Stay Focused with a Later List

It happened again! There I was “on task” looking up some information online – when I suddenly found myself on a site I hadn’t planned to visit. Next thing I knew I was off on a surfing tour – totally off task.

Of course, I’m sure you’ve never strayed from your stated goal. But just in case you have, here’s a solution.

So what do you do when you wake up and find yourself off task? Add it to your Later List.

Here’s how your Later List works.

Create a new list or add it to your existing list. I use spreadsheets to organize my entire business, so I add it to my activity spreadsheet. If you use a spreadsheet call that tab “Later”

Each time you find yourself looking at something online that you did not purposely go looking for – stop. Copy the URL and paste it into your Later List.

If you like, you can add a short note – but don’t take over a minute to do this.

Then immediately close your browser and go back to your focused action.

The final step is to schedule a time each week when you give yourself permission to visit sites from your Later list. This is perhaps the most important step of the process.

Why? Because your subconscious mind knows when you’re trying to take away that “fun” site you were looking at. And if it thinks there won’t be another opportunity to go back to it, it may just refuse to get back to business. So be sure you give yourself a reminder to check that later list.

Now you need to get back to what you were working on!

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Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with Online Business owners who are ready to create their Online Success. Pick up your mini-workshop with more organization tips at http://OrganizeYourOnlineBusiness.com