Seriously!
It is way too easy to get sidetracked on the internet these days. I’m writing this in the heat of the moment with a bit of passion because I just wasted an hour not achieving my goals. It’s not often I get quite a bit of time to myself so I want to share with you what just happened in as much detail as I can…
Ok so I’ve got a WHOLE Sunday to myself. I had just written out a to do list on a piece of pen and paper, these are my GOALS for today in priority order – heck I’ll even take a picture of it – you’ll notice that none of them are checked off yet and (as I write this) it’s 2:09PM here on a Sunday afternoon.
Ok so what happened: I went into google reader because I know there was a blog post by Darren Rowse that I had starred about backing up your blog (my no1 task on my list). This is something I haven’t done yet for my blog so I think it’s time I started backing my database up otherwise I will probably be a bit upset if I lost it all.
Of course I go into google reader and I find 80+ unread blog posts there just wanting to be read. Instead of going up to search box in my starred items and typing in ‘wordpress backup’ or words to that effect to find the article I’m after, I started going through all my unread items, which led to going to blog posts, which led to clicking off links to other blog posts or websites and so on and so on. I did this for a whole hour!
The internet is called the web for a reason – everything is connected by links in the form of a web (metaphor). You could go to endless websites without even touching your keyboard and just keep clicking on links all day.
Writing this blog post was NOT on my list for today either but it’s on my goals list for the month so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone. Vent and achieve a goal! 
But I’m still upset that I’ve wasted this hour. I really want to achieve my goals.
So please do me a favour – stick to your goals! I feel if I can avoid the distraction, that is – don’t do anything unless they’re contributing to completing my goals – I feel I can get everything on my list done today.
When is the last time you actually got everything on your to-do list done? I honestly can’t remember. Maybe I make my lists too big?
I’m getting my list done today if it kills me. No more distractions! Email, Twitter, Google Reader, Facebook – all turned OFF!
Here are some more motivating posts for you, don’t read them though – finish your to-do list now!
Why Being PERFECT Is Hurting You And Your Blog
How I Got 1000 TARGETED Twitter Followers In 30 Days
Popularity: 19% [?]
Ileane (22)
Eric (20)
Derek Jensen (19)
Mike CJ (10)
Ruth - Web Career... (10)
Angela (8)
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Well, damn it! Your post jst side-tracked me from one of my goals! I read the title and the first few lines and HAD to click over. YOU STINK! (just kidding) You say you want us to achieve our goals, but you are contributing to the problem.
Okay, now about this backing up the blog thing….where do I go to do that and wha…..? I do not have my blog backed up. This might be a good idea, but I really have no idea what you are even talking about…so help! Please!
Hey since u hv a blog. Hehe. U might wanna check http://www.ozbloggers.com. It’s new & expanding
connects via Twitter
Your article just outlined why I’m here in the first place!! It’s soooo easy to get ‘lost’ in the web, Thanks for this impassioned reminder
Sarge,
This is a big problem among many beginning bloggers. I know for only blogging for a little over a year know I have set many goals throughout that time and have I accomplished all of them?
I have not. But, the thing is to set small very specific goals for each day. This method has helped me focus on writing content, connecting with people, and also getting those small specific goals done each day. Now that I am done with the developing stages of my blog (pretty much anyways) I focus on writing content and connecting with others.
Now, my goals develop around these two items. But, it is a struggle to get those goals done (for me because I am a full-time student at Iowa State University and involvement in my fraternity, Beta Theta Pi)
I know you know Steit, well he wrote a very good article that might help you stick to your goals. It really got me to rethink. http://www.steitblog.com/2009/10/25/six-tips-to-better-writing/
I do this all the time too, but I do find I’m learning to get better. Doing things like having an unsubcribing blitz from certain items in Google Reader helps. I also set timers e.g. write articles for one hour, and only after I complete them should I just relax and browse around. At least you got a post written in the process – and it’s something a lot of bloggers will relate with!
Hi,
After blogging for a few months I realized that one of my goals was to convert from Squarespace (me existing platform) to WordPress. Well, that goal will be realized this week. I have also had a goal of guest posting on other more popular blogs and I’ve done a decent job of that. Now I really have to sit down with some hard and fast goals related to my blogging now that I will be on WordPress. The possibilities are endless with the many plugins that are available to add more functionality to my blog. I just read the post about your stats as well. Congratulations on your improved traffic. I am going to subscribe now..
