Top 10 Ways To Avoid Distractions While Working

[eLdavis]

My own view though, but I think that whe one has a pile of job to do one shouldn't get a break because that may be an opportunity to meet someone or hear something and be distracted.

Don't you think not having a break might wear the person out? Personally I feel breaks are needed to at least give them a little time to rest and regain their strength and would also help in their thinking process. What do you think?

 

[Sotherefore]

Nice one, everyone have their own strategy when they are distracted, when I'm really serious to concentrate in something the best place to stay is just to go into my room, this is always more effective for me.

 

[Ghost1]

Most important point is the health aspect. Had a friend that would spend straight hours working, he developed serious health issues and couldn't meet up with his target

 

[Hrtbeat]

These are good points. But to me I think technology is a major source of distractions while people try to complete their work. Consider muting your cellphone and any incoming notifications on your smartwatch or other devices. In addition, leave any streaming video services for when you complete your work tasks or when you decide to take a break. Eliminating the technological distractions can keep you focused on your work for a longer period, potentially allowing you to complete your work early.

 

[Smiles20]

I am somebody who like to be completely focused whenever I am working. This is why I usually choose my office and I sometimes lock it up until I am done in order to avoid any form of distraction.

 

[kayode10]

I always find it difficult to say no to the people because I don't want them to feel rejected. Most of the time I often abandon my own projects just to get her for someone else. My conscience don't allow me to rest anytime I don't help people or say no to their request.

 

[Smiles20]

It is very important that you should set aside anything at all that can distract you whenever you are trying to work. You should also ensure that you are in the right frame of mind and body.

 

[Skysaint]

If it's actually a business that demands you put it your mental effort into achieving your desired result then it's best to stay in a place that will give you privacy away from the sight or reach by others

 

[Good-Person]

Dividing or diversification of work is the key to manage your time. Unfortunately, this is something that most freelancers are capable of doing, but many people who have offline jobs are not able to do so because they have fixed working hours. Dividing work helps you to avoid distractions.

 

[YERUS]

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1. Create a schedule and stick to it​

Creating a schedule is one of the best ways to deal with distractions. Aim to wake up and be in front of your desk at the same time every day. Schedule your tasks and a to-do list the night before so you know exactly where to focus your attention the following day. But — and this can’t be stressed enough — you must stick to your schedule. Otherwise, you may find yourself wasting time on unproductive activities.​

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2. Take a lunch hour and frequent breaks​

It sounds counterintuitive, but the most productive workers take frequent breaks throughout the day. The reason is simple — working for long stretches is mentally straining. Taking breaks can help you refresh your focus and improve your mood. The 52-17 rule is particularly effective: it says to work for 52 minutes and take a 17 minute break. Spend this time on whatever is distracting you or use it to grab a quick cup of coffee and catch up with a family member or friend.​

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3. Get some outdoor time (if possible)​

Not everyone can get outside during the coronavirus pandemic, but if you can it will benefit your mental health and keep you focused. One study has even found that spending time outdoors is associated with lower levels of stress. During one of your breaks, take a short walk around your neighborhood or stroll through a park if there’s one nearby.​

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4. Keep your workspace organized​

A cluttered workspace can make you feel overwhelmed with your workload. Declutter your desk and only include those items that you’ll need to get you through the workday. Put accessories and nonessential papers in storage organizers so they are readily available when you need them. Having a tidy and organized desk lets you focus on the work at hand.​

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5. Turn off desktop and phone notificat​

It’s impossible to do your best work when you’re constantly being interrupted by notifications from Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. Multitasking by being active on social media while also working can be detrimental to your productivity. Turn notifications off on your work computer or set your smartphone to “Do Not Disturb” during work hours.​

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6. Restrict time on your phone​

If you just can’t resist checking your phone during work hours, one thing you can do is set restrictions. With Screen Time on iOS devices or Digital Welling on Android, you can see how much time you’re spending on your device and even set daily limits. If you exceed your limit, your phone will automatically shut you out of certain applications.​

