What are some of the best practices to manage your time and energy and avoid procrastination and distraction?

One of the best practices for managing time and energy to avoid procrastination and distraction is to set SMART goals. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This clarity helps focus your efforts and makes it easier to track progress. Tip: Break down large projects into smaller, actionable steps. For example, instead of setting a goal to "complete a report," set a SMART goal like "write the introduction of the report by Tuesday." This makes the task less overwhelming and more manageable.

In my packed schedule of customer meetings, reviews, and travel, I prioritize and achieve tasks by focusing on long-term goals. I break goals into achievable tasks with set deadlines, ensuring success. Key strategies include allocating specific time slots (e.g., 10 minutes every 2 hours for a post like this), batching similar tasks for efficiency (e.g. analyzing pipeline data and demand generation activities together), continuous learning for adaptability (new certifications, tools), and structured meetings with clear agendas and delegation, utilizing productivity tools (time management, data gathering, etc.). This disciplined approach ensures goal attainment amid a demanding role.

Ways to own your time: 1-Allocate focused work time daily. Ensure it's free from distractions. Embrace this as a leadership practice, potentially encouraging others to do the same. 2. Recognize your achievements. Acknowledge three accomplishments at day's end, even simple ones. 3. Schedule planning time. This weekly event lets you align your upcoming week with your larger vision, including personal tasks. 4. Prioritize using a framework. The Eisenhower Decision Matrix simplifies task prioritization. 5. Understand your 'why' before 'how'. Always revisit your 'why' before adjusting your schedule, ensuring your time aligns with your objectives. 6. Practice disconnection. Disconnect periodically, focusing on purpose over distraction.

The power of SMART goals can be boosted if you connect the SMART goals with the urgency-importance matrix. This way, you can focus on the most important goals - and, for a bit of time, forget the unimportant and less urgent ones.

Use your Outlook or Google calendar to set times for your tasks. Do them in 30 minute to 1 hour time slots and if you don't complete them in the time, reschedule and move on to the next one. Take regular breaks, maybe listen to some music or have a quick walk around the block. Try not to become bogged down with one task. Variety is the spice of life!

Planning your next day the night before effectively ensures a fresh start each morning. Prioritise tasks, set clear goals, break projects into manageable steps, and schedule specific times for focused work and breaks.

Planning your day helps you stay organized and on track. Start by outlining your tasks and allocating time slots for each activity. This structure ensures that you know exactly what needs to be done and when. Tip: Use tools like planners, calendars, or digital apps to schedule your tasks. Begin your day by prioritizing the most important tasks (MITs) and plan to tackle them when your energy levels are highest. Review and adjust your plan as needed throughout the day.

I like to create to-do lists to ensure I stay on track. The simple act of checking off completed activities provides an added jolt of motivation.

Without an intentional structure and specific strategies to keep focus, you will burn unnecessary energy and get distracted. Think about what works for you. Here's what I use: 1. SMART goals 2. Eisenhower Matrix to prioritise the tasks. Don't overload this. 3 tasks in the urgent important category is enough. 3. Once you have decided on the time required for each task (be realistic) time block. 4. Drop multitasking - it fuels distractions. Complete one task at a time. 5. Break large tasks into smaller manageable stages to keep you motivated. 6. Identify potential distractions and remove them. Set up your environment for success - incorporate a routine, habit stacked lifestyle. 7. Move - during breaks take inhealthy nutrition and exercise.

Look for the desired outcome of the day as this will help to lift the view and to link this day with this week and this month. Rather tham achieving all tasks on a list only, look for the right balance between flow and doing

Not all tasks are equally important. Prioritizing helps you focus on what truly matters and ensures that critical tasks are completed first. The Eisenhower Matrix is a helpful tool to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. Tip: Divide your tasks into four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Focus on tasks that are important and urgent, and schedule time for important but not urgent tasks to avoid last-minute stress.

