An audit on where your attention is
August 26, 2024

Detox Your Mind and Maximise Your Focus: My Journey to Cutting Out the Noise
Over a decade ago, I stumbled upon an idea that completely shifted the way I approach my daily life and work: “don’t let the news dictate your mindset”. I came across this concept while diving into some research, from the late great Bob Proctor and John Assaraf, if memory serves me right, who both advocated for limiting our exposure to news. Their reasoning was simple but powerful: the news is overwhelmingly negative, and what you consume inevitably shapes your outlook on life. If you’re constantly feeding your mind negativity, guess what? That negativity seeps into your thoughts, your actions, and your overall attitude.
So, I decided to put this theory to the test. I stopped letting the news flood my mind every day, and the results were almost immediate. I felt lighter, more positive, almost like a weight had been lifted (once I got over the FOMO, lol). My mindset shifted dramatically simply because I wasn’t being bombarded by the constant stream of negativity that tends to dominate news feeds.
But I didn’t stop there. I started to wonder, “What other distractions are silently sabotaging my focus and productivity?” You see, distractions come in many forms, and they can subtly derail you from working with purpose or getting meaningful work done. Think about it: the constant notifications on your phone, the pings from various software on your computer or tablet, even the positioning of your TV remote, these are all distractions begging for your attention. And by keeping them just out of reach, you create a space where focus thrives.
Now, I’ll be honest, detoxing from distractions is no easy feat. It’s a slippery slope. Even when you think you’ve got a handle on things, it’s easy to fall back into old habits. Just this morning, I did a little self-assessment and realised, despite my best efforts, that distractions had started to creep back in. My phone had too many notifications turned on. My desktop was cluttered with way too many open tabs.
So, I did a mini reset. I turned off all the unnecessary notifications on my phone. And if you interact with me regularly, you already know I don’t check emails obsessively, I get over 100 emails a day! If I got a notification for each one, my productivity would be shot. Instead, I choose to limit these distractions, only checking emails when I’m ready, not when my phone decides for me.
I urge you to take stock of your own life. “How much time and energy are you giving to distractions that don't serve your entrepreneurial journey?” Evaluate how you engage with the world, particularly when it comes to news consumption and unnecessary notifications. Go through your phone and turn off any alerts that don’t need your immediate attention. For me, I’ve kept WhatsApp notifications on because it’s crucial for my communication. But even then, my phone stays on silent, and I check it on my terms.
At night, my phone isn’t by my bedside. I don’t have a mess of open tabs on my laptop. I’ve made a conscious effort to maintain a clean digital workspace, free from unnecessary interruptions. And guess what? I’ve never missed anything important happening in the world. The truly significant events find their way to you, people talk, things come up. You don’t need to be plugged into the 24-hour news cycle to stay informed.
So, here’s my challenge to you: “Audit your notifications. Look at your distractions. Get clear and get focused.” Your entrepreneurial journey is too important to let meaningless noise get in the way. Take control of your environment, and watch how your productivity, and your mindset transform.
Remember, clarity and focus aren’t just nice to have; they’re essential for success. So take that first step today. Detox your mind and reclaim your focus. Your future self will thank you.
To your success,
Grant
So, I decided to put this theory to the test. I stopped letting the news flood my mind every day, and the results were almost immediate. I felt lighter, more positive, almost like a weight had been lifted (once I got over the FOMO, lol). My mindset shifted dramatically simply because I wasn’t being bombarded by the constant stream of negativity that tends to dominate news feeds.
But I didn’t stop there. I started to wonder, “What other distractions are silently sabotaging my focus and productivity?” You see, distractions come in many forms, and they can subtly derail you from working with purpose or getting meaningful work done. Think about it: the constant notifications on your phone, the pings from various software on your computer or tablet, even the positioning of your TV remote, these are all distractions begging for your attention. And by keeping them just out of reach, you create a space where focus thrives.
Now, I’ll be honest, detoxing from distractions is no easy feat. It’s a slippery slope. Even when you think you’ve got a handle on things, it’s easy to fall back into old habits. Just this morning, I did a little self-assessment and realised, despite my best efforts, that distractions had started to creep back in. My phone had too many notifications turned on. My desktop was cluttered with way too many open tabs.
So, I did a mini reset. I turned off all the unnecessary notifications on my phone. And if you interact with me regularly, you already know I don’t check emails obsessively, I get over 100 emails a day! If I got a notification for each one, my productivity would be shot. Instead, I choose to limit these distractions, only checking emails when I’m ready, not when my phone decides for me.
I urge you to take stock of your own life. “How much time and energy are you giving to distractions that don't serve your entrepreneurial journey?” Evaluate how you engage with the world, particularly when it comes to news consumption and unnecessary notifications. Go through your phone and turn off any alerts that don’t need your immediate attention. For me, I’ve kept WhatsApp notifications on because it’s crucial for my communication. But even then, my phone stays on silent, and I check it on my terms.
At night, my phone isn’t by my bedside. I don’t have a mess of open tabs on my laptop. I’ve made a conscious effort to maintain a clean digital workspace, free from unnecessary interruptions. And guess what? I’ve never missed anything important happening in the world. The truly significant events find their way to you, people talk, things come up. You don’t need to be plugged into the 24-hour news cycle to stay informed.
So, here’s my challenge to you: “Audit your notifications. Look at your distractions. Get clear and get focused.” Your entrepreneurial journey is too important to let meaningless noise get in the way. Take control of your environment, and watch how your productivity, and your mindset transform.
Remember, clarity and focus aren’t just nice to have; they’re essential for success. So take that first step today. Detox your mind and reclaim your focus. Your future self will thank you.
To your success,
Grant
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