I’ve got a problem: It’s difficult for me to follow the experts advice that when you write a blog, you should focus on one narrow topic and go very deep with that subject. Perhaps it’s because there are just so many great topics to explore!

Do YOU ever struggle to stay focused?

With so much information distributed through various media sources and technology tools, it’s becoming more difficult than ever to filter out what we do NOT want to see, read or hear.  I’m overwhelmed. Am I the only one? I doubt it.

So along with spring cleaning, I’ve made a commitment to purge my household of extraneous distractions. (If they’re lucky, the “kids” and cats get to stay!) Here’s how I’m going to do it:

1. I’m canceling one of the two newspapers I subscribe to. One of them, while local, is mostly ads anyway and the rest of the local info I can get online. I feel very guilty disposing of newspapers I haven’t read. For some reason, I feel compelled to read it before it goes into the recycling bin.

2. I’m not renewing four magazines that, like the newspaper above, often go unread and pile up in the grape crate by the fireplace where I store the magazines. (I’ll gift those National Geographic magazines to my daughter because I just KNOW the articles will be of interest to her one day!)

3. I’ll unsubscribe from a number of email newsletters and whittle them down to one per topic (one on politics, one on blogging, finance, business). The rest have GOT to go! It’ll make a huge dent in the size of my email in-box for sure! Along with that, I’m asking friends to remove me from their “Pass this email to 7 of your closest friends…” distribution lists. The notes they send are all very sweet, but do you notice how you keep getting the same ones from different friends? (If you have a small circle of friends, this can end up like the Bermuda Triangle, where you just keep going round and round!)

4. This weekend I’m sorting through four bookcases and donating extraneous books (or those I’ll never read) to Goodwill. I’m a book junkie, so this will be a painful experience, believe me. I have books everywhere and am usually in the midst of four or five at the same time! I have to move ‘em over to the other side of the bed at night, so I can crawl in.

5. Despite my love of online communication tools, I’ve decided to limit my time on social networking sites. Rather than allocate a specific amount of time each day (or twice a week) to posting on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, I’m now posting ONLY when I have something helpful and informative to add. For example, I’ll post a link to an interesting article or a tip that others would find helpful to solve a specific problem.

6. I’ve resolved to manage the phone more effectively. No, I’m not into caller ID or screening my calls. But I WILL be more disciplined in how I schedule calls to give me longer periods of uninterrupted concentration time. I may even take the laptop OUT of my office so I can finally get my book re-written and published on deadline. For some, their struggle is to limit social calls or even set an agenda for professional calls, just like you would in any type of meeting. (Do you follow an agenda when you have meetings at work? Many don’t.) Either way, I believe you become a more concise communicator when time is limited.

7. And finally, I’ve decided to launch a new blog specifically for independent business owners and narrow the scope of THIS blog. This way, I’m not trying to be all things to all people. Folks who sign up for my Benjamin’s Business Blog” will get articles and tips specific to their concerns as independent business owners. Those interests might include legislative issues, marketing tips, hiring/firing, time management skills, financing, how to fire a difficult customer without ruining your reputation, whether you should hire your spouse or child, etc. Yes, some of the topics might overlap, but independent business owners (small or large) have a very different set of challenges to face than someone who collects a regular paycheck. (Or those who used to collect a regular paycheck!)

Yes, it’s a bright new day when one can “find” an additional hour of time to use in a more constructive manner than sorting through tons of written or electronic communication! Maybe I’ll finally get back to my exercise regime! Perhaps I can take on one or two more clients and spend more time with my parents, sons and daughter too. Certainly, I can find the time now to resume horseback riding lessons.

Do you have a tip to share that’ll help us “find” additional time in the day? If so, please login and post a comment. We need all the help we can get!

Laura B., writing from Colorado Springs at 6711 ft. above sea level