The ability to concentrate and focus is at an all-time low. The distractions of the world are growing stronger each day. It’s too easy to entertain ourselves for an extended period. The ability to ignore distractions is a skill that takes time to develop. As an independent musician, this becomes even more difficult because some of us have full-time or part time jobs, other obligations, and almost all of us do this job from home with no accountability and where distractions are galore. However, there are many things you can do to reduce the likelihood of becoming distracted while trying to complete day to day tasks your music career requires.
Here’s a BONUS:
As a benefit to avoiding distractions, you will improve your ability to focus on your work and gain leverage over fellow musicians who succumb to distractions.
Here are 8 ways to enhance your ability to focus and get more accomplished:
1. Get a more comfortable work chair. If you spend most of the day seated, be willing to spend some money on a good chair. Consider how many hours a day you spend doing tasks like social media management, advancing shows, promoting shows, booking, coordinating with band mates, routing tours, etc. This isn’t a place to be stingy. You sit in your work chair more than you watch your TV or ride in your car. How much did you spend on those?
* If you’re comfortable, you’ll be less distracted. A sore back or rear-end will cut your productivity and your ability to focus.
2. Know your priorities. Put together a plan of attack each day before starting your work. Tackle the most important items of business first. You can get more done in the first couple of hours than you will in the remainder of your time. Plan on doing small, menial tasks toward the end of your work time.
If you’re having trouble setting daily priorities, try using the quadrant method. Write out everything that needs to be done for the day. On another piece of paper draw a line down the middle vertically. Then draw another line in the center horizontally. Number each quadrant 1-4. In quadrant 1, write down top level tasks that should be done first. In quadrant 2 write down secondary tasks. In quadrants 3 or 4 write down tasks that can go in tomorrow’s to do list if necessary making sure to put the most important items in quadrant 3. Keep doing this until you’ve gone through the entire list. Now you have a practical action plan.
When practicing an instrument, knowing your priorities is paramount to success in this area as well. Every time you sit down for a practice session, you need to have a goal in mind of what you want to accomplish. It might be to learn the chorus to a new song. It might be to write a second verse for a song you’ve been working on. Or it might be to do 10 rounds of scales. Whatever the goal may be, it’s important to know what that is before going into a practice session. This will help you get more out of what little time you do have for practice and become a better musician in the process. Check out some of these tips Caleb shares about getting the most out of your practice sessions over on the Musician With A Day Job blog.
The other thing to consider when listing out your priorities is to know what your overall goal is as a musician. Do you know your purpose? Do you know your mission? Do you know what your music goals are? If not start here. These resources will help you determine what your priorities are and what success actually means to you personally.
3. Use headphones. Headphones can be a wonderful addition to your workflow. Not only can you block out the noise of your surroundings, you can also choose to listen to something that will enhance your concentration. For most people, anything with words will be a distraction if you’re trying to think or write. Something new age or classical is better if you’ll be using your brain. P.S. My favorite headphones are these.
4. Improve your time management skills. If you say you’ll start work at a certain time, be there and be on time. It’s hard to get caught up if you show up late. It’s also stressful and distracting. Improve your routine so you can consistently arrive for work on time. Use a desk timer to keep you on track. If you get invited to events, parties, or if you’re asked to do something, remember to say “NO” if you need to in order to get those important things done. Make the time you spend investing in your music career a priority.
+How to Find Time to Promote Your Music (and everything else)
5. Eliminate distractions on your computer. Have a folder with all your commonly used shortcuts. Remove or hide any games that you like to play a little too much. Consider installing software that will allow you to block other programs or websites for a predetermined amount of time. Social media can be a huge factor when it comes to distractions. Even though you need to be on social media to enhance your online presence and connect with your community, put some daily limits on how much time you spend on it. If you go to social media for certain tasks, complete those tasks first before scrolling through news feeds to see what everyone is up to. Be diligent about this. Before you know it, you’ll spend 30 minutes reading post updates without ever getting to the original reason you went on there in the first place. In my own experience, I’ve even forgotten why I went on social media because I got distracted.
6. Take regular breaks. The optimal break schedule is roughly a 10-minute break each hour. However, it’s important to avoid taking your breaks in a way that will lead to distractions. Choose your chatting partners carefully. Choose your online activities carefully.
* Avoid allowing a 10-minute break to turn into a 30-minute waste of time.
7. Keep water and a snack nearby. Many things can happen on your way to the fridge to get a drink especially if you’re at home. You can get caught up in a conversation with a family member. You can remember something you were supposed to do and try to do it ‘real quick’ until it becomes a 40-minute project. If you stay put, you’ll avoid those distractions all together.
8. Clean up your work area at the end of the day. End the day on a positive note and give yourself the best opportunity to start the following day well.
Bonus Tip: Manage Stress. Stress is a big factor affecting your ability to focus. It’s important to manage stress in your life so you can have a healthy mindset and be more focused when you sit to down to do your work. There are different ways you can manage stress. International Musician offers a few great tips on how to manage stress as a musician here.
Studies have shown that those in an office environment only spend a few hours each day doing productive work. The rest of the time is spent on non-essential activities and things like getting coffee, talking with a cubicle mate, and playing on the internet. If you’re in business for yourself and or working from home, the difficulty to be productive can increase because you don’t have anyone to report to. Distractions are everywhere. By eliminating distractions and improving your ability to focus, you can rise above the crowd.
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I haven’t gotten many new song ideas that I could grab onto and write onto paper lately but I’m taking lessons from Cynthia, one of my best friends here (I like to call her Toriel sometimes), of a website to promote my business.
That sounds good. Way to go and good luck to you!
Why, thank U! : )
Hey good reminders, Anitra! I second the drinking water tip – your body and brain need water to function. I would also add “don’t check your email until lunchtime.” It’s done wonders for me.
Thanks Caleb! I love the email rule. Emailing can do some damage on productivity.