WORKPLACE

9 WAYS TO MINIMIZE

DISTRACTIONS

It is without question the nature of the

mind that when it is earnestly applied to one interest it must

neglect many others. - FRANCESCO PETRARCH

WITH TECHNOLOGY, OPEN OFFICE

ENVIRONMENTS, AND MILE LONG TASK

LISTS, STAYING FOCUSED CAN BE HARD.

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING

YOUR THOUGHTS IN ONE PLACE, KEEP

THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES IN MIND.

Remove any and all visual distractions. For example: You leave your car keys on your desk. The car keys remind you that you need to get gas on your way home. Then, you start to think of what else you need to do when you get home. Maybe you’ll even think about what you’re going to have for dinner. Before you know it, you completely forget what you were focusing on just a few minutes prior.

MANAGE YOUR

WORK SPACE

Whether it’s your car keys or feeling guilty about something you said earlier in the day, distractions can be external or internal. You may not be able to remove the distraction completely. However, it never hurts to ask yourself about what actions you could take to minimize it.

IDENTIFY THE

SOURCE OF YOUR

DISTRACTION

When possible, put away any technogy-related distractions when you’re trying to focus on the task at hand. Turning off notifications isn’t enough because just seeing your cell phone could trigger you to use it.

UNNECESSARY

REMOVE

TECHNOLOGY

Noise distractions are constant and unavoidable. Consider effective ways to block out the office chatter, such as listening to music. Go the extra mile and choose to listen to music without words. Lyrics in a song may trigger memories or take your mind somewhere else.

BLOCK OUT

BACKGROUND NOISE

If you’re finding it impossible to rid yourself of workplace distractions, try relocating to a place with less activity. This is especially effective if you’re being constantly interrupted by coworkers, customers, or even your boss.

HIDE WHEN

APPROPRIATE

In order to truly focus, your physical, mental, and emotional energy must be in sync. If staying focused becomes a serious problem, determine which of these three is most limiting to you and take necessary actions to improve in that specific area.

MANAGE YOUR

ENERGY

Consistently staying focused is DIFFICULT. After a short while it’s inevitable for your mind to look for distractions. Try switching between mental and physical tasks to give your mind a break.

PLAY “PING PONG”

WITH YOUR TASKS

Never assume that just because you look busy that you will be left alone. Take the initiative and explain the importance of being able to focus. People will be very understanding of this considering it’s significant to your productivity and the team’s success.

COMMUNICATE

YOUR PLAN

As you find focusing becoming a habit, seek out ways to extend the time spent on a task without switching. One way to do this is to plan a small reward, such as a few minutes on social media or a quick snack break.

PLAN A REWARD

CONSIDER A STRESS-MANAGEMENT

SPEAKER AT YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH

EAGLES TALENT SPEAKERS BUREAU