First published 29 April 2019 on Your Best Year Starts Here with Nigel Risner.
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We'd had lunch between recordings. When we sat back down, neither of us could remember if this was episode 22 or 23. Nigel pointed out it's only two digits and we're already struggling, so good luck to us at episode 396.
Which fitted, because this week's question was about distraction. Abigail sent in a voice message. She's a monkey in Nigel's animal types, and she gets pulled off whatever she's doing by the next new thing and never gets back to it. Nigel's answer is to make the task shorter. He reckons he can focus for 10 to 15 minutes, which is why our episodes come in at about 12. And while he was explaining this, Alfie the dog was knocking on the door.
I chunk my time as well as the task. I put my phone in flight mode and turn notifications off on the computer, then set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes. When it goes off I can make a coffee or go for a pee before the next one. It's called the Pomodoro Technique, after the Italian for tomato, because the bloke who came up with it had an egg timer shaped like one. Nigel's reply: “We're learning a lot today, aren't we?”
Nigel's other angle is consequences. He can do his VAT return in about 20 minutes with the door shut and his phone off, but he only took the deadline seriously after he got a fine. So he told Abigail to fine herself. His own fine would be no chocolate for a month.
I'd want a reward pulling you along as well, so you don't stall halfway. I see that a lot with weight loss. Nigel wanted to know why I looked straight at him when I said it. He was sat in front of me. Then he got bored, invented a prize for listeners, and we'd given ourselves our own new distraction before the timer went off.
What I'd pass on
- If a task runs longer than you can focus, cut it into bits you can finish.
- Phone in flight mode, notifications off, timer on for 15 to 20 minutes. Break when it goes off.
- Give yourself a consequence that stings. Nigel's is no chocolate for a month.
- Have something pulling you and something pushing you, so you don't stop at good enough.
I can focus for about 10, 15 minutes, which is why these podcasts last about 12 minutes.
Nigel Risner
Some people are more pulled by the reward, some people are pushed by the thing they wanna avoid.
Neil Martin
