Focus is hard.
It’s ridiculously difficult to achieve at times when you have a ton of outlets for people to interact with you.
Multiply that difficulty by 10 when you are the owner of a Social Media company, as Social Media is already quickly becoming the biggest time suck in the world. I have struggled with ways to stay available to clients, potential new clients as well as business partners without being completely sucked into the distractions caused by so many platforms. 
Below are 3 ways I am able to completely focus while working on the Internet daily:
1. Set the phone to “Calls only” between specific hours.
My hours are 8am – 4pm.
This keeps text messages, Blackberry messages, Twitter, Facebook and email updates from popping up on my phone while still staying available to client phone calls. There were days where I would be texting from my phone, Tweeting from my macbook, in Powerpoint on the desktop, monitoring on the other desktop etc… This turned out to be no bueno for productivity and focus.
2. It’s OK… No, it’s encouraged that you say no.
Most of the people I know would drop what they’re doing to help someone else. I used to be this way if a friend had a Twitter, Facebook or other Social Media platform crisis, but realized that this was breaking my focus from things that I needed to accomplish causing projects and tasks to take much longer to finish. On one hand helping is great, but so is my sanity. I now make note of what people need help with and add it to the end of my list. Unless it’s super important, I have learned to start saying no.
3. Don’t make yourself “available” Online if you know you have to get things done.
Sign out of your IM platforms, don’t open up Facebook chat and be “Busy” on IMing platforms. Don’t have, start or continue conversations you really don’t have time for.
What are some ways you stay focused while working Online?
Hey there Kim;
As always – this is another great post! Focus is so key and also harder and harder to accomplish these days if we fall into the trap of staying connected all the time. All this social network stuff has really taken away from what we call a “work day” simply because there are so many ways people outside of work can connect with us while we’re in work.
Keep up the great work!
Dr. Rus
I agree. We are expected to answer emails right away, text messages as they come in and Tweets within so many minutes. It becomes ridiculous to be so available. It’s hard, but sometimes you just have to be unavailable.
Just keep yourself unavailable to procrastination – that’s focus
In my opinion, we need to control our tendency to procrastinate to be effective and productive in our work.
That’s right and we must focus in our future present not in the pass. and if you have a problem dont bring in your work because your job will be effected..
Fatima Hipolito�´s last [type] ..Baby Eagle