Hi everyone!
Whether you are are an employee of a company, or work for yourself, it is imperative to stay focused on your work so you can achieve all the tasks that crop up in your working week. We all have regular tasks that need to be done, but then of course there are projects that we need to work on, and to complete all this we need to stay focused on the tasks in front of us.
If you are someone who is easily distracted, then you may be wondering how to improve your focus at work. For most of us, staying focused while working is pretty difficult, even at the best of times. In today’s workplace, it’s even harder than ever – with so much information coming at us constantly, and easy access to the internet, staying focused on tasks can seem like asking the impossible.
And of course there are people distractions too! Some of your colleagues, if you are working for a company, may not realise that you are busy, and just because they have spare time in their day, they think it’s ok to keep you talking – most of the time about non-work related matters.
Fortunately, there are ways to make things easier. Some of them are obvious, others less so. Either way, if you try and put the following suggestions into practice, you should find staying focused easier and be able to get more done.
1 – Remove Distractions From Your Computer
If you have lots of games on your computer, or lots of photos and videos, get rid of them. This removes the temptation to “take a quick break” and entertain yourself for a few minutes – which can easily lead to much longer than you realise or intended! Another way to control distraction is to close the programs that you aren’t using for the task at hand. This reduces the likelihood that you’ll distract yourself with other tasks of less importance.
You can easily get distracted by email coming in, when you are working on a project, spreadsheet or presentation. If that is the case with you, then shut down your email client for an hour, put in some concentrated effort, and see your productivity soar.
2 – Make Lists
One simple way of staying focused is to start your day by making a list of things you have to do. This helps you to keep track of tasks and reminds you that spending too much time doing other things could result in you not finishing all the tasks on the list. If you want to get an even better start to the day, make your list the night before.
However don’t expect to complete too much, otherwise you will feel that you have failed when you get to the end of the day and see half a list still there. Put 3 items maximum that MUST be completed, and tackle these first. If you can do some lesser items too, then that’s great. But prioritise those first 2 or 3, get them completed, and feel proud of completing them.
It’s also helpful to update the list as the day goes on. Cross off the tasks you’ve completed, and add new tasks which come up during the day. This can help you to keep on top of your work, and will assist you at the end of the day when you plan the next day’s work.
3 – Keep Drinks At Your Desk
One of the most common ways of distracting ourselves when we should be working is by going for a coffee or snack break. It’s amazing how long it takes to make a cup (or round) of drinks, especially if someone else is also in the kitchen and wanting to chat.
By keeping a bottle of water by your desk, or a flask of coffee, you can avoid the temptation to get up from the desk when you should really be working. And of course, if you keep water to hand, then you will also be benefiting health-wise.
It’s also possible to use coffee and snack breaks to your advantage, though. After a long and productive session of work, moving away from your work-space for a few minutes to refresh helps you maintain focus on the rest of the tasks ahead. Just don’t let that break become too long otherwise you will have undone your earlier hard work.
4 – Get A Good Desk And Chair
If you aren’t sitting comfortably, then the chances are you’re not going to be able to stay focused. Not only that, but your health could be at risk. Make sure you get a good chair and a desk at the right height for you. Your back should be straight, not slouched, while you sit at your desk.
Most companies these days will work on the ergonomics of your work-space. Make sure that you listen to the expert and if they suggest that some of your practices are causing strain then change your space. Companies offer this as you are no use to them if you experience RSI or neck and back pains, and are off work for lengths of time. So make sure that you are comfortable and able to work comfortably.
5 – Play Music
If you work in a large office, then you may not be able to have the radio on, as it may affect other employees. But some smaller offices will let employees have some music on whilst you work.
If you like listening to music while you work, make sure you pick the tunes that don’t get you over-excited. If you’re listening to music that just makes you want to get up and dance or sing along, then you’re not going to be able to stay focused very easily. Pick music that you enjoy having in the background. Save the rest for your free time!
6 – Start The Working Day Right
When you get to your desk at the start of the working day, don’t make your first task checking the news on the internet, or looking for updates on your favourite blogs. Once you get in the mood for entertainment like that, it’s hard to return to a working mindset.
Instead, you need to arrive at work and get started quickly. Get your to do list from the previous night, remind yourself what those important tasks are, and make a start on them soon. Once you get in a work mood, then you will soon be flying. Whilst other colleagues are wasting their first minutes chatting to people about their evening, what they watched on TV, and how bad the traffic was, you can get an awful lot done before they have even started.
If you have had trouble completing the tasks in your work day, maybe you end up staying late to complete them, or work through part (or all) of your lunch break, then adopt these 6 tips to improve your focus at work and see your productivity soar. You’ll also be noticed by management as a hard worker, and achiever, and maybe destined for greater things within the company.
Paul