5 Ways to Use Internet Distractions to Your Advantage

There’s no shame in admitting it; we’ve all done it. One minute you’re typing away on a blog post or uploading picture to your store, the next you’re watching videos of kittens ice skating. Worse, you now realize you’ve been watching these adorable videos for an hour! How the heck did that happen?
Stop freaking out. It’s one of the perils of working in the industry we do. Spending a lot of time on the Internet means getting distracted by silliness. How could you not? There’s so much of it! Instead of getting frustrated, here’s how to turn those distractions into advantages for your business.

 
1. Use for Social Media Fodder
Hey, you like it, right? So who’s to say your followers won’t? If that kitten skating video is interesting enough, load it up for a future tweet. Do you have a Wacky Wednesday or Funny Friday post on your blog? Throw up a small paragraph about it and add it to the queue.
Your followers and friends are all looking for distractions, too. And if it’s good enough (and work appropriate!) then there’s no reason not to share the fun!
2. Use for Ideas
Even the silliest video in the world can be used as inspiration. Take the little kitten skating across the ice. What does he represent? How could you relate that cute little video to your business?
Maybe you see others in your field simply “skating along” when it comes to their business and not putting in the work they should. Don’t be like the kitten, you could say; take control of your company and move it to the next level.
It’s a bit of a stretch, but that’s the point. With enough creativity, you can make your distraction work for you instead of the other way around.

 
3. Stick to Meaningful Distractions
If you’re going to wander away from your current goals, at least make the side path worth it. Try to keep focused on your industry or other useful subjects. For instance, don’t clog up your Google Reader and Twitter feed with video game blogs and celebrities. Instead, add lots of great, insightful thinkers to your feeds so you get real, useful information. This way, your distractions also serve as a sort of classroom as well as a fun break.
4. Mind Break
Listen, we know you want to work on your business 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. But not only is that completely impossible, it’s also very hazardous to your health. Doing nothing but stressing out all day and keeping your nose to the grindstone might get you results, but it might also get you a nice sized ulcer at the end of the day.
Thus, take relish in the breaks you find. While you don’t want to fill your day with them, a little laughter or easy reading can go a long way in improving your mental health. Stressing out over allowing yourself a breather is simply counterproductive!

 
5. Reinvigorate
Now that you’ve gotten your break from work and your brain’s gotten a bit of a rest, it’s time to get back to it! Use your mental breakaway (it’s like a nap without the sleeping!) to drive yourself the rest of the day without taking any more wandering pathways down the Internet.
If need be, schedule time during your for these distractions. If you’re having a lot of trouble with them throughout the day, dedicating a certain time for “mischievous” fun can give you something to look forward to each day. Plus, it could help you stay focused the rest of the week so you get as much work done as you want.

…………….. This has been a guest post provided by Kabbage.com

“Kabbage provides working capital to small business owners, from application to your PayPal account in 10 minutes or less. Visit Kabbage.com today for more info on taking your online business to the next level!”

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