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7. Establish ground rules with your family or roommates​

If you live with family or have roommates, make sure they know your working hours and respect your workspace. Set up a signal to let others know when not to disturb you. An example could be if you have your headphones on or your door is closed, then you should not be disrupted. Additionally, share your work schedule with others in your household so they know what time you will take breaks, have lunch and stop working for the day. All nonessential questions and discussions should wait until those times.​

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8. Set daily goals and objectives​

Another way to eliminate distractions is to divide your projects into daily goals and objectives and stick to them. It’s easier said than done, of course, which is why having a productivity system can help you stay on track. One system that has worked for The Muse, an online career platform, is the 1-3-5 rule. Here’s the gist: Set out to achieve one big task, three medium tasks and five little tasks every day.​

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9. Make sure your internet is reliable and speedy​

You depend on a reliable internet connection to do your work. Any connection issues could hamper your productivity. To avoid any delays, it’s important to have a back-up plan. For example, you could use a mobile hotspot device like a MiFi if your home connection starts to slow down or you could head to a cafe to work. If you operate an online business, it’s worth investing in a fast web host to ensure your website can handle more traffic.​

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10. Use quality video conferencing software​

Use high-quality video conferencing software to facilitate meetings with your team and to keep your manager updated on what you’re working on. This prevents any miscommunication and keeps everyone on the same page. Such face-to-face interaction is the closest experience to being in the same room with your coworkers and lets you pick up on nonverbal cues that are often missed with other forms of communication tools like email, audio conferencing and chat app​

o​

wow, nice write-up there.
I practice number eight more often- setting daily goals.
I usually write a to-do list every morning and disciplined about achieving every goal set for the day.

 

[eLdavis]

Most important point is the health aspect. Had a friend that would spend straight hours working, he developed serious health issues and couldn't meet up with his target

This is what so many persons fail to understand when you over work yourself self, you tend to develop health issues. Are you aware that when you pend over to operate your laptop or computer for hours over the years, it would affect your standing and walking posture?

 

[jay]

It is very tricky to remain focused in your workplace. Whether you are working from an office set up or your home. There are phone calls to return and emails to respond to, not to mention the allure of sending a short text or WhatsApp message to a friend.

Minor distractions may appear to be innocuous. After all, what is five minutes out of the entire 8 hours? However, frequent interruptions can wreak havoc on your productivity and degrade the quality of your work.

If you find yourself getting distracted at work very often, don’t worry, this article is meant for you. We explore the top ten ways to avoid distraction while working. If you follow them keenly, you will end up leading a more productive life and do more work during the same 8 hours long day period.

1. Associate with productive people at work.

Focus or lack of it is contagious. If you hang around with people who idle around the workplace, they will also drag you into their behavior. And within no time, you will find yourself doing what they are doing. Therefore, it is essential that while at work, you distance yourself from the lazy or idlers.

If you have some work to do, sit by yourself in your office or a quiet corner. Alternatively, you can sit with those busy people, so that they will inspire you to concentrate on your job too.

2. Divide your work into smaller chunks.

Another easy way to avoid distractions is to divide your bigger goals into smaller achievable goals. When you have smaller targets on your schedule, you will be more motivated to work towards them. Bigger goals will discourage you very much, especially when you realize they are not achievable.

To do this, simply divide your core objective into its respective activities. Look at each activity as a sub-objective to the bigger objective. This way, you will have quick wins, and it will motivate you to do more.

3. Switch of all notifications.

Social media and our phones are the most significant sources of distraction. When you hear a social media chat pop, you will be tempted to read it. That will cost you over 5 minutes of your time that you will never recover.

Suppose you are working on a serious project. Consider switching off all your notification. Avoid anything that will pop or interfere with your attention. I prefer putting my phone on silent, and all calls go straight to voice mail to avoid distracting me at my peak working hours.

