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April 06, 2016 at 12:30 AM
The new currency of high-performance is focus and attention, both of which are in short supply. Giving your focus and attention over to important work is going to separate successful, high-performing, achievers from people who do not reach their full potential.
Constraints provide discipline. You have to be willing to give up what you want now for what you want later. You have to give up what may be more entertaining and more enjoyable now for the meaningful work that is your life’s purpose.
Turn off your email:
There is not a single piece of legislation, federal, state, or local, that requires you to be constantly present to respond to your email. Not only can you turn off the notifications that you received a new email, you can actually close your email program completely. By turning off your email completely you can give your full focus and attention to your real work, the work aligned with your purpose and that gives your life meaning.
Only process email a few times a day:
You can check your email twice a day if you want to. Maybe you need to look more often than that, so go ahead and check it four times a day. I process my email inboxes to zero twice a week, once on Saturdays and once on Wednesdays. When I check it on the other days, I respond to what needs a response, and I leave much of it sitting in the inbox. Because I know I will process it in a few days, I’m okay.
Shut off all social media notifications:
You can live without the serotonin drip of being mentioned on Twitter, tagged on Facebook, or whatever it is we do on Instagram. Somebody liked your tweet. Somebody loved your Facebook post. Somebody clicked the little heart on the picture you took. All of those things will be waiting for you later, after you’ve done your most important work.
