Have you been feeling uninspired at work lately?

Are you finding it arduous to meet the tasks at hand effectively?

Five minutes of distraction and bam! You are left with no idea about where you left off. There goes your productivity down the drain. When you look at your colleagues, you can’t help but wonder how they get so much work done in one day.

According to research, nearly 50% of American employees work only 15 minutes before becoming distracted at the office, while 53% report wasting an hour or more a day because of disruptions.

From constant background noises and overflowing inboxes to feeling exhausted and overloaded – these are just a few of the things that can cause people to lose focus.

However, you can work on staying more productive and getting most out of each day.

Wondering, how to go about it?

Here are a few ways that can help you stay sharp and focused at work.

1. Declutter and Get Organized

Organize your work desk in order to be more focused and flow in the zone.

That family photograph or the box of chocolates can be big distractions and muddle your focus at work. Don’t let these visual distractions divert your attention. Have only what’s necessary on your desk such as your laptop, work diary and other essentials. Don’t forget your water bottle.

Moreover, make sure to neatly pile them on your desk and ensure that they are within your arm’s reach.

2. Break down Big Tasks into Manageable Chunks

A scientific fact suggests that the human brain can only be attentive on a limited amount of information, for a limited period of time.

Handling a huge project can be overwhelming and difficult. ‘Work till you drop’ shouldn’t be the mantra to follow here. In fact, the smartest thing to do would be to plan first, develop strategies and split up the project into small chunks. This way you will be able to accomplish your tasks effectively and on time.

For instance, let’s say you are an agency named Charlotte Web Design and you provide a myriad of web design services. If you’re planning to work on the content of your website, then first plan and list the subjects you plan to write on. Avoid doing everything simultaneously. Go step-by-step.

3. Schedule Email Check and Social Media Sites

According to a survey, 60% of disruptions are caused due to disturbances from cell phones, emails, and social networks. It is best to limit your use of social media sites when at work, lest you should end up thinking about futile matters. Moreover, staying away from them will provide you uninterrupted time to work efficiently.

You’ll be able to remove a majority of distractions by scheduling your email check and use of social media websites. You will, therefore, be able to accomplish your goals sooner than you may have expected.

4. Make To-Do Lists

So, what are the things that need to be accomplished today?

Ask yourself this question before you begin to work and make a to-do list. This way you will be able to stay on track through the day and won’t end up wasting your time figuring out your tasks. A to-do list will provide you with more clarity on your routine tasks.

Ensure to work on the most difficult and challenging tasks during the first-half of the day as that is the period when one feels relatively fresh and energetic.

5. Take Small Breaks and Prevent Procrastination

Of course, you don’t want your brain to burn out. It makes sense to take small breaks between your tasks. Taking more breaks is synonymous with being more productive. However, this doesn’t mean you spend a major chunk of time taking breaks.

Wondering how taking small and quick breaks can help you?

Breaks tend to allow us to regroup our thoughts and focus our attention on the task at hand. Moreover, they help freshen up our mind.

Also, it’s important that you work on one task for a specific period of time. Assign deadlines to the tasks. They will help you stay motivated and focused on your tasks. Moreover, this way you won’t procrastinate, thereby keeping the project humming.

6. Use Technology to Your Advantage

Using social media sites frequently can hinder productivity to a huge extent. However, in several cases where the right technology and software is used, it can work the other way round.

Collaborating technologies like Yammer and Jive Software and communication services such as Skype and Google Hangouts can help you solve problems and complete projects at a relatively rapid pace. To-do list applications such as Evernote and Wunderlist can help you jot down tasks and prioritize them based on your required criteria.

Make sure to use the right software and applications to boost your productivity.

7. Put on Headphones and Get Some Coffee

Continuous and loud background noises at work can make your mind wander. In order to prevent this, consider listening to music while working. Good music can help you stay focussed, motivated and help you sustain your focus through the day. However, make sure that you choose the kind of music that will help increase your output and doesn’t work the other way round.

Want to know another way to increase your alertness at work?

Coffee can be your answer. A little burst of caffeine can amp up your productivity to a great extent.

Conclusion

It is common to be surrounded by a plethora of events and people throughout the day at work. This can, however, distract you and make you lose focus from the task at hand. By following the above-mentioned tips, you will be able to keep distraction at bay and stay productive all day long. It is important for you to be passionate about your work, know your priorities and stick to them. So, what are you waiting for? Implement the above tips in your daily routine, prevent slacking off, and stay super focused.

The post Beating Distraction at Work: Top 7 Tips for Staying Super Focused appeared first on Small Business Can.