4. Set clear boundaries at your workplace.

When you are working on tight schedules, you should let everyone understand that you are not available. You can do this by ensuring everyone knows when not to talk to you. During the productive hours of the morning, your mind will be active and will be able to achieve more work than later in the day.

That way, it is easy to block all the productive hours from people. And letting them know that if they don’t have anything important to tell you during those hours, they shouldn’t distract you.

5. Allow yourself some health breaks.

Working for long hours can be counterproductive. You should allow your body and mind to re-charge after a certain period. When working on a lengthy project, it is good to take 15 to 20 minutes breaks between tasks to ensure you are well energized.

Burnout will occur if you try to work for long hours without rest. During this break, avoid checking your phone or email. Take a walk outside, do some exercise or just take a nap. You will come back to your workspace feeling good and psyched up for the next task at hand.

6. Set time limits for particular tasks.

As described above, it is good to divide your tasks into smaller achievable chunks. To make it even better, you should set time limits for the individual activities that lead to the bigger goal. I use the Pomodoro timer to help me concentrate on my work.

How does it work? The Pomodoro timer is based on the concept of dividing your work hours into 25 minutes with 5-minute breaks in between. After four sessions (1 Pomodoro), you take 15 minutes break). This allows you to consistently deliver on the work at hand and reduce the temptation of engaging in other activities within the 25 minutes.

7. Do not reply to request immediately.

To wade of destructions, you should learn to avoid things that are not urgent and important at the same time. For instance, you can get an email that is not necessarily urgent. You can put it away until when you finish your job before you respond to it.

You should not respond to chats and instant messages immediately.

8. Learn to Say No.

Another easy way of avoiding distractions is by learning to say NO. When your in-tray is full of requests, you should delegate some jobs to someone who can do it better. Then use the time to concentrate on the most productive work on your schedule.

When you don’t say no to the continuous incoming requests, they will continue piling. People will prefer sending work your way because they know you will take it all. You should be bold enough and tell them NO when you think you are all swamped up.

9. Stick to your schedule.

This has more to do with self-management. In order to concentrate on your work, you need to have some self-management skills yourself. Learn to put everything that is not important away and work on those things that earn your more.

If you can set your schedule and stick to it no matter what happens, you will avoid distractions and end up achieving a lot in that period. Everything worthwhile should begin with a plan, and you will want space and environment suitable to developing specific goals.

Self-management is all about being goal-oriented, and self-control is being actively aware of what you’re doing and how you’re spending your time. With a better level of self-management, you always know what is required to complete a task and how it was completed.

Furthermore, you want to perform better; therefore you will ask yourself whether the task was completed on schedule and within budget. You also need to know if everyone was involved and satisfied with the outcome.

10. Prioritize your work.

Prioritizing your work will help you stay organized and focused on the essential tasks ahead. Always work on those tasks that are very important. Some tasks will look urgent, but they are not necessary. At the same time, others will be important yet not urgent.

Once you have divided your activities for the say into chunks, prioritize each activity depending on the nature of the specific task. Doing this routinely will help you plan better and delegate or completely ignore those tasks that don’t add to your greater goal.

Prioritization helps you to focus your energy on tasks based on their impact on the overall project. Those activities that don’t carry much weight should be avoided entirely since they will only distract you from achieving your overall goal.

Conclusion

Developing good habits is essential for avoiding distractions, especially when working. Make clear guidelines before beginning your work. You should define your boundaries and availability right from the start. Let your colleagues know the time that you will least wish to be distracted with requests.

I also take personal initiative and self-management of the highest order to remain focused. All these actions are pegged on the plan you make ahead of your job. Therefore, you should put more hours into planning your work than actually doing it. This will help you to foresee the sources of destruction and make early plans on how to avoid them.

Simply take away my mobile smartphone from me whenever that I'm working and you have eliminated over 95% of the distraction that I'm likely to have on the job.

