“Always remember: Your focus determines your reality.” Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn shares this advice with Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, but in our hyper-distracted work world, it’s advice that we all need to hear.
In a Distracted World, Solitude Is a Competitive Advantage
Technology has undoubtedly ushered in progress in a myriad of ways. But this same force has also led to work environments that inundate people with a relentless stream of emails, meetings, and distractions. A significant volume of research has outlined the problem with this onslaught of information: Studies show that when we’re constantly distracted, performance decreases. Having the discipline to step back from the noise of the world is essential. To stay focused at work, build periods of solitude into your schedule, as you would for a meeting or an appointment. Use some of that time to reflect on your top priorities. Don’t fill your schedule with so many commitments that you consistently prioritize urgent tasks over important ones. Starve your distractions by logging out of social media accounts and blocking certain websites during work hours. Finally, create a “stop doing” list to help provide clarity on what you need to start saying no to.