Squirrels and Shiny Objects
Successfully achieving your dreams demands that you not get distracted by squirrels and shiny objects.
An off schedule post
This is an off-schedule post. That means something different or interesting is going on that warrants paying attention to. So, my friends, read on to find out more!
Shiny object syndrome (SOS)
You don’t have to own a dog to know what happens when a dog sees a squirrel. Unless you have a very disciplined, professionally trained dog, it will likely chase the squirrel, no matter what else is going on at the moment, or as much as you try to stop it. Sometimes, if it is a big dog, it may even pull you along for the ride! You’ve seen it, haven’t you?
Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS, Note 1), also known as magpie syndrome (Note 2), is the tendency to be easily distracted by something new or exciting, something other than the task or goal at hand. Just like the dog that sees a squirrel, it’s very easy to be distracted when something interrupts our concentration or train of thought. Besides the fact that getting back on track wastes a lot of time, getting our mind back into “the groove” is not only difficult, but it may be impossible to recapture all the thoughts that you had before being distracted.
SOS, while not a clinical diagnosis, is something we all face daily, and it’s a challenge, no doubt about it. If we suffer from ADD or ADHD, it could be even more difficult. If you have a family member who has either ADD or ADHD, then you know what I mean. If you work with someone, you know it as well. Worse, if you work for someone with either of these, that can be really challenging. Are there treatments for ADD and ADHD? Click on the links in Notes 3 and 4 to read more.
There are many negatives to SOS. SOS can distract us from doing or getting what we really want or need. For example, if you set aside the day to figure out ways to achieve your goals and you learn that your favorite team is playing football, that could delay or prevent you from not only setting up your goals, but also from achieving them. If you are working, constant interruptions, especially ones that are personal and not related to business, are a distraction.
What are some of the causes of SOS? Here are a few:
1. We have a lack of confidence.
2. We tend to believe things are not what they are, often referred to seeing the world through rose colored glasses.
3. We have unrealistic expectations
4. We are unhappy with the current situation
5. We have an urge to take shortcuts
6. We could have a medical issue or just a short attention span
Worse, SOS can damage your reputation with others. Whoa! This is not something a lot of folks think about, but they should. Here are a few examples:
1. You could develop a reputation for unrealistic thinking
2. You could be seen as being overly dramatic
3. You can be thought of as inexperienced
4. People may perceive you as lacking business sense
5. You could develop a reputation for being gullible
Any or all of these things can negatively impact your career.
Other consequences could include:
1. Poor mental health and well-being
2. Feeling tired and overwhelmed
3. Wasted time and resources
4. Lost rewards
5. Inability to learn new or value-added things
Preventing Shiny Object Syndrome
How can we prevent SOS? Well, we first have to recognize the importance of not being distracted when we have important work to be doing and set ourselves up for success. Then again, we must balance the need to be available with the need to get important work done. If you have read any of my past writings, you know that I often said during the normal work week, all I was able to do was tend to the daily business due to the high number of interruptions, just making the business run and dealing with other people. Do you remember what my cure for this was? That’s right, it’s not something many people want to hear, but for me, it was coming into work early or going in on Saturday. Ugh, you say. On the other hand, some answers to help are surprisingly simple, and several of these techniques I use personally:
1. Develop a daily schedule; try to stay on it
2. Use a daily planner to prioritize your tasks. At the end of the day or week, evaluate how well you did in meeting your objectives
3. Concentrate on the most important tasks first and do one thing at a time. I know people who claim they can multitask, but I believe that even if people are able to multitask, quality could suffer as a result
4. Close your office door, silence your phone, and turn off email notifications or otherwise remove distractions. While I’m not typically an advocate of work from home (WFH), it can be beneficial when certain tasks or projects need to be completed
5. Prioritize physical and mental health by getting proper sleep and exercise, eating properly, and staying hydrated
6. My own personal favorite: Be aware if SOS is causing you a problem. If so, you can use some of these techniques to overcome it
Potential positives of Shiny Object Syndrome
All that said, there could be some positive benefits to SOS. These include:
1. Opportunities that would not be available otherwise, if we can recognize them
2. If the SOS involves people, there may be an opportunity to help or better develop relationships. Think of the person with an open-door policy who is always available
Summary, or why did I author this post?
I’m obviously not a medical professional, and when it comes to these sorts of things, I always cite authoritative sources and reference them for you. Of course, I also rely on my experience and try to relate how that can impact us in the real world.
But the main reason for today’s post is to make you aware of squirrels (not the literal ones, the ones that take us away from what we should be doing) and SOS so you can realize when you are being distracted and thus not doing the work you really want and need to do to help you achieve your goals and live your best life. Frankly, helping you determine what you want to do and then achieve it is what we are all about at Afterburner Success Partners.
One final thing…
Do you think you may have SOS? If you have not already, click the link in Note 1 to review more details on the above information and see some of the symptoms of SOS. Then ask yourself, and ponder the answer, if you are finding yourself distracted in getting done what you really want to do in life. If, as I advocate throughout these posts, you have a plan and review it periodically, you can tell if you are falling short of your goals. One reason may be SOS! If it is, then recognize it and take action to overcome it!
That’s all for this week!
Squirrels and Shiny Objects
Afterburner Success Partners
What’s in it for Me
Staying on track and on schedule is essential to really get and do the things we want to do. Understanding when we may get off track and what to do about it is necessary to accomplish life goals.
Call to Action
Take the Afterburner Success Partners course or purchase the book Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi (Note 5).
Recommended Resources
Check out my recently published book, Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi. Available on Amazon or on my website. See Note 5.
Up Next
Back to regular posting schedule.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Shiny Object Syndrome: The Downsides of Focusing on Quick Fixes, dovetail.com: https://dovetail.com/product-development/shiny-object-syndrome/
Magpie Syndrome may be why you feel tired and overwhelmed all the time, news.com.au:https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/wellness/magpie-syndrome-may-be-why-you-feel-tired-and-overwhelmed-all-the-time/news-story/52165bdbc9f270c7cfee5f54fc7bdc7b
Treatment of ADHD, The Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/treatment/index.html
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; What You Need to Know, National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-what-you-need-to-know
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy