Prioritizing with Distractions?

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chatmasta

chatmasta

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Jan 7, 2007
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Hey,

I have a big problem. I never get anything finished. :D It seems like every time I start something, I get distracted in the middle of it because an idea sprouts in my mind for what seems like a more profitable project. This is all well and good, but the cycle never ends. Of course that makes it sound like I keep getting more and more profitable ideas....but none of them ever get done, so I never know if they're profitable or not.

My question is - what do you do when you are in the middle of a project and get distracted? What should I do with my focus?

Thanks.
 


put down the glass pipe. your tweaking like my old neighbors dis on their car all night. one night they are putting a new exhaust, the next day its a sunroof and the exhaust is still sitting there as they chop through the roof with a chain saw.

kidding. i do the same fucking thing every day over and over. i'm telling you its the one thing keeping me from my true potential but i've got better by doing three simple things.

1. New idea get documented, researched and placed in a folder for 2-4 weeks. I then revisit the idea and see if it still has the fire that my lame ass thought it did when i registered the domain at 2 am and dreamed of the cash i was gonna make all night to work for 2 weeks and go this is lame, i quit.

2. I have a list of money makers. Meaning what makes me money today gets first priority above all else because thats what pays the bills and buys and then everything else falls behind that as side-line jobs and is prioritized by what I feel will be the most profitable and doable

3. I make a schedule every day and I stick to it. Make it the day before you get on that fucken computer because if you dont then you'll get sucked into the same old traits of tweaking around and tinkering with shit and ideas. STICK TO A SCHEDULE!
 
I've been making a list of all the ideas I come up with. There are 16 on there. :anon.sml:

Last night I did put a star next to a few, though - so that's getting somewhere. I think I want to focus on those. It's just a matter of figuring out which ones are best.

Yesterday I also tried setting a schedule, and it actually worked pretty well. I accomplished about 80% of it. But I'm such a bad procrastinator.....I can't make myself do that every day. I imagine it's just a matter of making it a habit, but how did you get the ball rolling on that?
 
Chat...

I have exactly the same problem. I think I'd have been diagnosed ADD as a kid, if they even knew what that was then. Here's how I've learned...

Oh, Look! Something shiny!...

Hmmmm, I wonder what's on TV....

Ummmm, I'd better get some laundry started...

Man, I'm hungry...

Oh, sorry. Got distracted.

Get yourself a pad of paper. I know it sounds old fashioned but it works for me. At the end of the day, write out 5 or 6 things you want to accomplish the next day.

I'd better check my web stats...

Oh, is that someone at the door?

I wonder if the mail is here yet...

Sorry, had to do some other stuff.

Anyway, once you make your list, prioritize it. Then leave it right on top of your keyboard. In the morning, start working on project number one.

It helps if you set a timer for 30 minutes. When the timer rings, set it for 10 minutes and take a break. Get up and walk around or look out the window. Let your mind relax. When the break is over, set it for another 30 minutes and go back to work.

Stay on that first project until you're done with it or until you can't go any farther. At the end of the day, make a new list with things you didn't get to and any new things you've thought of.

During the day, if you have new ideas, make a note on a seperate sheet for later reference. Review your idea sheet at the end of the day, when you're making your list for the next day.

A lot of times, by the time you get to one of the new ideas on your list, it's not so attractive anymore.

It works for me... Oh look! Something shiny...
 
just break your shit down into small chunks of things to do. prioritize them and just take it day by day. over time you'll get the shit done that you need.

i think the most important lesson I've picked up from doing 3d which applies just as well to AM is 'always finish a project you start.' barring any hatred or unseen circumstances, finish the projects you start. it's a common newb mistake to just give up on shit. the pro's organize and execute until their goals have been reached. i still have a lot of newbish tendencies though.
 
Have you seen or read anything by david allen? his getting things done books are great.
Also even though he tends to be way too guruish with some things Brian Tracy's Eat That Frog is a good book too ( even though the audiobook version is a lot easier to stomach than reading it, it has some really good productivity tips in it.)

And most of all remember nothing will make you money if you don't finish it.
 
Miguel said:
Have you seen or read anything by david allen? his getting things done books are great.
Also even though he tends to be way too guruish with some things Brian Tracy's Eat That Frog is a good book too ( even though the audiobook version is a lot easier to stomach than reading it, it has some really good productivity tips in it.)

And most of all remember nothing will make you money if you don't finish it.
Click to expand...
I second the Getting Things Done suggestion. Make sure not to get too caught up in the process.
 
I've heard a lot about GTD, maybe I should read it.

It seems like everyone is recommending the daily goals, which is something I do. But what I don't do is write them out the night before. That's a really good idea and I think I'll try it tonight.
 
I think it was DeliGuy that said in a post he had a while back that he placed new ideas in manila envelopes and revisited them. He wasn't really talking about procrastination at the time, but doing that has helped me stay organized and productive.

I also use standard yellow pads. One sheet per day. I write down what i want to get done and jot down notes all day long on that piece of paper. At the end of the day, I organize my notes on EverNote (thanks ScottDaMan!) and then I generate my list for the next day on the next sheet.

I take frequent breaks and try to talk to at least 3 "live" people in a normal workday. I found that when I go for a long time without hearing someone's voice I start to tweak a little.

I still mess up and drift away (ESPN.COM is the devil) but the plan makes me much more productive than I used to be.
 
chatmasta said:
Hey,

I have a big problem. I never get anything finished. :D It seems like every time I start something, I get distracted in the middle of it because an idea sprouts in my mind for what seems like a more profitable project. This is all well and good, but the cycle never ends. Of course that makes it sound like I keep getting more and more profitable ideas....but none of them ever get done, so I never know if they're profitable or not.

My question is - what do you do when you are in the middle of a project and get distracted? What should I do with my focus?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


I try to get inspired by looking at things as a whole, finding some kind of longer lived mission, rather than getting my motivation from short lived day-to-day "ideas", this way even if I get distracted in time I usually go back and finish what I started.
Then, apart from writing down a list of all things that bug me, when I get started on something I try and think how I will feel after I am done with it, while crossing it out from the list and declaring it finished.
I try and set a pleasant goal, something that I will do as soon as I have finished whatever it is that I am doing.
 
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