Best,
Bob
You’ll be happy to know I actually completed my whole to-do list that Sunday by turning off all those distractions I mentioned. The feeling was amazing for the remainder of that day and was able to be quite relaxed and satisfied.
I admit I was still distracted a couple of times while completing my tasks, but only for 5-10min as I was aware of what I was doing. (I blame/thank Chris Brogan for having amazing awesome content).
I urge you all to do the same! Shut out the distraction and get your to-do list complete!
I like this post, Sarge
Distractions are a constant battle, as you know. I’ve been able to conquer them by changing my lifestyle and making what’s REALLY important the highest priority. There are so many who want to make a change but continue to do the same routine, which yields the same results.
You’re on the move, man.
Keep blogging!
Nice Post.
I also always get sidetracked by doing the exact same thing your doing. I actually also make a plan for the day and try sticking to it, but as you guessed I end up reading emails first and then checking out my google reader for new unread posts. By the time I’m finished 2 hours or so are passed.
I need to learn to stay focused.
LOL – this sounds like my life.
What I have started to do is set a time limit for each task. So for instance, Twitter might be allocated half an hour a day. So I turn on my iPod Touch and set the timer for 30 minutes and away I go. It seems to work…but not always of course since I have the world at my fingertips and it’s a bit hard not to get distracted by it all.
Amazingly true and with things outside of my blog pulling at me, I end up swinging at things haphazardly. Great post!
Life is full of distractions and we cannot avoid it sometimes. However, we should make it a point to act more on our goals than be kept on being distracted.
This was timely as I just wrote a post discussing the same topic. I’ve had to work really hard at cutting out distractions and to create productivity increasing habits. Distractions can be hard to avoid but we should certainly be taking steps to reduce them.
Karl
Wow look at all the new comments!
@Jimi – Great point about putting the really important tasks the highest priority. I like to try and put what I feel may be the most CHALLENGING as well as important task at the top of my daily list so that way things get easier as the day goes on.
I also work better at the start of the day than towards the end so it makes sense to give myself the most challenging tasks early on.
@Teen Blogger – Staying focused can be tough. One thing you could maybe try is to set some random alarms throughout the day on your phone with reminders like ‘are you on task?’. That way if you are being distracted not doing what it is you want to have achieved for the day you can snap out of it quickly and get back on task
@Paula – That’s a great idea setting a time limit for each task. That way you’ve allocated a certain time for that task as well as applying a little bit of added pressure to yourself to get that task done. I think most people work better under pressure because we know we HAVE to get it done before the time runs out.
Reminds me of the uni days where I would more often than not leave my assignments to the last minute and I’ve be so surprised at how much work I’d get done in that last day before the assignment is due and kick myself I didn’t do that the FIRST day I had the assignment. I would have avoided so much stress!
@Sabrina – Glad you liked it!
@Walter – Very true – we have to realise we can’t control everything in our lives 100%. Some things will pop up that will tear us away from what we want to do or achieve our blogging goals. So yes, when we do have time for ourselves when we’re not distracted because we don’t have a choice in the matter – we should focus on our goals than waste time.
@Karl – Definitely – I feel like I’m getting better each day about avoiding distractions. If I was so into twitter and facebook as I was now say when I was back at Uni I’m sure I wouldn’t have performed as well as I did.
I almost never get everything done on my to-do-list. It just keeps getting longer and longer. I don’t even need the web to waste time, either. The good thing is that I spend little time watching television.
@Kidgas – Maybe try writing down just a couple or even just 1 thing on your daily to-do list that you want to get accomplished on the day. Try it out and then let me know what happens once you finish that one task you set yourself that you absolutely must do
You either have a heap of free time to do whatever you want or you move to the next task.
I sometimes think if you have too big a list you will get overwhelmed and not do anything at all. Keep it simple – strive to do 1 important task that you would be happy about completing.
My goal was to get to bed, but then I checked Twitter and saw your post and now I’m here commenting!
I have a slew of goals for the upcoming holiday, and I’ve not yet listed them all. That should probably be my first goal…