As tasks may be delayed for many reasons outside your control, remember to also be flexible about reframing/rephrasing them and be kind to yourself and accept that not all is within your control

The be way to prioritize is to help your team get tough and stay focused, teach them to recognize the few key tasks that really drive results. Then, have them block out time on their calendars just for these tasks, turning off distractions during those periods. This will help them work on what's important without procrastination getting in the way. It's a straightforward way to get more done with less stress, which builds their ability to stick with challenges and keep going strong.

By identifying the most important tasks and tackling them first, you can ensure that you make progress on key objectives without getting bogged down by less critical activities. Set clear goals and deadlines, break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, and minimise distractions can also help in avoiding procrastination and staying focused on your priorities.

ADHDers have an interest based nervous system. This can mean a task can be urgent and important but getting the motivation to do it can be incredible challenging. Here's another take on the Eisenhower matrix to support prioritisation and getting into flow...: What are the things that I: - want to do: (things that give me a dopamine hit to get me started or use as a reward. Also use a want such as listen to music whilst doing chores as a motivator) - should be doing: (what's society saying I should be doing or high standards I'm berating myself about) - need to do: (pay bills, chores, what self care do I need, lunch, regular breaks don't forget the bathroom, yes this happens especially in hyperfocus!) - delegate: (who can support me)

I've learned from "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz that managing your energy is as crucial as managing your time. This approach has revolutionized my productivity both personally and professionally. It's vital to maintain a balance of physical health, nutrition, rest, and personal connections to ensure you can perform at your best. If these basics are neglected, you might find yourself working longer but producing less. To avoid procrastination and maximize efficiency, I recommend scheduling your most challenging tasks during peak energy times of the day. How do you ensure your energy management aligns with your professional goals?

Effectively managing time and energy while avoiding procrastination and distraction requires a mindful approach to prioritising well-being. Here are some of the things you can do: - Schedule regular breaks to recharge. Whether a short walk or a moment of mindfulness, these small breaks can make a huge difference in your overall energy levels. - Identify and prioritise tasks based on energy levels. Tackle high-energy tasks during peak hours and reserve low-energy periods for less demanding activities. - Set smaller, more achievable goals to prevent burnout. Realistic expectations contribute to a positive mindset and sustained energy throughout the day. - Take the first step and get started. This is an achievement in itself.

Do the hard things first. Manage your energy by exercising to start your day and then schedule your hardest work related activity next. For me that is always cold calling because it can be so energy draining. If you schedule your hardest productive work for the start of your day, that leaves you feeling like a winner for the rest of your day which can lead to a re-energized mindset after lunch. Anxiety attributed to work related tasks can zap you of all of your energy to best to get it over with first. I try to schedule meetings for the second half of the day with customers so that I can focus on being present with them and not on reach calling targets.

Do a simple reflection exercise such as "this gives me energy and this drains my energy". Move on to being strategic and look for your own flow and get the peaks out of it (Flow at work refers to a short-term peak experience that is characterized by absorption, work enjoyment, and intrinsic work motivation, and is positively related to various indicators of job performance)

Distractions are a major cause of procrastination. Identifying and eliminating them can significantly improve your productivity. This might include turning off notifications, creating a dedicated workspace, or setting boundaries with others. Tip: Identify your biggest distractions and find ways to minimize them. For example, use apps that block social media during work hours, or create a clutter-free workspace. Communicate with family or roommates about your work schedule to minimize interruptions.

Here's some great ways to eliminate distractions: 1. Set your work environment apart from your relaxation/leisure area. 2. Remove your phone, turn off notifications and drop social media. Decide in advance to do this and make it your habit. 3. Time block and prioritise your tasks completing one task at a time in order of urgency - multitasking is a time and energy waster. 4. Keep your boundaries especially with family and friends and they will learn your routine. 5. Technology - consider headphones, website blockers and filters to time cap Web browsing and social media.

Lock yourself in your office. Turn off the wifi. Set your phone to “do not disturb”. When the work is demanding, you can’t afford a low attention span. After you’ve done all the preliminary work (setting your goals, planning out your day, prioritising tasks, and managing your energy), get focused and start working through your to do list. PS - I find it helps to reward yourself with a healthy meal, snack, or short break after each task is completed. Good for motivation and good for the body!