 

[Godspower]

This is what so many persons fail to understand when you over work yourself self, you tend to develop health issues. Are you aware that when you pend over to operate your laptop or computer for hours over the years, it would affect your standing and walking posture?

I think this is bound to happen if you work for long hours without rest. In the case of sitting for a very long time on the system, it might lead to body aches or headaches.

 

[Ghost1]

This is what so many persons fail to understand when you over work yourself self, you tend to develop health issues. Are you aware that when you pend over to operate your laptop or computer for hours over the years, it would affect your standing and walking posture?

Funny thing is the company doesn't care about the long term damages their employees get while working especially in this part of the world.

 

[Shigobad20201]

I wil be talking on always learn to say No by sticking to your schedule, this has affect many people at work and through their inability to say no to some request has cost them their job, imagine someone telling you to embezzle money and you said yes and were caught in the act.

 

[eLdavis]

Funny thing is the company doesn't care about the long term damages their employees get while working especially in this part of the world.

Thats just it, most do not even care how it affects your relationship with even your family, I have seen some who even work during festive periods, some are not even in town at all. All they care about is that you produce results.

 

[kayode10]

Switching off the notification works better for me. Anytime I want to do something serious on my phone I will put it on do not disturb mode you know how to keep away the notifications of the social Media platform away from distracting my attention.

 

[Kaffyfolla]

These are thev ways to avoid distractions from work

1. Create a schedule and stick to it.
2. Take a lunch hour and frequent breaks.
3. Get some outdoor time (if possible)
4. Keep your workspace organized.
5. Turn off desktop and phone notifications.
6. Restrict time on your phone.

 

[jay]

It is very tricky to remain focused in your workplace. Whether you are working from an office set up or your home. There are phone calls to return and emails to respond to, not to mention the allure of sending a short text or WhatsApp message to a friend.

Minor distractions may appear to be innocuous. After all, what is five minutes out of the entire 8 hours? However, frequent interruptions can wreak havoc on your productivity and degrade the quality of your work.

If you find yourself getting distracted at work very often, don’t worry, this article is meant for you. We explore the top ten ways to avoid distraction while working. If you follow them keenly, you will end up leading a more productive life and do more work during the same 8 hours long day period.

1. Associate with productive people at work.

Focus or lack of it is contagious. If you hang around with people who idle around the workplace, they will also drag you into their behavior. And within no time, you will find yourself doing what they are doing. Therefore, it is essential that while at work, you distance yourself from the lazy or idlers.

If you have some work to do, sit by yourself in your office or a quiet corner. Alternatively, you can sit with those busy people, so that they will inspire you to concentrate on your job too.

2. Divide your work into smaller chunks.

Another easy way to avoid distractions is to divide your bigger goals into smaller achievable goals. When you have smaller targets on your schedule, you will be more motivated to work towards them. Bigger goals will discourage you very much, especially when you realize they are not achievable.

To do this, simply divide your core objective into its respective activities. Look at each activity as a sub-objective to the bigger objective. This way, you will have quick wins, and it will motivate you to do more.

3. Switch of all notifications.

Social media and our phones are the most significant sources of distraction. When you hear a social media chat pop, you will be tempted to read it. That will cost you over 5 minutes of your time that you will never recover.

Suppose you are working on a serious project. Consider switching off all your notification. Avoid anything that will pop or interfere with your attention. I prefer putting my phone on silent, and all calls go straight to voice mail to avoid distracting me at my peak working hours.

4. Set clear boundaries at your workplace.

When you are working on tight schedules, you should let everyone understand that you are not available. You can do this by ensuring everyone knows when not to talk to you. During the productive hours of the morning, your mind will be active and will be able to achieve more work than later in the day.

That way, it is easy to block all the productive hours from people. And letting them know that if they don’t have anything important to tell you during those hours, they shouldn’t distract you.

