The majority of general advice about managing distractions emphasizes the need to remove them from the table in order to be able get work done.
We are all exposed to distractions at work, home, and in coffee shops. Experts say that distraction and procrastination can be good for creativity.
Focus is the name of the game. You can train yourself to focus on your work and get it done.
Let’s look at five ways to get rid of distraction, regain focus, and get back in the groove of work.
1. Allow yourself to be distracted for X amount of minutes.
Although it sounds silly, allowing yourself to be distracted for a reasonable amount of time allows you to relax, open your mind to new ideas, and allow yourself to be distracted when you least expect it. This will allow you to return to work with a fresh mind and new ideas, which will increase your productivity and focus.
2. Divide your time into manageable chunks
Time boxing simply means that you allot a set amount of time to a single task. It is a time management technique that eliminates the pressure to focus for a long time. It also motivates you to focus on the task at hand.
You can work in small chunks so that you can make progress, despite the busyness of your surroundings. Your productivity will continue to grow if you can work in short time periods.
The Pomodoro(r), a time-boxing technique that uses 25-minute sprints and 5-minute breaks between, is a well-known example. This classic technique is covered in another post: The Busy Human’s Guide to the Most Productive Systems in the World
3. Anchor onto your outline.
As a freelance writer and mom to three children, I am constantly distracted and pulled away from work.
An outline is what keeps me on track. It tells me what I should work on every time I sit down. It’s usually an outline of a blog article I’m writing.
An “outline” is a similar concept to a save point in video games. It can be anything that provides direction to complete a task. You can use this to create a list or set of reminders on your phone.
4. Write down your distractions immediately.
“Offloading distractions” is essentially taking all distractions and putting them in a concrete container for later. These distractions could be thoughts, ideas, tasks that you are reminded of, or random thoughts.
How can you get rid of distractions? One idea is to carry a “distraction pen” and a pen, and take notes about the distractions that you are currently experiencing.
After work is completed, you can look through your notes to see if anything needs to be done.
4. Break down large tasks into manageable pieces
We have a tendency to look away when faced with a daunting task. By breaking down the task into smaller, manageable tasks, you can trick your mind into believing that it is possible.
I find it helps me to focus even when I’m distracted. I break down large tasks into smaller tasks that can be completed in one sitting. I don’t feel overwhelmed by the task or the distractions.
5. Make your “DONE” List.
Have you ever thought of making a separate list of all the things you did for the day?
This is also known as an “anti-todo” list or a “DONE list. It’s a second list that you use to note down what you did or didn’t do for the day. You might also list any tasks that you completed that aren’t on your to-do list. You will feel fulfilled, which will make you more productive and motivated to work on your actual to-do list.
ThisDONE will help you maintain your productivity levels even when it’s most difficult.
Distraction is often self-imposed. Tune your mind to focus and motivate yoursel
