Comments on: How to Stay Focused in the Face of Distractions http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/ Making personal development fun Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:05:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Secret of Super-effective People - Weekly Review | Fun Life Development http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1561 The Secret of Super-effective People - Weekly Review | Fun Life Development Fri, 29 May 2009 14:12:21 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1561 [...] Sure, it’s nice to just stick your nose to the grindstone and get working. You don’t want to be worrying about big-picture consequences all the time. But you don’t want to get stuck in that state all the time, because you might very well end up being busy but not effective. [...] [...] Sure, it’s nice to just stick your nose to the grindstone and get working. You don’t want to be worrying about big-picture consequences all the time. But you don’t want to get stuck in that state all the time, because you might very well end up being busy but not effective. [...]

]]> By: Why Procrastination Sucks (explained in pictures) | Fun Life Development http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1456 Why Procrastination Sucks (explained in pictures) | Fun Life Development Sat, 09 May 2009 12:03:26 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1456 [...] happens when you feel that you should be working… but you only confuse being busy with being productive. The fact is, taking a break, and having some fun with friends is often more productive than just [...] [...] happens when you feel that you should be working… but you only confuse being busy with being productive. The fact is, taking a break, and having some fun with friends is often more productive than just [...]

]]> By: Why Leaving Things Until The Last Moment Isn’t Always Bad | Fun Life Development http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1446 Why Leaving Things Until The Last Moment Isn’t Always Bad | Fun Life Development Wed, 06 May 2009 17:58:17 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1446 [...] You’ve probably seen me talk about the difference about being busy and being productive. If you haven’t seen the video, you can watch it here. [...] [...] You’ve probably seen me talk about the difference about being busy and being productive. If you haven’t seen the video, you can watch it here. [...]

]]> By: Sheila http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1442 Sheila Tue, 05 May 2009 17:15:55 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1442 Oops. I sort of sailed past that, probably because I knew it already. But you're darn right that it makes a huge difference. I know I wish I'd learned it earlier. Oops. I sort of sailed past that, probably because I knew it already. But you’re darn right that it makes a huge difference. I know I wish I’d learned it earlier.

]]> By: Vlad Dolezal http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1440 Vlad Dolezal Mon, 04 May 2009 23:51:23 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1440 @Chris: Ya, it makes sense. It's great that you've found a method that works for you :D In my posts I share what worked for me, but it's only one man's point of view. Which is why I love reading your comments and seeing that different people have different (though similar) ways of getting stuff done :) @Chris:
Ya, it makes sense. It’s great that you’ve found a method that works for you :D

In my posts I share what worked for me, but it’s only one man’s point of view. Which is why I love reading your comments and seeing that different people have different (though similar) ways of getting stuff done :)

]]> By: Chris http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1438 Chris Mon, 04 May 2009 14:18:44 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1438 @Brian & Vlad I actually have been implementing (for about 60 days) a hybrid of both your methods. I come up with a "routine" for the following day before bed that outlines the activities by hour, from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. This serves as a guide for how I think the day *should* go, but it's flexible enough to be adjusted. It's a guide to stay on track and I sincerely try to maintain it, but life is... well life. Within the actual day, I list things that I need to do that I can check off. These items need to be able to be done in under one hour. Anything over an hour I consider a *project* and I manage those differently. What this does is allow the routine to be more fluid with specific times, but the tasks still need to get done - so they simply might shift to a new timeslot in the routine. Make sense? Maybe? So in my routine I might have something listed like "2:00 read from Twyla Tharpe" but in the to-do list it would be more specific like "read pages 50-75" or whatever. If I have to shift the reading to 3:00, it's not the end of the world and my tasks are still the same. Love the insights here. :) @Brian & Vlad
I actually have been implementing (for about 60 days) a hybrid of both your methods. I come up with a “routine” for the following day before bed that outlines the activities by hour, from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. This serves as a guide for how I think the day *should* go, but it’s flexible enough to be adjusted. It’s a guide to stay on track and I sincerely try to maintain it, but life is… well life.

Within the actual day, I list things that I need to do that I can check off. These items need to be able to be done in under one hour. Anything over an hour I consider a *project* and I manage those differently. What this does is allow the routine to be more fluid with specific times, but the tasks still need to get done – so they simply might shift to a new timeslot in the routine. Make sense? Maybe?

So in my routine I might have something listed like “2:00 read from Twyla Tharpe” but in the to-do list it would be more specific like “read pages 50-75″ or whatever. If I have to shift the reading to 3:00, it’s not the end of the world and my tasks are still the same.

