Comments on: Mastering Distraction

By: 5 “D’s” to Get it Done « Cactus Wrangler

5 “D’s” to Get it Done « Cactus Wrangler — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:26:26 +0000

[...] are 5 ways you can get moving and clear the cobwebs. I recommend you give yourself a limited time (using the timer mentioned in an earlier post) so you don’t waste an entire day on trivia. Do 45 minutes to an hour a day for the next [...]

By: Tweets that mention Mastering Distraction « Cactus Wrangler -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Mastering Distraction « Cactus Wrangler -- Topsy.com — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:12:47 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Carlton Reeve, Carol Cooper-Taylor. Carol Cooper-Taylor said: If you procrastinate a lot – my partner says I do – read this http://icio.us/cmtk3g [...]

By: Resilience Step #3: Procrastinate Intelligently « Cactus Wrangler

Resilience Step #3: Procrastinate Intelligently « Cactus Wrangler — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:06:13 +0000

[...] Mastering Distraction Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)I like taking small stepsSix Steps to Intentional ResilienceThe View discusses how Passion and Resilience lead to financial success. [...]

By: Bookmarks for January 13th by Blog By Carol

Bookmarks for January 13th by Blog By Carol — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:22:08 +0000

[...] Mastering Distraction « Cactus Wrangler – It’s tough. Distractions rule our lives – from social media and phone calls to other workers. Maybe you work at home and you have pets or children. Our hobbies and passions are more compelling than the work we have to get done.What do you do? [...]

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:04:13 +0000

Hi Beth – LOL – I have the same problem. We are passionate, creative people with a lot of plates in the air. Here’s what I do. Once a week, I grab all the piles and stack them on my lap. I have an “Active” file cabinet right next to my desk. I have blank file folders and post-it notes on the desk while I do this. Then I go through the whole stack and file, toss, make new files, or put a fluorescent pink post-it note on it with the Action I need to take. Then if I wind up stacking again, I stack them in order of priority and put like with like. So all “CALL” items go in the same pile on the floor behind me. That’s important. You can stack, just put them behind you so your desk is cleaner. (I don’t think we’ll ever have a completely empty desk unless company is coming over!) Another thing – take the stapler, paperclip holder, scissors, ruler, and all that stuff off the desk and stick them in a drawer or a shelf out of eyesight.

I like your idea of Google Reader. Hadn’t thought of that! Thanks!
Beth

By: Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish

Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:42:45 +0000

Thank you!

Today, I set up Google Reader, which I think is going to help a lot. I had all my blog subscriptions coming into my email inbox.

I love your suggestion of creating a separate folder for Social Networking emails. OMG. I get so caught up in accepting facebook friends, joining facebook groups, replying to facebook event invitations, responding to Twitter DMs, etc. that I lose track of my “To Do” list.

The clutter is another important one for me. I KNOW that a cluttered desk makes me resist working there. And yet the paper piles up. I don’t know where it all comes from. I have been diligent about getting off paper mailing lists, receiving bills and statements online, refusing paper brochures and flyers, keeping my notes in a notebook instead of on scraps of paper, and yet my desk is STILL full of paper. If feel like if I could get to the bottom of that mystery, I’d be a master of the universe.

The Other Beth Terry

By: Jackie Dishner

Jackie Dishner — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:28:21 +0000

This is such a helpful post for me today, Beth. I’ll come back and read this one again, because you had so many “action” steps to offer that I can actually use–and do. I’ll come back to click on that article about clutter, too, after I get rid of mine.

Thanks!