Staying Focused Online: My Personal Tips.
Huhm, just imagine opening your phone when just one notification pop up, and then your find yourself knee deep in a friwds WhatsApp status, opening different ones, laughing at memes and doing all those things you didn’t plan for, even as I write, I was almost doing something else, the truth is, poductivity online is not easy, as a Nigerian would day.."e no easy". But, I’ve learned a few things that help has been helping me stay on track without losing my sanity...let me share with you some.
First thing I learned to accept and teach myself is that my phone is both my best friend and worst enemy at the same time. It is where I work, learn, connect and all, its also where I get lost in social media and this tiktok stuff, I had to create a boundary. I do turn off my notifications, you won't realize how draining all those pings and all is until your turn it off or silence them, WhatsApp, twitter, Facebook and all. I only see messages when I want to, though, at first, it felt weird kind of, I feel am ignoring everyone, aside that, I was already used to the pings, the distractions and all. But now, have learnt to control it and not the other way round.
And there are some apps I use for task, they do help me a lot, take for instance the Notion app, the app has saved me countless times, I use it to plan, to jot and to track my progress. Its more like my PA, one that I won't need to be oauimg salary for, yet do its work very well. I also use Google Keep atimes, or my normal phone Note app, for quick notes because my own kind of inspiration doesn’t care whether I am eating, praying, or in the shower.
Music also, it helps me, though it can also be a distraction, so I create a playlist where I don't have any songs with danceable beats, I listen to that a lot, especially when I write ak as not to be distracted with the beats and all, cause music helps me in doing a lot of things well and fast, music do help keeps my brain from wandering off or get swayed away.
I have also learnt to do things earlier, as long as I know will be needing it sooner or later, some times I download some YouTube tutorial videos down, and some stuffs, sometimes, I write things down, there are times I would have written write-ups needed to be posted for a week down, this things does help, and that is also cause data can just decide to frustrate one at some time.
Also, I love to get myself busy a lot, when I see that am free and all, not that I don't have time to have some space for myself, but there are times that I do atimes, I just do some task, especially writing, I do it in bulk. It might sound stressful and sometimes it is, but its better than dragging it since I have the time, I don't know what might pop up tomorrow that might not allow to do what is expected. I just lock myself in my room, sometimes put my phone on airplane mode, and vibe with my ideas, even people do think I ain't home.
Self discipline also, It’s one thing to have plans and apps and its another thing to really follow through. I had to train myself to follow because most of the time, the motivation is not there. Sometimes I’m just tired, but I push myself because I know my goals won’t achieve themselves. So, I give myself small rewards like buying myself a gift or a good food. It sounds funny, but it does help.
Like I said earlier, I take breaks, when it seems I am burning out and all, I take breaks, I don't so until.I shut down, I watch something funny, gist with my friends, watch movie, play games, walk or sleep. Rest, you won't disagree with me that it is also productive.
Also, I have a circle of productive friends. Not that I don't have party lovers and some sort of people as friends, but, I can’t be friends with only party planners when I’m trying to build. My circle has to vibe with my ambition or at least respect it. It helps when someone calls me to remind me that I am slacking, we all need that kind of people atimes.
There will always be distractions and days when you will just want to scroll mindlessly. It happened to me for like two days now, that's why I haven't written nor posted for like two days now, I just wanted to rest, to scroll, to watch and all, and sincerely, its okay, just that it shouldn't become a lifestyle. The goal remain progress and not perfection. So, I would advise you try any if not all of those, who knows, it might help and you find yourself being more focused and productive the way you've always wanted/imagined.
There are various entries organized by @leogrowth.
This post is in collaboration with the @digitallifestyle community and an entry to day 16 of #marchinleo in #inleo,I am inviting you to also check it out,so as to partake in various interesting writing prompts.
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