Three Quick and Easy Ways to Fight Against Distractions (with Memes)
Whether you work from home, a coffee shop, or in an office setting, distractions linger around every corner. As the day begins, our productivity goals always start high with a prioritized to-do list in one hand and a coffee mug in the other.
However as time moves forward, we begin to lose our punctual prowess and can easily fall victim to distractions (filling your shopping cart on Amazon also counts as a distraction). Here are 3 ways to fight against distractions at work and make better use of your time:
1. Time Block Your Email Addiction
“Progress begins when you acknowledge you have a problem…” Let’s face it, we’re all addicted to email. I’d be highly surprised if email isn’t always actively open on your computer screen or internet browser. That’s because we’ve been programmed to believe that this communication tool is something that needs to be monitored on a 24/7 basis. News flash: it’s not.
The solution: Time block your email usage. Decide on set times throughout the day to check your email, such as 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and so on. The mere thought of incoming emails left unanswered may make you nervous at first, but rest assured–most emails can wait–and the messages that can’t — will always be called in.
2. Limit Context Switching
As discussed in a previous blog post, most employees find it difficult to keep up with an overwhelming amount of messaging channels, now popularly integrated into the corporate team structure. With deadlines approaching, the last thing your intense focus can afford is the intense need to flip between several tabs.
The solution: Unify and conquer your communications. Our team receives all texts, calls, emails and schedule alerts through the same platform. It keeps us all on the same page and saves us the time in needing to check various communication platforms, which 70% of startups struggle with. To sign up for early access, click here.
3. Get More Sleep
You’ve heard it before, but it’s important enough to repeat. Getting a sufficient amount of sleep increases focus throughout the day and decreases your chance of falling victim to social media surfing during work hours. Averaging seven or more hours a night will have you ready to take on whatever the day brings.
Solution: Our team shuts off all work communications after we leave the office. After all, everyone deserves a decent work/life balance! The ability to detach from work and nurture our hobbies and interests individually allows team members to bring new ideas into the office.
I hope you find these tips helpful for fighting distractions at work. Let me know in the comments section if these worked for you and any other tricks you’d like to share!