5. Allow yourself some health breaks.

Working for long hours can be counterproductive. You should allow your body and mind to re-charge after a certain period. When working on a lengthy project, it is good to take 15 to 20 minutes breaks between tasks to ensure you are well energized.

Burnout will occur if you try to work for long hours without rest. During this break, avoid checking your phone or email. Take a walk outside, do some exercise or just take a nap. You will come back to your workspace feeling good and psyched up for the next task at hand.

6. Set time limits for particular tasks.

As described above, it is good to divide your tasks into smaller achievable chunks. To make it even better, you should set time limits for the individual activities that lead to the bigger goal. I use the Pomodoro timer to help me concentrate on my work.

How does it work? The Pomodoro timer is based on the concept of dividing your work hours into 25 minutes with 5-minute breaks in between. After four sessions (1 Pomodoro), you take 15 minutes break). This allows you to consistently deliver on the work at hand and reduce the temptation of engaging in other activities within the 25 minutes.

7. Do not reply to request immediately.

To wade of destructions, you should learn to avoid things that are not urgent and important at the same time. For instance, you can get an email that is not necessarily urgent. You can put it away until when you finish your job before you respond to it.

You should not respond to chats and instant messages immediately.

8. Learn to Say No.

Another easy way of avoiding distractions is by learning to say NO. When your in-tray is full of requests, you should delegate some jobs to someone who can do it better. Then use the time to concentrate on the most productive work on your schedule.

When you don’t say no to the continuous incoming requests, they will continue piling. People will prefer sending work your way because they know you will take it all. You should be bold enough and tell them NO when you think you are all swamped up.

9. Stick to your schedule.

This has more to do with self-management. In order to concentrate on your work, you need to have some self-management skills yourself. Learn to put everything that is not important away and work on those things that earn your more.

If you can set your schedule and stick to it no matter what happens, you will avoid distractions and end up achieving a lot in that period. Everything worthwhile should begin with a plan, and you will want space and environment suitable to developing specific goals.

Self-management is all about being goal-oriented, and self-control is being actively aware of what you’re doing and how you’re spending your time. With a better level of self-management, you always know what is required to complete a task and how it was completed.

Furthermore, you want to perform better; therefore you will ask yourself whether the task was completed on schedule and within budget. You also need to know if everyone was involved and satisfied with the outcome.

10. Prioritize your work.

Prioritizing your work will help you stay organized and focused on the essential tasks ahead. Always work on those tasks that are very important. Some tasks will look urgent, but they are not necessary. At the same time, others will be important yet not urgent.

Once you have divided your activities for the say into chunks, prioritize each activity depending on the nature of the specific task. Doing this routinely will help you plan better and delegate or completely ignore those tasks that don’t add to your greater goal.

Prioritization helps you to focus your energy on tasks based on their impact on the overall project. Those activities that don’t carry much weight should be avoided entirely since they will only distract you from achieving your overall goal.

Conclusion

Developing good habits is essential for avoiding distractions, especially when working. Make clear guidelines before beginning your work. You should define your boundaries and availability right from the start. Let your colleagues know the time that you will least wish to be distracted with requests.

I also take personal initiative and self-management of the highest order to remain focused. All these actions are pegged on the plan you make ahead of your job. Therefore, you should put more hours into planning your work than actually doing it. This will help you to foresee the sources of destruction and make early plans on how to avoid them.

Distractions can come in a very different way and as far as I'm concerned one of the easiest way that I get distracted when working is through my smartphone which is why whenever I'm at work I will always try to put my phone in silent.

 

[Godspower]

These are good points. But to me I think technology is a major source of distractions while people try to complete their work. Consider muting your cellphone and any incoming notifications on your smartwatch or other devices. In addition, leave any streaming video services for when you complete your work tasks or when you decide to take a break. Eliminating the technological distractions can keep you focused on your work for a longer period, potentially allowing you to complete your work early.

You have made a very good point. Having a phone close by or using a phone to work online can really be tempting because you might be distracted by social media notifications which will always pop up on the screen.