They’re there before you know it, appearing seemingly out of nowhere and not only under cover of night. They are the time vampires, the people and activities that cloud our minds and make us wonder where the day has gone. The thing about vampires is they can’t come into your space unless you give them permission to enter. Learning to recognize them can keep you from inadvertently inviting them in. And if they do slip past, you need strategies in place to release yourself from their steely gaze.

First step toward keeping time vampires at bay is getting a handle on distractions. Eliminating them is a pipe dream but you can create work-arounds to diminish their power. Begin with things you can control like silencing, or better yet turning off the notifications on your phone. Set up apps that will block you from connecting to your most tempting websites, like PawBlock for all those cute animal pics or Stay Focused, which also has a time limit option. Working from a busy household can drive you to distraction. Designate a quiet space as your professional place and clearly communicate your “do not disturb” times with others living under your roof. If space is an issue, noise cancelling headphones can help to keep you focused.

Setting strong boundaries with yourself and with others is instrumental for escaping the clutches of time vampires. One of the biggest time suckers is being overcommitted. Saying yes to anything and everything in an effort to be accommodating can become overwhelming quickly. Learning to say no, and what to say no to, is a valuable skill that can keep you from spreading yourself too thin and will give you the opportunity to say yes to things that are important to you.

Defining and prioritizing what makes you feel good can give you the courage to turn down requests for the things and events you are not even remotely interested in. Beware of giving a soft no, the handing up of excuses and over explaining why you can’t do what’s been asked. It gives off a scent of maybe saying yes, which is the only invitation a time vampire needs to come barreling in. A polite and firm “Thanks for thinking of me but I’m not available” is all that’s required, no further explanation is necessary.

Managing your time vampires entails managing your time. Make scheduling your new best friend by not only writing to-do lists but adhering to them. Rank your responsibilities in order of importance, putting what’s essential on the top and working your way down. No need to panic, take it one task at a time and what’s ever left over at the end of your day can go on the top of your list for tomorrow. Time blocking can help get you organized. Earmarking a specific start and finish time for each task enables you to build a structure you can set your accomplishments on. Working within a time management system like The Pomodoro Technique can propel you into a productive rhythm and using time tracking apps like Clockify or RescueTime allows you to track your time and identify gaps where you could use your time more productively.

Who knew that something that was intended to enable us to keep in touch with friends and family would enable us to waste so much time. You can vow to stay off social media, but that’s unrealistic and can make it all the more tempting. Find a happy medium by allotting time specifically for checking in and scrolling. Give your time on social media a more positive spin by seeing it as a treat, a fun break at some point during your day. When you look at it from that perspective you’ll be much more likely to stay within the time parameters you’ve set rather than racing to beat the clock on your app tracker.

Maybe they mean well, thinking you’re genuinely interested in or could benefit from the information they’re telling you, or maybe they’re just a talkaholic. Whether it’s at work, on the phone or video chat, it can be an eye rolling irritation that cuts into the time you had scheduled for other things. Saying firmly and kindly “I don’t want to keep you, but …” is a method for ending their monologue. Holding up a mirror to project onto them what they’re doing to you can repel this time vampire and encourage a swift and easy extraction. If they counter that you’re not keeping them, an immediate “It’s time for me to go” should send them the message that the conversation is done.

Is multitasking still your modus operandi? Bound to believing how efficiently you’re getting things done by doing everything at once? As it turns out, just the opposite is true. “Multitasking lowers productivity, slows task completion [and] decreases task quality” reports Psychology Today. In other words, “multitasking actually wastes more time than it saves”. Double-cross this time vampire by switching to Single Tasking, which is just what it sounds like – doing one thing at a time. Giving each task your undivided attention puts you in the moment with what you want to accomplish, improving the quality of your work and giving you more time to solve the next issue, tackle that next plan, or take a much deserved break.

And one of the biggest time vampires of them all? Procrastination. We all have it, the tendency to do absolutely anything but the job that needs to be done. When actually getting to it seems insurmountable, set yourself up to get started by using the 5-Second Rule. Like running a race, counting down 5,4,3,2,1 helps to center you and lets your brain know it’s time to Go! It minimizes the time you spend thinking about what it is you have to do and prompts you to just go do it. And once you discover you can succeed at getting started, the more likely you are to put off procrastination and get started again.

Recognizing your time vampires can be a challenge to do on your own. Even if you pride yourself on using time to your advantage they may be lurking in your midst. Our Accountability and Executive Function Coaches are available with the tools and techniques needed to help you discover the time saving strategies that resonate with you. They listen actively, without judgement, and provide the motivation for your to get and stay on the efficiency track. For more information about how you, someone you know or someone you work with can benefit from Accountability Coaching and Executive Function Support, have a confidential conversation with Cindy via phone at 631-921-4085 or reach her directly via email here.

Whatever stage of recovery you or a loved one are in, whatever level of support is needed, a member of The Recovery Coach NY team can guide you through assessing your strengths and developing goals for next steps. The Recovery Coach NY honors all paths of recovery with years of experience and a vast array of resources that can support those in need find the way to the life of joy and purpose they deserve. We come with an empathetic ear and solution-oriented actions that can begin to bring the relief you and your loved one seek.

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