” This book is all about getting focused and getting your priorities up front and center. So in honor of my current read, today’s Tuesday tip is focused on exactly that.
It is time to set up some strategies to help stay focused online! Here are a few ideas to get us started.
Create a task list or agenda
If you keep an ongoing list of all of your tasks, it can be easier to distinguish the priority of each item. You may even be able to cross off some tasks before completion if you realize that are not that important in hindsight.
With your agenda, you can quickly estimate a time for each task. Then set your timer right next to as you work. This simple trick can be just what you need to stay focused on the task at hand.
Although this tip can be applied to any area of your life. It is also applicable to your online time. When you have a real idea about how long something takes you can realistically schedule your time.
Create a schedule or routine
Establish a routine with the order you do things so that it becomes almost second nature to follow through on your tasks to complete. One drawback to this strategy is falling into a poor routine of checking email (or Facebook) first and then getting lost in the rabbit hole of links you find. Try not to dive too deep into email first.
You can schedule in time to play but stick to your schedule and use your “fun sites” as a reward.
Once you have decided how to approach your browsing time, make a plan for how to combat getting sucked in while researching.
Create a holding spot for “To Read” articles
With the wealth of information online there is a similar feeling to a free buffet. It is not until you sit down and start eating that you realize you piled your plate too high. With all your articles in one place, you can scan them all at a glance to see what you want to start with first. Which articles are easily digestible that you can scan and move on from and which articles you might munch on only if you still have room. Don’t be afraid to delete articles later if it is not worth your precious time.
A few of the many options available for holding your articles are:
- Bookmarks or Favorites list either on your browser or Google bookmarks
- Evernote
- Instapaper
- Pinterest for images/ideas
This strategy will only work if you review and delete often. Otherwise your “holding spot” will stop being helpful and a place you want to visit for fear of getting overwhelmed. Set a specific time (it can be just a few minutes either daily or a longer time weekly) to go through your saved articles and be diligent about either deleting or archiving articles.
Check your email 3 times a day at scheduled times
There are so many schools of thought and different strategies when it comes to navigating email. What matters most is that you find a solution that works for you and allows you to feel in control of your email instead of the other way around.
I like limiting my email checking time to specific and focused times of day. As I read I remember I need to follow through on what ever action is necessary for each email right then. To establish the habit of taking action is easier said then done!
Limiting yourself to only checking email 2-3 times a day can add that little extra push to take action then instead of approaching it with ‘I’ll do it later’. Approach each email with only 4 possible options: take action, delete, archive or move to a pending file.
I know 3x a day might not be realistic for all but reducing it to only what is necessary is what matters. (I still struggle with keeping an empty inbox, read more here).
Set a timer
My answer to all things! Once you realize how long you are spending on your online tasks you can either set a realistic schedule or limit the time you spend on that beloved (but time vampire) website.
by Gerwin Sturm
Productivity strategies are definitely something to continue to modify and tweak to find what works for you.
I’d love to hear how you limit your time wasters online? Have you found a great site that helps you organize your tasks?
I loved the book Getting Things Done. I still struggle with paper, and multiple “to do” lists but it did help me a lot. The 2 minute rule has allowed me get a lot of little things done that I used to let pile up to try and batch process. Thanks for the reminders on how to stay productive.
I totally agree Nickeletta. The “do something now if it takes less than 2 minutes” concept has already made a huge improvement in my seemly never ending to-do list.