Let’s imagine the following situation: while you are busy working on some tasks, one of your friends calls to ask for advice on a project, five new emails pop up in your inbox, and a co-worker talks non-stop about his domestic issues. Would you still be focused in this place? Luckily, you are not the only one who is going through this struggle!
The problem of distraction and lack of concentration is one of the most prominent issues at work. You can see an explicit difference between those who are successful and highly productive and efficient at work, and those who are on a lesser level. This distinction is due to the way of utilizing time and effort, and how to avoid distractions – whether personal or from the surrounding – which can hinder meeting the targets on time.
In this essay, we will present simple yet effective tips to help you stay focused at work. Thus, you will be able to level up your productivity and efficiency at work. But first, you need to figure out the main reason behind your attention deficit.
Why can’t I focus at work?
Here are some common reasons that could affect concentration at work:
- Insomnia and lack of sleep
- Stressful lifestyle
- ADHD
- Depression and anxiety
- Boredom
When you recognize exactly what is causing your inability to focus, you can follow the right techniques and effectively apply them.
Now, it is time to go through some practical tips on how to improve concentration:
1- Get in the “flow”
Take a moment to evaluate your productivity before blaming it on others. Are you really in the “flow” when working on your tasks?
What is meant by “Flow” is a state of mind where we feel in total control, execute tasks effortlessly, and achieve the peak of our performance. researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered this state and they confirmed that it can be improved by strengthening our ability to concentrate. To get in the flow, try to be more excited about the task at hand and focus all your energy on working only on it. One of the followed methods to get into this mental state is to work when the deadline is close. The sense of urgency will steer your mind to work more efficiently.
2- Stop procrastination
We all tend to procrastinate and postponed things at times. However, the problem lies in repeating this endlessly and keep postponing work to the next day. Let’s suppose that you have decided tomorrow to do a task that must be done today. You will be implicitly annoyed because of it, and it will be hard for you to focus on the task at hand. The easiest way to stop procrastination is to start time-boxing the tasks. Moreover, you can reward yourself when you accomplish these tasks to make things more interesting for you.
3- Create an hourly work plan
There are several benefits that you can achieve thanks to this advanced planning:
- You will know what needs to be done by the end of the day.
- You will set realistic expectations for your day since you will predict how much time it takes to complete each task.
- You will know what to do next after finishing every task.
- You will be able to prioritize your tasks and do the ones requiring higher energy levels during the morning hours.
4- Do one task at a time
Human beings are not functioning similarly when it comes to multitasking. Nevertheless, most of us fall prey to this trend which can lead to disappointing results. Research carried out by the American Psychological Association has found that jumping constantly between many tasks reduces the chances to deliver any of them on time. As a result, we will waste time, lose focus, and commit more mistakes.
5- Organize your work environment
Our brain gets instantly affected by the things near or in front of us. So, if your desk is flooded with clutter, you will only feel distracted and lost all day long. Keeping your workspace clean and organized takes a few minutes, but it can have a great influence on holding your focus intact and boosting your productivity.
6- Stay away from social media
Seeing your phone on the desk will provoke an urge to pick it up and check your social media accounts to give your brain a rest. However, this will drain your energy more as you will get busy with so many side matters. Thus, it is advisable to turn off notifications for social media apps and other irrelevant apps that regularly send you notifications.
7- Take short breaks
Taking a short break is the best thing you can do when you can’t focus anymore. Our brains are not made to keep focused for long hours. Also, sitting at your desk staring at your screen for too long could cause you lethargy, exhaustion, and headache. That’s why it is preferable to take a short break every hour of continuous work.
8- Block out the surrounding noise
It is impossible for all the employees to work in complete silence. Naturally, people need to discuss some important issues with each other. However, all this babble can become tiresome very quickly. The easiest way to block out this distracting noise is to wear headphones and listen to nature background sounds such as the sound of waves, the rustle of tree leaves, or the falling rain.
9- Choose a comfortable chair
This might seem just a small change, but a comfortable desk chair can make a huge difference in your work performance. Sitting in a chair that doesn’t support your back will result in backaches, and you will get tired sooner. The ideal office chair should support your lower back, improve your posture, and help to alleviate back pain.
10-Limit your caffeine consumption
We know it is hard to convince you to limit your coffee intake while working because you believe it fuels you with extra energy during the day. Yet, another side to the story is that consuming too much coffee can tire you out. Drinking too much caffeine may lead to dizziness and insomnia, making it even harder to focus. Try to replace some of your daily cups of coffee with water to stay healthy and increase your concentration and productivity.
11- Organize your email
Checking emails is considered one of the most distracting activities. The New York Times conducted research finding that checking email less often is healthy for us. Therefore, it is recommended to check your email every three hours, have a personal email address and another one for work, and sort your emails according to priority. This will save you a lot of time and effort and keep you focused at work.
12-Use training apps
When tons of things pull out our energy, there is no way whatsoever to concentrate. You may be surprised to know about the existence of many tools, mobile apps, and work management software that can help you to focus better. These apps are designed in a way that helps you to put your thoughts together and get working on what matters the most. The most popular apps in this domain include Brain.fm, Concentrate, Headspace 2.0, and many more.
Lastly, always remember that your ability to focus is like a muscle. The more you train it, the better it improves. It will be difficult at first but with practice and persistence, you will be capable of training your brain to focus better. Now, you have the tools needed to focus better at work. Follow the above-mentioned steps, and you will be able to improve your focus and reach a new level of productivity in your career. Furthermore, there are a lot of valuable tips and useful information about how to increase activity, boost productivity, and improve workplace ergonomics that you can benefit from by visiting our blog or following us on social media.