Love the insights here. :)

]]> By: Vlad Dolezal http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1436 Vlad Dolezal Mon, 04 May 2009 12:50:36 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1436 @Brian: Phew, I'm glad I realized that early on :). Sorry it took you so long. As far as your second point - setting a time each day you will devote to a certain task... I did that in the past. Like when I set an hour to read every morning, right after brushing my teeth (pretty much the first thing I do in the morning). It actually works really well. I'm definitely going to think about that some more. @Sheila: I realized that not everybody can watch video, and some people simply can't be bothered to sit through even 3 minutes of a video. So I did include a one-paragraph summary in the post. Read it again. @Brian:
Phew, I’m glad I realized that early on :) . Sorry it took you so long.

As far as your second point – setting a time each day you will devote to a certain task…

I did that in the past. Like when I set an hour to read every morning, right after brushing my teeth (pretty much the first thing I do in the morning). It actually works really well.

I’m definitely going to think about that some more.

@Sheila:
I realized that not everybody can watch video, and some people simply can’t be bothered to sit through even 3 minutes of a video. So I did include a one-paragraph summary in the post. Read it again.

]]> By: Sheila http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1435 Sheila Mon, 04 May 2009 12:36:12 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1435 I'm having computer troubles. I have no sound, no java, no shockwave, and no space on the blasted disk to install the missing drivers. (And very little time available to work on the problem). So I can't watch the video. Any chance of a short summary? <abbr><em>Sheila’s last blog post..<a href="http://lapalmaisland.sheilacrosby.com/2009/05/photos-of-fiesta-de-la-cruz.html" rel="nofollow">Photos of Fiesta de la Cruz</a></abbr></em> I’m having computer troubles. I have no sound, no java, no shockwave, and no space on the blasted disk to install the missing drivers. (And very little time available to work on the problem). So I can’t watch the video. Any chance of a short summary?

Sheila’s last blog post..Photos of Fiesta de la Cruz

]]> By: Brian Burtt http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1431 Brian Burtt Sun, 03 May 2009 23:07:44 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1431 I'm with you, Vlad. But it took me more than a dozen (!) years of higher education before I got to that point, so I'm not surprised that it's hard for 18-20 year olds. (Though with the radical increase in costs of higher education, at least in the United States, I think there has begun a re-evaluation of going to college as the default immediate post-high-school option.) <abbr><em>Brian Burtt’s last blog post..<a href="http://createevolve.blogspot.com/2009/04/etymological-digression.html" rel="nofollow">Etymological Digression</a></abbr></em> I’m with you, Vlad. But it took me more than a dozen (!) years of higher education before I got to that point, so I’m not surprised that it’s hard for 18-20 year olds. (Though with the radical increase in costs of higher education, at least in the United States, I think there has begun a re-evaluation of going to college as the default immediate post-high-school option.)

Brian Burtt’s last blog post..Etymological Digression

]]> By: Vlad Dolezal http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-stay-focused-in-the-face-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-1430 Vlad Dolezal Sun, 03 May 2009 21:20:03 +0000 http://vladdolezal.com/blog/?p=636#comment-1430 @Brian: What I hear you saying is... You feel you need to study, because that will lead to a degree, which will lead to you getting a good job, which is what you should do... or that's what everybody's been telling you your whole life. Let me quote Chris Guillebeau on this one: <strong>"You don't have to live your life the way others tell you to."</strong> So before you even start tackling the issue of motivation, look into the much bigger issue of what <em>you</em> want to do with your life. Have a look at Chris Guillebeau's free pdf report - <a href="http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/a-brief-guide-to-world-domination" rel="nofollow">A Brief Guide to World Domination</a>. It's just 29 pages, but it will get you well on your way to figuring out what you want to do with your life. And trust me, 99% of the time "getting a good job" is NOT the answer. (it might well turn out that getting a "good job" IS the best choice to move towards your dreams, but until you figure them out, just getting a job is not the answer.) @Brian:
What I hear you saying is…

You feel you need to study, because that will lead to a degree, which will lead to you getting a good job, which is what you should do… or that’s what everybody’s been telling you your whole life.

Let me quote Chris Guillebeau on this one:

“You don’t have to live your life the way others tell you to.”

So before you even start tackling the issue of motivation, look into the much bigger issue of what you want to do with your life.

Have a look at Chris Guillebeau’s free pdf report – A Brief Guide to World Domination. It’s just 29 pages, but it will get you well on your way to figuring out what you want to do with your life.

And trust me, 99% of the time “getting a good job” is NOT the answer. (it might well turn out that getting a “good job” IS the best choice to move towards your dreams, but until you figure them out, just getting a job is not the answer.)

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