I tend to take on a lot of things.

New project? Sign me up.

Another full time job? YES!

You need a wingman to come with you to watch the Phillies Game so you don't look like a desperate drunk? I'm there for you ,man!

Write 200 articles in a week? HECK YES!

Superwoman, right?

Wrong!

I also have a lot of incomplete projects. No matter how many things I sign up for, I tend to forget that I only have 24 hours in a day, and some of those, no matter how much it doesn't fit into my schedule, need to be used for sleeping.

I can say that I'm passionate about what I do - helping clients make new connections - because I love meeting new people, conversations, and connections. It's one of those natural things for me. Some people can whistle. I can make connections.

But that doesn't change the fact that I only have so many hours in a day. 

I will also admit a little something else to you guys. For the longest time, I've spent a large amount of my time in "break" mode. You've heard the biz gurus before: "Work for a period of time, and then take a break!" Oh, I'm good at that. VERY good. It was the part where I have to invest the good, quality time into work that would be difficult.

Why was it that I was so passionate about what I did, but I would sabotage myself? I knew what I was doing when I was taking an additional break. I knew what I was doing when I was taking a time out to watch Dexter reruns. And I knew what I was doing when I would take a mid-day nap.

No work would get done. I was doing all of the "feel good stuff" but I wouldn't feel good. I'd tell people I was busy, but it was totally on the wrong thing.

By making one small adjustment, I was able to - in my mom's words - "TURN THIS CAR AROUND RIGHT NOW!" - only I didn't go home, as she threatened. I hit up the local coffee shop.

I work in the field a lot - meaning, unless I'm meeting with a client, I'm on my own to find a place to work. As amazing as working from home seems, and no matter how well Carrie Bradshaw was able to master this, I just can't. Too many distractions. Too many anti-work things sitting around.

I've learned that I'm a "get up and go to the office" kind of person. I need to get out of my house, out of my pajamas, out of my vicious do nothing cycle and have the intention to do work. 

I also am big on setting rules for myself, even when in the coffee shop, or in my rented center city office - because making out of my home of distractions is only the first step. 

1) Check e-mail only once every other hour -Being right on top of my e-mail is great, but I rarely answer right away anyway. If someone needs something crucial, I have a cell phone.

2) No personal calls during the work day -Friends call? Voicemail. Emergency? They know to call me a few times in a row. 

3) Clock in- I'm still on the hunt for a great time clock app for my iPhone, but I've found that if I'm on the clock, I respect that more than if I'm just internally clocking my hours.

4) Close the (face) book.- Granted, I do use Facebook for business, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't logged into my personal page a lot. I allow myself to check Facebook for business once per hour, but only if I post something meaningful in return. 

5. 45 / 15- I do use the 45 minute straight work, 15 minute break rule. HOWEVER, there are many times that I simply work through the break. But if I need it, I take it. At the end of the day, I take anywhere between 30-70 minutes for a break time. Seem like a lot? Calculate all of the side conversations, texting, personal internet-ing for your day, and I bet it's equal or greater than this. 

6. Just. Say. No. - I'll be honest, this one has proven very hard for me. But I'm working on it. If I don't have the time for something, I first think to myself "Should I have time for this? Is there something small I can move around to make this work?" - If there is, I do it. If not, I'm working on saying "No" or at least giving a legitimate, feasible time of completion. I know it sounds super human to be able to complete a project in 7 days, and it makes people envy you. But that envy only lasts so long -- especially if they lose respect for you because you don't deliver what you say you're going to when you say you're going to.

I know not all of these will work for everyone. But they've worked for me. I would LOVE to hear what some of your avoiding distraction tips are!