Reduce Distractions with These 8 Tips
Reduce Distractions starting today! If you have trouble staying focused and concentrating on the task at hand you’re likely not very productive in any area of your life. Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle to stay focused when today’s world is throwing all sorts of issues at us that can quickly make us lose our discipline and go on to something else.
Lack of focus stifles productivity and can zap your motivation. It’s one of the top reasons for stress and anxiety in our lives and can leave us unable to function. Success in business and personal realms often eludes the unfocused person.
Here are some tips that will help you become more proficient in staying focused and revving up your productivity to the max:
Reduce Distractions:
Silence Your Phone
Cell phones have become constant companions for most people. But always being on the alert for a call or text can interrupt your productivity. Depending on what you do, you may not be able to ignore those calls and texts for long.
However, if you can at least limit the number of times you check messages each day, you’ll gain some time to focus on work tasks.
Reduce Distractions:
Use a Social Media Blocking App
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter are essential for many businesses. Unfortunately you can get sucked into spending hours of wasted time on these sites if you’re not very careful.
There are several apps such as StayFocused or Mail Timer on Gmail that help limit the amount of time you spend on email and social media. You can decide how much or how little time you want to allow for these activities.
Reduce Distractions:
To-do Lists
If you sometimes feel scattered and torn between personal chores and work projects, it’s a good idea to keep a list. When you’re in the middle of a work project and get struck with an idea for a personal task, you can just add it to the list and go back to work.
This is better than stopping what you’re doing and completely changing gears. When you’re finished with the work task, you can decide when to begin the personal task.
Reduce Distractions:
Set Boundaries
One of the hardest things to do is to set boundaries with coworkers, family, and friends who interrupt your work. You may need to have a polite conversation letting people know that you’ve blocked off a specific time for work and that you’ll be happy to talk to them later. Eventually you’ll have fewer distractions from well-meaning people who tend to distract you.
Reduce Distractions:
Eliminate Stuff
It’s often more difficult to eliminate distractions if you’re in an office environment where you can hear noises from your cubicle or office. If you’re trying to concentrate at home, you can usually turn off the television or go to a quiet place.
One thing that can help is to wear headphones and tune your iPod into some music that’s relaxing and lets you concentrate. It might also help to deflect co-workers who tend to interrupt.
Reduce Distractions:
Breakdown Tasks
When you’re seeing a task like it’s an elephant that you have to eat all at once, it’s much more difficult than thinking about eating it one bite at a time.
Break down an important or time-consuming task into small increments. Write them down and cross off each one as you finish. It will make you feel more productive and you’ll actually see your progress.
Reduce Distractions:
One Computer Task at a Time
If you’re always checking email or looking at Facebook or Pinterest posts, you’ll have trouble completing a computer task. An easy way to eliminate the pull of the ‘Net is to pre-open the tabs you’ll need to complete a task and complete the task before opening others.
If the task is arduous and time-consuming, you may want to set a timer for working. When the timer goes off you can take a few minutes to recharge before refocusing on the task.
Reduce Distractions:
Establish a Routine
Are you a morning person or is your most productive time in the evening hours? You’ll want to complete the most difficult tasks at a time when you feel most in-tune and focused and leave the minor ones to the less focused times.
When you’re trying to navigate a trying time in your life, it may be more difficult to focus and be productive. But, a few simple tricks can help you get out of the rut and meet your goals.
Overcoming lack of focus and meeting your goals can be a boost to your self-esteem and keep you on the right track. Online sites contain a treasure of information that might help you regain your focus and bring joy into your life.