Affiliate Classroom Blog

All Work And No Play…

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006 at 9:12 am by Mark Thompson

If you are a new affiliate who is finding it tough to start - or complete - your first promotional web site, maybe it’s time to consider your work habits. For example, do you experience…

Loss of concentration?

The urge to do anything but what you should be doing?

Sudden bouts of tiredness?

The feeling you’ve completely lost track of time?

A sudden need to buy yet another marketing book or course?

Well, even seasoned marketers experience these problems! It can be all to easy to get caught up in every aspect of making money online… and forget that to work effectively you to take a step back, refocus, relax, and regroup. Even old hands at affiliate marketing need to find ways to keep focused and stick to a task until it’s completed.

So whether you work online full time or part time, you need to set some simple and achievable goals, focus on them without interruptions, and most of all schedule in some breaks and “me” time. And if you’re having trouble making this whole “online thing” work, I urge you to take a step back and observe your work habits. See if you can discover any patterns that might be holding you back.

For example, when I first started online, I frequently found that after working for 3 or 4 hours at the computer without a break - without even looking up from the screen! - I would come to a point where I would do anything but finish the task at hand.

I would decide that the hard drive needed to be defragmented, or there were some urgent forums that needed to be read, or that all those promos and videos for the latest hot product launch were the most urgent thing on earth.

Finally I realized something. It wasn’t lack of commitment. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to accomplish my goals. And it wasn’t that I was a scatterbrain who couldn’t concentrate. It was my body telling me that I was overworked and needed to take a break!

Working at a computer is stressful on your physical systems. You are sitting in a very restricted position for long periods of time, and your eyes and brain are working hard. And since you’re not out there “in the field” chopping wood or chasing bad guys, you may not even realize you are hungry or tired! So your nutritional needs also suffer.

Quick and easy processed food, candy bars, and cans of soda seem to be the staple diet of many online marketers. But high sugar foods can play havoc with your body’s systems, causing peaks and troughs of mental energy - none of which are conducive to accomplishing your goals.

So what can you do to stop running in mental circles and accomplish your goals? First, stay hydrated. Keep a bottle of pure clean water nearby and take regular drinks. Believe it or not, staying well hydrated is one of the keys to getting more done in less time. And it’s absolutely essential if you only have an hour or two to spend on your online business each day. Without water, you simply can’t think or focus properly.

Second, take regular breaks and move around. Take your dog for a walk around the block when you feel your concentration start to waver. Or get up, do some stretches, step outdoors, and get some fresh air. Move around so your blood can circulate and your mind clears, and I guarantee you’ll come back more focused.

Finally, put yourself on a schedule that is manageable and realistic. Make sure it includes regular breaks. And manage distractions by setting aside specific times each day to check your emails and do research on new merchants, new products, new CPA offers, and yes, those tantalizing new marketing products.

Implement these steps and you’ll soon find you are achieving much more in less time. And remember, your income depends on your mind being clear, focused, and accomplishment oriented. You won’t make a penny in commissions if you aren’t building sites and getting traffic. To accomplish those things, you need to work - but you also need to stay healthy and alert. I’ve found that nourishing and relaxing your body and mind are the best ways to achieve your goals.

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