When was the last time you just said no?

I understand that just say no might conjure up the image of Nancy Reagan and remind you of the anti-drug campaigns of the ’80s and ’90s, but this is not the just say no I’m suggesting.

I’m recommending a new just say no campaign for distractions.

One could argue that distractions are just as insidious as drugs because they too can delay or even derail you from what you’re trying to accomplish. Of course, I want to recognize that drugs can be worse for your physical well-being and potentially even deadly.

If you’re like most people, you’re playing a whac-a-mole all day long between your attention and distractions. You’re constantly being lured by pings and buzzes, all designed to nibble away at your mental bandwidth, leaving you with little time to accomplish what’s important to you.

So, what is the just say no to distractions?

It’s nipping the distraction in the bud. When you feel the urge to step away from a task, or distract yourself with some mindless action that you know will take you away from what you’re working on – just say no.

I know this might sound overly simplistic and even ridiculous, but it can be effective with enough practice.

Just saying no is about reclaiming the reigns of your attention. Staying with the horse analogy for a movement – it’s like putting blinders on so you can only focus on what’s ahead of you.

Like any other behavior change, saying no will take time to implement. At first, you could even experience withdrawal symptoms as you ween yourself from the distractions you’re accustomed to.

So, as you take your day today, identify the distractions that you can say no to. Resolve to take back your attention and stay focused on your priorities instead of letting yourself be distracted by the whims and wishes of others.