Want to know the biggest threat to an entrepreneur’s success?

One word: Distractions.

That’s right.

Distractions for entrepreneurs are the proverbial rabbit hole that Alice fell into.

They’re like ordering that rich, gooey dessert knowing that it isn’t good for you but not being able to help yourself either.

Distractions pull you and suck you in and before you know it, you’ve spent precious hours being a voyeur of other people’s lives on Facebook.

Why Are Distractions for Entrepreneurs Dangerous

You know how everyone tells you, right from when you’re a kid, “Don’t distract the driver.” Or when you’re driving they tell you, “Keep your eyes on the road.”

Yes, distractions are dangerous. Not only when you’re driving but more so, when you’re an entrepreneur.

Same thing.

You are the driver for your business.

You need to keep your eyes on the “road”.

Distractions lead to time and energy waste.

You spend pointless hours on someone else’s roadmap.

You end up exhausted because you’re spinning your wheels and really not going anywhere.

As an entrepreneur, and especially, if like me, you’re a parentpreneur, you have limited resources of both time and energy.

You can’t afford to waste either.

How to Safeguard Your Productivity from Distractions

“It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the thick of thin things.” ― Stephen R. Covey

That’s true. It is incredibly easy, unfortunately, to get distracted.

However, with a bit of effort you can protect and in fact, boost your productivity by dealing with distractions.

How?

By identifying what your distractions are.

That’s right.

When you know what your distractions are, you can take steps to deal with them. It’s pretty much like how a chef needs to know what is wrong with a recipe before he can fix it.

So, on that note… here are the 5 major distractions for entrepreneurs and the steps to fix them:

1. Social Media

Yep. Social media is pretty much the #1 source of distractions for all solopreneurs and small business owners.

Whether it is hopping on to Facebook for a few minutes or checking Pinterest or lately, watching Periscope videos, social media can be quite the time sink.

If you find yourself scrolling through feeds, boards, tweets, videos, photos, and ending up hours later without making headway on your goals and to-dos, you need an intervention.

Ditch This Distraction: Productivizing {yes, I make up words like this!} your social media is easier than you think. From using a timer to set limits on how long you’ll be on Pinterest to using tools that shave off the hours you spend on social networking, you have a lot of resources that you can use.

My personal recommendations: Timer for time limits, Social Spread for ready-to-use social media updates, Buffer for social media sharing.

2. Other People’s Roadmaps

This is again, sorta linked to social media but also, in-person interactions.

Do you let yourself get sucked into other people’s stories? Their success, their dramas, their challenges even?

Do you find yourself going over and over in your head about how they’ve done things? Wanting to replicate them? Wanting to experience the same level of success?

Do you spend time reviewing their websites or blog posts? Wondering what piece of the puzzle you’re missing?

Yes?

Big mistake. It’s okay and in fact, great to be inspired and motivated but when you find that it’s becoming more of a drain than a boost, it’s time to press pause.

Remember: Keep your eyes on YOUR road. Not your neighbors’. You’re the driver of your own entrepreneurial car so follow your own road map

Comparisonville is a lousy place to visit and will only end up sucking the time and energy out of you.

Back away now. Fast.

Ditch This Distraction: When you find yourself getting sucked into other people’s roadmaps, it’s time to step away from the laptop and do something non-business-y.

Also, a good way to get your eyes back on YOUR road is to talk about your WHY with someone who understands your business. A mastermind group, perhaps. Use this time to also review and celebrate every little thing you’ve achieved so far.

Knowing your why and how far you’ve come is a great way to give you the focus you need to keep moving forward.

3. Monotony and Mundaneness

Honestly, being a work-from-home entrepreneur can get quite dull and boring. More often than not, it’s just you and the laptop. You do a bunch of tasks that can get quite repetitive.

Results can be slow to show. Isolation and monotony can set in. And when the mind’s bored, it will wander.

Ditch This Distraction: Easy way to ditch this distraction is to take a break.

Mayank and I take regular short breaks each year and it does wonders for our personal and business life. We come back recharged, renewed and refocused.

Can you take a short break and travel someplace fun? If not, just take a break from the busyness of business and instead, indulge your creative side. Break the monotony.

4. Friends and Family

Ooh, this one is tricky.

You see, the reason most of us become at-home entrepreneurs is because we want to spend more time with the family and friends.

We want to escape the drudgery of clock watching and cubicle-living and instead, savor the sweetness that comes from snuggling up with our kids, chilling with friends and being there for loved ones.

But when business needs building you notice that friends and family can be quite the distraction.

From calls for “Mom, I’m hungry” to “Hey, can you watch my kids today…You’re at home, right?” demands on our time and energy pile up and leave us pulled in a million different directions.

Ditch This Distraction: Set boundaries. Let friends and family know that you’re there for them, but not when you’re working. Set working hours, if you can and honor them. Refuse to answer calls, on the phone or in person, during that time.

If needed, get a sitter for the kids and head outside once a week to get uninterrupted work time.

It may be harsh and tough in the beginning but trust me, everyone gets used to it and is eventually okay with it.

5. You

Yep. Tough truth is that YOU can be one of your greatest distractions ever.

Multi-tasking.

Not setting boundaries.

Pushing yourself too hard.

Not practicing self-care.

These are just some of the ways in which you bring distraction on yourself.

Did you know that dehydration is linked to poor concentration?

Did you know that multi-tasking is the most inefficient way of getting things done?

It’s time to be reclaim yourself and your hours.

Ditch This Distraction: The only way you can ditch this distraction is by being more self-aware about your productivity. Challenge yourself to stay focused.

Hold yourself accountable by sharing your time management goals publicly.  Refuse to check email when you’re supposed to be doing inventory.

Weave in simple self-care, like staying hydrated, moving regularly and eating healthy.

Is your productivity under threat? Which one of these distractions will YOU be ditching first?