Welcome back or for the first time; I appreciate your time.
To get the most out of my writing, you should read carefully and ask yourself if you agree or disagree, and whether or not you’re going to take action based on what you will be reading.
I hope you’ll give yourself the chance to improve!
Avoiding Distraction
In today’s fast-paced society, we often juggle multiple tasks, making it difficult to focus. However, it’s essential to consider whether our actions are truly productive. A study led by Gloria Mark and her team found that interruptions can significantly alter work patterns. Additionally, several studies suggest that the time required to regain full focus after being distracted varies among individuals and tasks, with some research indicating it may take more than a couple of minutes. If we reflect on how often we’re distracted, it becomes clear that maintaining a constant state of focus is challenging and rarely sustained for extended periods.
Today, I’ll discuss three aspects of our lives that can help us minimize distractions and enhance productivity:
1. Electronic Devices
Phones
According to Reviews, Americans check their phones about 144 times a day, roughly every 10 minutes in a 24-hour day. Considering 8 hours of sleep, it’s closer to every 6.5 minutes. This habit hinders our ability to achieve deep, focused work, especially when it takes at least 22 minutes to regain focus. The most straightforward way to boost productivity is to put your phone out of reach. You can’t just put it in your pocket. Store it in another room or hide it from sight. This way, when the urge to check it strikes, you’ll need to get up and physically get it, prompting you to reconsider whether it’s necessary.
PCs/Laptops
In today’s digital age, almost everyone relies on electronic devices for work. However, these devices can introduce various distractions that need to be managed. For instance, if you use a messaging app like WhatsApp Web to receive notifications for personal messages, ask yourself whether that’s truly necessary while you want to work. Most personal messages don’t require immediate responses. For work-related messages with time-sensitive demands, retain those notifications, but disable others. If possible establish specific times to respond to messages or emails and avoid checking them outside those times.
Smartwatches
In my personal experience, smartwatches can be more distracting than phones because they’re always within sight. When I first got mine a few years ago, I displayed notifications on the watch’s screen, leading me to pick up my phone immediately when notifications arrived. However, I’ve changed this practice over time. I no longer receive notifications on my smartwatch because I prefer not to use it for that purpose. I use it to track sports data and check the time. If you own a smartwatch, ask yourself why you bought it in the first place. Was it for tracking sleep, monitoring sports activities, checking the time, or something else? It’s unlikely that you purchased it solely to receive notifications without using your phone. Consider deactivating this feature if it’s unnecessary and doesn’t fulfill the purpose of the watch.
Turn off Notifications and set times for when to check E-Mails and Messages
2. Environment
There is a place for everything
Certain places naturally indicate their intended purpose. For instance, when you visit a cafe, you anticipate getting beverages and snacks, not swimming or receiving a massage. Similarly, a gym is meant for physical activity, not sleeping or working. You understand what to do in such places, and your intention aligns with their purpose. Therefore, it’s crucial to create a work environment that clearly communicates its purpose.
Creating an Ideal Workspace
Let’s use my own practices as an example. I spend most of my time at my desk studying, writing, or reading. To minimize distractions, I keep my desk uncluttered, featuring only the essentials: the book I’m currently reading, my laptop, a monitor, and a bottle of water. There’s nothing else on my desk because I don’t require additional items while working. In the past, I kept various items on my desk, but I found that the more items I had, the more likely I was to become distracted. Even the smallest things could divert my attention. For example, I used to keep a cloth for cleaning my glasses on my desk. Occasionally, I’d notice it and wonder if my glasses needed cleaning. Since they usually did, I’d clean them, ensuring they were spotless, and then become distracted from my work. Now, I keep the cleaning cloth in a drawer where I can’t see it. If I need to clean my glasses, I intentionally grab it when I have time, rather than letting it interrupt my work.
Make your Workspace a place only for work
3. Dealing with People
The third reason we get distracted is due to other people. They can be your family, coworkers, someone talking in the background, or someone simply walking by. Distractions may be active, such as someone asking us a question, or passive when we’re diverted by two people conversing.
Active Distractions
To address active distractions, it’s crucial to communicate that you don’t want to be disturbed. Place a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door or let people know when you’re dedicated to your most important tasks. Wearing headphones is another effective way to signal that you’re not available for conversation.
Passive Distractions
Passive distractions, such as background noise or conversations nearby, can also be managed. If you’re easily distracted by background noise or people talking, consider investing in noise-canceling headphones or listening to calming instrumental music with no lyrics. If you’re distracted by the surrounding environment, think about closing a door, drawing the curtains, or finding a less crowded place. Another strategy is to schedule your most important work before or after everyone else is present. Experiment with different approaches to find what works best for you.
Communicate with People when you want to get focused work done
Exceptions
In emergencies, ensure there’s a way for critical contacts to reach you, even if you’re minimizing distractions. For instance, you can receive important calls on your smartwatch. Communicate with your coworkers and family to clarify when they can interrupt you. For work-related needs, consider using a separate phone to keep work and personal matters separate.
These are suggestions for your consideration. Not all of them will apply to everyone, but the key is to become more aware of your distractions and take steps to mitigate them.
Begin with one approach, such as turning off notifications, putting your phone away, decluttering your workspace or something else, and see if it makes a difference in your ability to focus.
My greatest wish is for you to start creating the life you want, but only you can take action toward that!
But for now, I hope you’ll have an amazing week.
Jonas