Mindset and Motivation

Say No To Distractions

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My goal here is to give you one concept, one tip or one idea that will help you stay motivated, be mindful and keep you moving.

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The other day, I sat down with my journal and started writing what my ideal, daily  schedule would look like.

It included how long I would have for writing/working, exercising, spending time with my daughter, cooking, etc. 

I was about half way through constructing my brilliant and perfect plan, when my daughter came in asking for breakfast, wanting to do a dance class and begging me to FaceTime her friend Marlo. 

Yes, she wanted all those things at once. Wait, what?! 

This is NOT how my perfectly planned day is supposed to go. I still have 15 min on the clock to write!

I was quickly reminded of two very important things as it pertains to getting things done, staying on track and creating fulfillment in your life. Whether it is working out, healthy eating, writing/creating or committing to your goals, here are two things I like to remember.

  1. Life is messy and it will never, ever, ever be perfect. Despite your plans and your best intentions, life will interrupt you, things will throw you off and you will be left wondering what the hell just happened. It’s ok. We don’t have to beat ourselves up when we get off track. It’s just truly a part of life.

And something else is true.

  1. We can say no. We can say no to distractions. We can politely decline when someone asks for our attention. We can USE our attention to KEEP our attention on what we want to complete. Again and again.

In the time it took me to write this, my daughter busied herself with some toys after I politely and patiently told her I needed a few more minutes. Yes, I had to tell her a few times, but she eventually got the message. She then had to poop on the potty and wanted me to sit with her and wipe her tush. (Motherhood!) But right after, I told her I still needed more time and she went back to playing.  

I went back to writing. It wasn’t seamless. It was messy. But I got it done. 

I’m not saying it will be easy. But I am saying if you can say no over and over and over (and over and over if you have a small child!) to the distractions that will prevent you from getting done what you want to get done, you will have built a little something for yourself.

Then, when the big distractions that you can’t say no to, the emergencies, the life wallops come along, you will have a foundation that helps to keep you afloat until you can get back to your perfectly imperfect routine. 

Now, it’s your turn. 

What are your major distractions right now? Are there some that you must tend to? Are there others that if you said no to them, you would accomplish what it is you want to accomplish?

Let me know in the comments below. 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Xo,
Erin 

P.S. If you are into creative goal setting as a form of greater self expression and fulfillment, having less hustle and more flow in your life, keep an eye on your inbox. I will be talking more about this very topic in the coming weeks.

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  1. Sarah Pierro says:

    My phone is a huge distraction along with social media. I also have two dogs which could be a distraction as well.

  2. Crystal Reynolds says:

    This was exactly the message I needed to hear today. I resonate on a very deep soul level.

  3. Natalia says:

    I lack the skill of telling No to distractions several times. I thought one No is enough to get the result. But obviously life disagrees with me about it. I thought something is wrong with “them” if they do get No from the first time. It was wrong with me not to be flexible and learn telling No many times. Thanks Erin! Very helpful insight!

  4. Megan Hughes says:

    Erin – you’re my hero. You always say the right things to motivate and inspire me. I continue to do your workouts every morning. My core is ready for bikini weather! Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re making a HUGE difference in people’s lives. Most importantly mine! XO. Megan

  5. Jodi Grzeczka says:

    I have a nine-month old puppy. She is MOSTLY housebroken, but with this winter weather and her puppiness, accidents happen. I try to be pro-active in answering her pleas to go out, but it seems that we are still on a learning curve, and sometimes her pleas are simply to get a beloved toy away from the “big dog”, my 12-year-old Lab, who is still ALL PUPPY, minus the potty issues. She has come to learn that, go lay down and relax means “Momma needs a little more time”. I sew, knit and quilt – learning to longarm, now that I am retired. She has come into my life at just the right time, and we are putting this “schedule” together as a joint effort!

  6. Antoinette says:

    I get interrupted by my husband often but guess what? Love is more important than anything else.

  7. Monique Agress says:

    As I am up early this morning, I came across this quote in my NYT Parenting email: “For many of us, life has changed from being divided in well-defined areas of work, kids, activities, to a situation where everything is a mix,” Dr. Eckerström
    I immediately thought of your posting. I don’t know if I am directly saying “no”, but as of this weekend I decided that I need to wake up at 5am in the mornings to have 2 hours to myself to do whatever I feel like doing, no to-do list. As of now those 2 hours of creative, slow, cozy solitude is the medicine I need to better respond to a day full of distractions and more importantly to be mentally warmed up and calm to receive my daughter, husband, and puppy who all wake up with high energy.
    The funny thing is that I swore I would never be that person that wakes up at 5am…now it is my favorite part of my day.

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