distractions

Ten Ways to Stay Focused at Work

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Distracted_Employee

At work, there are distractions everywhere. There are phone calls, emails, and visits from friendly coworkers. And let’s not forget about the internet! It’s essential to a lot of our jobs, but it can also be a major distraction. (A quick glance at Facebook, Pinterest, eBay, or Amazon can often last a lot longer than you intended it to.) All of these things can make it difficult to get work done.

So how can you maintain your focus and prevent yourself from getting distracted? Here are a few tips:

  1. Determine exactly what it is that distracts you. If you can identify the things that cause you to lose focus, it will be easier to avoid them.
  2. Plan out your day. Make a list of everything that you hope to accomplish. It will help to keep you on track.
  3. Plan to take breaks. Working hard doesn’t mean working non-stop. When you’re planning out your day, schedule in a few short breaks. The breaks will rejuvenate you and help you to be more productive as the day goes on.
  4. Eat breakfast. That first meal of the day will give you a boost of energy and help you to concentrate.
  5. Work offline. If possible, try doing some of your work using a pen and paper. Avoiding all electronic devices can really help to reduce distractions.
  6. Clean up your work area. The most innocent things can become a distraction when you’re trying to work. Even something as innocuous as an old magazine or a random Post-it note can turn into a time-consuming distraction. Avoid these traps by cleaning up your desk and getting rid of these items.
  7. Break it down. Sometimes, a big project can feel so overwhelming and insurmountable that you just want to avoid it altogether (and surf the internet instead). If you’re experiencing this type of situation, try breaking the project down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Completing these smaller tasks will help you to make steady progress, give you a feeling of accomplishment, and motivate you to continue.
  8. Have some caffeine. A cup of coffee or tea can help to sharpen your focus.
  9. Wear headphones. If you work in a noisy office, headphones can help to block out distracting chatter.
  10. Give yourself a reward. Promise yourself that if you get a certain amount of work done, you’ll reward yourself in some way. This should help to keep you motivated and engaged.

 

Schwecherl, L. (2012, July 23). 13 ways to beat distractions and stay focused at work. Time. Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/23/13-ways-to-beat-distractions-and-stay-focused-at-work/

 

Returning to the Office and Dealing With Distractions

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Distracted_by_Noise

Many of us have been working from home for a while now. At first, it was a hard adjustment for some people. There are a lot of distractions when you’re working at home – especially if you live in a home with other people and pets.

Over time, however, I think we’ve learned how to manage those distractions. And we’ve all developed our effective and productive “at home” work routines. (My personal routine involves rolling out of bed and getting right to work while still in my pajamas. Then, around 10:00 a.m., when I’m ready for a short break, I’ll finally go get dressed.)

But now things are changing. Many people are returning to the office. And according to author Rachel Feintzeig, they’re encountering distractions that they’re no longer used to managing. Two of the biggest distractions are background noise and chatty coworkers.

In the average workplace, there’s often a lot of background noise. You can usually hear snatches of other people’s conversations, ringing phones, doors opening and closing, etc. Depending on the volume of this noise, it can be very distracting.

In addition, it’s not unusual for coworkers to stop by each other’s offices for a quick conversation (either about a project or about non-work-related topics, like the movie they just watched or what they ate for dinner last night). This can sometimes be a very welcome thing. It’s nice to talk to coworkers! It’s a great stress reliever, and can make you feel more connected with your colleagues. But it can sometimes be an unwelcome distraction. And once you’re distracted, it can take quite a while to focus and get back on task.

To manage the background noise and dissuade your coworkers from chatting with you when you’re trying to focus, you could try shutting your office door (if you have one). Or put on some headphones and play music that won’t further distract you, such as classical music, movie soundtracks with no lyrics, or the sounds of nature.

If that doesn’t prevent your coworkers from stopping by, you should just be honest with them and explain that it’s not a good time to talk. Tell them that you’ll stop by their offices later in the day, and you can catch up with them then.

…

Feintzeig, R. (2021, November 1). Back to the office – and all its distractions. The Wall Street Journal, p. A10.

Here’s How Long It Takes Most People to Get Back to Work After Getting Distracted

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Distractions

When you’re at work, it can sometimes be difficult to focus on one task for a long period of time. There are just so many distractions and interruptions! Your coworkers stop by to chat. You get an email that must be answered immediately. You need to run to a meeting. Or you just feel the sudden urge to reorganize the movies on your Netflix queue.

We all get distracted while we’re working. That’s not surprising. But what is surprising is how long it takes the average person to re-focus on work after being distracted.

A recent study conducted at the University of California, Irvine indicated that most people take 23 minutes and 15 seconds to recover from an interruption. That’s actually a pretty long time, and it can really add up over the course of a day.

There are a couple exceptions to this rule:

  • If the interruption has to do with the work that you’re doing (for instance, if a coworker stops by to ask a question about the project that you’re currently working on), it can actually be beneficial and help you to focus.
  • If the interruption only requires a very basic, automatic response (for instance, if someone asks you to sign a form), this generally won’t cause a significant break in your concentration.

But any sort of significant distraction (like chatting with a coworker about the most recent episode of your favorite TV show) can cause you to lose your train of thought. And you might need to take 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on track.

Now this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take breaks! Taking breaks during your workday is a healthy habit and will help you to be more productive in the long run. But if you’re really trying to get a project done or meet a tight deadline, do yourself a favor. Help yourself to focus by cutting out as many distractions as you can.

 

Wong, K. (2015, July 29). How long it takes to get back on track after a distraction. LifeHacker. Retrieved from https://lifehacker.com/how-long-it-takes-to-get-back-on-track-after-a-distract-1720708353

Dealing With Distractions

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Distracted_Worker

Life is often eventful. Every day, good and bad things happen. Maybe your kitchen faucet starts leaking. Or your apartment lease is running out and you need to find a new place to live. Or you need to plan a wedding. Or you need to take care of an aging parent. Life is full of ups and downs. And those things can be extremely distracting. Sometimes they can be so distracting that it’s very difficult to focus on work and get things done.

If you find yourself in this type of situation, here are a few things you can do to make things better:

  • Make a list – Make a list of all the things you need to do to better manage the events going on in your life. If you get it down on paper, the thoughts will no longer be swirling around in your head, and you’ll find it easier to focus on work-related issues.
  • Try to avoid triggers – If you’re worrying about finding a new apartment, don’t start searching around on Craigslist. Or if you’re planning a wedding, avoid Pinterest altogether. You’ll just end up getting even more distracted and probably wasting time. Be aware of the things that make it difficult for you to focus on work and try to avoid them (if possible).
  • Use that lunch break – It’s fine to run errands on your lunch break. If you need to run to the bank or the post office, do it. And don’t feel guilty about it. Crossing things off your personal “to do” list will help you to feel more relaxed and be more productive when you get back to the office.
  • Find some support – When you’re distracted with life events, it’s easy to let things slide at work. To prevent that, find a friend or coworker who can help to keep you accountable. At the beginning of the week, give that person a list of the things that you hope to accomplish at work by the end of the week. Then at the end of the week, review that list with your friend or coworker to see how you did. Just knowing that another person is going to be tracking your progress should help to keep you on task.

 

Augustine, A. (n.d.). How to deal at work when your mind is on something else. The Muse. Retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-deal-at-work-when-your-mind-is-on-something-else