The Silent Killer of Success: Conquering the Devil of Distraction

Have you ever started something exciting, that you poured all of your heart and soul into, but never followed through with it? Or possibly, you knew what needed to be done, but instead of tackling your to-do list, you ended up sitting on the couch and binge-watching Stranger Things?

No more of that nonsense! 

It is most likely because of your lack of focus and loads of distractions that are holding you back,

Distraction is the devil that hides in the shadows, waiting to attack your focus and productivity. Napoleon Hill wrote about this in his infamous book "Outwitting the Devil."

In today's fast-paced world, it's easier than ever to be misled by all the distractions that pull you away from your goals. But fear not, there are ways to conquer this silent dream killer and reclaim your attention.

Identifying the Enemy

Before you can defeat the devil of distraction, you must first recognize its many forms. From social media notifications to endless email alerts, there are countless devices and apps designed to steal your focus. The worst offenders include:

• Smartphones
• Social media platforms
• Instant messaging apps
• Email notifications

There can also be other distractions that aren't as easy to identify.

Things like:

• Pets
• Noises
• Children
• Your mind
• How tired you are

The worst of all is not prioritizing your tasks or completing the most important ones first. Without prioritizing, you are not able to move the needle, because you will always be playing catch-up with past tasks that haven't been done.

 Strategies for Victory

Now that you know your enemy, it's time to arm yourself with strategies to combat distraction and regain control of your attention. Here are some simple steps you can take:

1. Set specific goals and prioritize tasks
2. Establish a dedicated workspace free from distractions
3. Use time management techniques like the Pomodoro method
4. Limit your use of distracting devices and apps
5. Practice mindfulness and focus on the present moment

We will break down each strategy so that there is no confusion on what it takes to defeat the Devil:

 

1. Set Clear Goals

If you do not have a clear goal in mind, it becomes much easier to stray from them.

You may think you are being focused while you scroll the social media ocean, but are you really gaining anything from it?

Do these:

- Write down all of your current goals
-…

— Dead Scholar Society 💀🤘🏽 (@TheDeadScholars) February 18, 2024

 1. Set Clear Goals

If you do not have a clear goal in mind, it becomes much easier to stray from them. You may think you are being focused while you scroll the social media ocean, but are you really gaining anything from it?

Do these:

• Write down all of your current goals
• Make sure they are achievable
• Prioritize the most important goals
• Move "non-important" goals to next week

2. Create A Schedule

If you don't know where all of your time is being spent, then how do you know where you need to improve?

Many of us lose time in small increments each day. We spend 10 minutes on TikTok here, call a friend for 20 minutes there, do unimportant tasks there, etc.

Try these:

• Keep a log of everything you do in your day (write down everything that you spend time on for a day or two, down to the minute)
• That one is hard but will shed light on your lost time
• Now, create a schedule for your day
• Block out the time you need to do basic tasks (eat, shower, work, etc)
• Block out time to work on goals (15 minutes, 1 hour, whatever makes sense)
• Make sure to leave time in for distractions (we're not robots, so leave time for entertainment and family)

3. Turn Off Distractions

This is the biggest waste of people's time.

When you are working on your goals, you must minimize distractions like your life depends on it. 

Do these to break free:

• Put your phone on airplane mode (yes, you heard me)
• If you are worried about friends and family, then tell them ahead of time that you will be completely unavailable
• If this is unacceptable, get a prepaid phone with no internet capabilities, that only your important contacts have in case they REALLY need you
• At the very least, you need your phone to be on silent and do not disturb, and put it across the room
• Put in sound-cancelling headphones with some calming music that has no words
• Set your timer for the amount of time you want to work

4. Clear Your Mind

Before you start, make sure you clear your mind of any pressing thoughts.

Sometimes, we are ready to get crackin' but we have lingering thoughts that prevent us from focusing.

These are important:

• Grab a piece of paper and a pen
• Write down all the thoughts and tasks that you can think of in order to clear your mind
• As you work, if a question or a thought comes up, write it down quickly and briefly, then get back to work
• If you need your phone for research or whatever, write it down and get back to it later

5. Don't Stop Until It Is Finished

Many of us start things and never finish. Let's break that cycle and get it DONE. Start the project and make a promise to yourself that you will finish it, even if it isn't perfect

• Don't stop, don't look back, and don't correct yourself
• If there are mistakes, let them be for now
• If you are coming to the end of your allotted time, quickly write down your thoughts, the main points, what needs to be fixed, and the general idea
• You can always come back and fine-tune the work later

This is to get it finished to a point where the info is there, the project is near complete, and the goal is mostly accomplished. If it isn't ready to be shown to the world, use your allotted time slot later on to complete the job!

By implementing these strategies and staying vigilant against the devil of distraction, you can unlock your full potential and achieve success in your endeavors. Remember, the key to success lies in your ability to focus and stay on course despite the temptations that surround you. Don't let the devil of distraction derail your dreams – conquer it and watch your productivity soar.

Join the ranks of the dead, who are learning to conquer the living! Follow the Dead Scholar Society on X for insights on defeating distractions and unlocking your potential  Share with friends and tell us how you're staying productive.