Keeping a focus on one thing in daily life, seems like a mission impossible, especially when it comes to work life. The flow of work is under constant threat of disruption from different sources of interruptions.
Especially today, when we are constantly connected, distractions are literally just a click away, even in quiet moments. However, in most cases, we are able to control the situation and eventually navigate focus back to the important things.
According to the studies conducted on employees in various industries, it is estimated that workers are productive for only three hours a day, and once they are distracted it can take up to 23 minutes to regain their focus.
With the advent of technology, focusing and concentrating has become more difficult than it ever was before, because distractions called “social media” have a major role in this play.
Given that you are reading this post, it is safe to assume that you have encountered this circumstance at least once. Therefore, let’s attempt to maintain your focus through this article until the end so that you may learn techniques for maintaining focus for longer than two minutes.
Identifying Common Distractions
As much as technology has boosted employee and business efficiency in so many ways, so did hurt it in others. Internet browsing, emails, and social media are listed among the top ten workplace distractions, accompanied by cellphones. Add conversations with coworkers, clutter, gossip, snack or smoke breaks, and noisy co-workers, and you will get one perfectly unproductive day at work.
When looking through numbers conducted by surveys, around 44% of people said that their biggest distraction is using the internet. On the other hand, 37% of employees blamed office gossip for their concentration loss, proving that not everything can be blamed on technology.
Minimizing Distractions: Strategies for Success
There are two main strategies that should help everyone who wants to improve focus at work and minimize overstimulation and distractions, task prioritization and digital distractions management.
The best way to start a work day is by clearly identifying goals for that day, or even week, day by day. The main focus should be on things that require immediate attention and have close deadlines. So by setting clear priorities, it is easier to keep focus on tasks that are really important and avoid wandering towards less important ones.
The second one is taking control of the digital environment and the distractions that come within. Silencing emails and turning off unnecessary notifications can be a great start. A daily routine of focused workers should include a specific window of time during which they may focus solely on emails and texts.
Tips for Creating a Productive Environment
After implementing these two strategies into a workday routine, creating the right work environment can help your productivity and increase focus:
Physical Organization
For most people, a messy and disorganized environment has a strong impact on their ability to concentrate. It is easier to focus when a person is not distracted by other people, noise, or too many objects lying around.
Think minimalist, the more items are on your desk the more likely you will be distracted by them. Fewer items and a tidy and clutter-free space will help you have your focus only on things that are important. It will also promote clarity of mind.
Establish Boundaries
Whether you are working from the office or home, it is important to communicate your availability with people around you, no matter if they are your colleagues or parents, or partners. Informing others about the time when you need complete focus, will minimize unnecessary interruptions and establish respectful relations with those around you.
Healthy Habits for Improved Focus
The idea of healthy habits reflects on both physical and psychological health, and when it comes to focusing, a healthy body and mind are crucial. Mindful practices such as meditation and deep breathing, will train your mind to be present in the moment, and to center your mind and keep focus on one thing.
Along with these habits, there are also a few other healthy lifestyle habits that will help you achieve the goal. These are reflected in sufficient sleep, regular exercise, healthy diets, and stress management.
Sleeping seven to eight hours will help your mind rest, exercise will boost energy levels and reduce stress while healthy diets will improve cognitive functions, maintain stable blood sugar levels and supply your body with necessary nutrients.
Final words
Staying focused in a workplace, whether it is an office or home, is not an easy task and requires a lot of commitment. Nothing comes overnight, and neither will this, so you can start by implementing simple strategies, task prioritization, and digital distraction management. Another small step that will aid this process is a creation of a productive environment without major distractions.
Changing lifestyle habits, such as sleep schedules, adopting a healthy diet, engaging in exercise, and practicing meditation, will be the final and most difficult stage. By implementing all of these habits and strategies, not only will you improve your focus, but also your general enjoyment and productivity at work.
