| When you work at home as many writers do, there | | | | difficult for you to concentrate on what you are |
| are many distractions that can get in the way of | | | | writing. |
| your ability to write. When you learn to face these | | | | If there are certain television shows you really want |
| distractions head-on you can overcome the | | | | to watch, record them or look for them online from |
| challenges that are getting in the way of your writing. | | | | the network or Then you can watch them when you |
| This makes it possible to write better articles starting | | | | want to and not allow them to distract you from |
| today. | | | | article writing. You can also TiVo or digitally record |
| What are some things that distract you? Here are | | | | and watch them later. |
| some of the most common distractions to article | | | | Social networking sites and just generally surfing the |
| writing: | | | | Web can be major distractions. You may start out |
| · Emails/ email notifications | | | | researching for an article and end up reading the |
| · Phone calls | | | | latest celebrity gossip. Restrict yourself to surfing the |
| · Television | | | | Web only for research and then cut it off until after |
| · Surfing the Internet | | | | your article is complete. |
| · Social networking sites | | | | Talk with family and housemates so that they |
| · Video games/ computer games/ online games | | | | understand your private time that you need to work. |
| · Family or housemates | | | | When you explain this to them, ask them to respect |
| · Pets and/or children | | | | your time and only interrupt you for real |
| Now you may know that you can't just eliminate | | | | emergencies. If there are children in the house, you |
| each of these things from your life completely but | | | | need to explain to them when and how they should |
| there are some things that you do have control over. | | | | ask for help if needed. |
| These are the things you need to focus on so you | | | | If there is another adult that can attend to their |
| can avoid distractions and write better articles. | | | | needs, be clear about instructing them on who to go |
| When these things interrupt your daily work | | | | to. This rolls right into the next point. If you have |
| schedule, it can make it very difficult to get any real | | | | pets and children that you must take care of during |
| writing done. You may feel like you spend hours in | | | | the day, you can schedule this around your writing |
| front of the computer without anything to really | | | | time. |
| show for it. Distractions are a part of life and while | | | | For example, it's important to feed your dog, walk |
| some minor ones can be worked through, there are | | | | him and take him outside regularly. It's also important |
| ways to eliminate the amount of distractions you | | | | that you take breaks from your computer and |
| face. | | | | writing on a regular basis. For this reason, you can |
| First, you need a quiet, comfortable place to write | | | | schedule your dog care during the breaks you need |
| where you will be the least interrupted by family or | | | | to be taking anyway. |
| other activities in your home (if you have a home | | | | The same can be said for your children. For older |
| office). You will want to schedule time for phone calls | | | | children, you can explain to them when you will be |
| and emails throughout your day. Turn off the ringer | | | | taking your breaks so that they can hold any |
| or take the phone out of the room until these | | | | questions or issues for your break times. If you have |
| scheduled times so that you are not distracted by | | | | young children, such as an infant, schedule feeding |
| the calls. | | | | and changing times during your breaks and don't |
| Turn off your email or email notifications and resist | | | | forget some playtime as well. |
| the urge to check it constantly throughout the day. | | | | When you have no schedule at all, it may seem like |
| This will slow down your article writing process and is | | | | distractions are getting in the way so that you |
| a major distraction. Recent studies have also shown | | | | cannot get any real article writing done. You can't |
| that checking your email when you should be writing | | | | eliminate all distractions so instead you just need to |
| can lead to a type of "brain overload" making it more | | | | learn to balance and schedule around them. |