In this 24/7 "always on" digital world, we can celebrate the huge advances in technology that keep us so closely connected even when working remotely/ flexibly. We also have to acknowledge, post-pandemic, the gradual bleed of work into our home life. To work more productively/ efficiently, and stay focused whilst working, even at home, minimise digital distractions to positively impact levels of concentration, our sense of control over our own time, and output. Turn notifications off and be intentional about how you check your inbox and social media apps. Where needs be, work in blocks of time and avoid any additional distractions by activating airplane mode and setting out of office notifications to manage client/ colleague expectations.

In our fast-paced world, eliminating distractions is crucial for productivity and personal growth. Create a quiet, organized space for your work or studies. Set clear boundaries with digital devices and communicate your availability to others. Mindfulness practices can help manage internal distractions, while establishing routines trains our minds for focused work. Not all distractions are negative; sometimes a brief diversion can lead to fresh insights. The goal isn't to create a sterile environment, but a space where you can concentrate and thrive. By mastering the art of eliminating distractions, we enhance our productivity and unlock our full potential.

Rewarding yourself for completing tasks can boost motivation and make work more enjoyable. Small rewards for small tasks and bigger rewards for larger accomplishments can keep you motivated and focused. Tip: Set up a reward system where you give yourself a small treat, like a coffee break or a short walk, after completing a task. For larger goals, plan a more substantial reward, such as a night out or a relaxing weekend activity. This helps create positive reinforcement and keeps you motivated.

Look at your reward system and see if it feeds or drain energy. For example a reward of social media or football news on the screen is likely to suck out the energy gained. Another more intellectual stimulating excercise can be to do After Action review for yourself and ask: what was supposed to happen? What actually happened? Why was there a difference? What have I learned? With the learning onboard you can treat yourself according to your preferences

Have something to look forward to at the end of a task. This can be anything - a quick walk around the block, a coffee from the nearby cafe, or 15 minutes of mindfulness yoga, for example. These little rewards can also help reset your focus for the next task.

RING THE BELL! No matter how big or small your win is, celebrate it. By celebrating our wins, we can train our mind into an optimistic state that can carry us even further and even deeper in times of adversity or struggle. Think Pavlov’s dog type stuff.

Rewarding progress reinforces positive behaviors and sustains motivation. Design a reward system that aligns with the significance of completed tasks. For instance, small accomplishments might warrant quick breaks or treats, while significant milestones could merit larger rewards like a leisure activity or professional recognition. The anticipation of a reward can reduce procrastination and make daunting tasks more manageable. However, ensure rewards do not undermine your goals (e.g., excessive indulgence). Incorporating shared celebrations with team members can further boost morale and foster collaboration.

Identifying our source of motivation and staying connected to it provides an integral foundation for effectively managing our time and energy. When distractions and procrastination tempt us, and they inevitably will, take that brief pause to reflect inwardly and ask, "Why am I doing this again?" When we are deeply connected to our "why," our time and energy become sacred and resilient against distractions and procrastination.

Instead of focusing on how to manage time, we need to shift our mindsets towards how to own our time. When you don’t give yourself time to align with what matters to you, you are not leading from your highest self. Owning your time empowers you to prioritize connecting within, developing your inner leader, and tapping into the part of your brain where logic, executive skills, and creativity exist.

The best way to avoid procrastination is to declare your intentions (actually your end goal) to the world. Someone long ago had said ' a goal is not a goal without a date'. Then someone said 'a goal with a date but not on paper (i.e. not documented) is not a goal'. I now say 'announce it to the world please' - so that it becomes a commitment to the world and you cannot miss it!

One of my favorite perspectives on overcoming procrastination is to personify your future self. Essentially, recognise that the person you are now may not be excited to do the work, complete the project, or put in the effort, but your future self will be grateful that your past self pushed through the procrastination and got the work done.