Filter Out the Noise – Be Productive
Online and land-based distractions are everywhere you look. There is no getting away from them. Audio-visual stimuli are difficult to ignore because they are so ubiquitous. Let’s explore the different distractions and measures you can take to increase productivity. Powerful tech tools and resources can go a long way toward optimizing your time and resources.
Avoiding distractions makes it possible to refocus your attention on the tasks and achieve pre-stated objectives. We begin by briefly identifying ten productivity bugbears that need to be factored into the equation.
Social Media Notifications
This is probably the most common type of distraction that people face daily. Whether it’s a new like on Instagram or a Twitter notification, social media can be very addictive. The best way to avoid this type of distraction is to mute all your notifications or, even better, log out of your social media accounts when trying to focus on work.
Emails
Emails can be both a blessing and a curse. They are a great way to stay in touch with colleagues and clients, but they can also be very distracting, especially if you get many of them. One way to avoid email distractions is to set specific times during the day when you will check and answer your emails.
For example, you could check your email first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, and then again at the end of the day. This way, you’re not constantly checking your inbox and getting distracted whenever you get a new message.
Phone Calls
Phone calls can be another big source of workplace distractions, especially if they are personal calls from friends or family members. If possible, try to take all personal calls outside work hours so they don’t interfere with your workday. If you have to take business calls during work hours, try doing so during breaks or when you know you won’t be working on something important that requires all your attention.
Text Messages
Just like phone calls, text messages can also be very distracting, especially from people who aren’t related to work. So again, try to take care of personal texts outside work hours so they don’t interfere with your productivity during the day. If it’s impossible to do this, mute your phone or put it on Do Not Disturb mode so that you’re not constantly getting text notifications throughout the day. This will help you avoid getting distracted by every little ding!
Coworkers Stopping By
Coworkers stopping by is one type of distraction that is often unavoidable. If possible, try wearing headphones as a sign that you are busy and do not want to be disturbed; however, if this is not an option, then politely let them know that now is not a good time. However, offer them an alternative time when it would be better for you to talk.
Noise
Noise comes in many different forms. For example, it could be general office chatter outside or music playing from someone else’s computer speakers. Even if noise isn’t necessarily loud, it can still be disruptive. For example, when trying to concentrate on something, background noise can make it difficult to focus.
Daydreaming
It’s easy to let our minds wander, especially when bored with what we’re doing. Our thoughts might start to race as we think about everything we have to do, or we may start thinking about something that happened in the past. Whatever the case may be, to prevent yourself from daydreaming, try to stay focused on the task at hand, and take frequent breaks.
Hunger and Thirst
Feeling hungry or thirsty can also lead to distraction. When our stomachs grumble, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. Try eating a snack or drinking water before beginning work for the day so that you won’t feel tempted to step away from your desk when hunger strikes.
Personal Grooming
We’ve all been there. You look down at yourself and suddenly realize you have to tuck in your shirt or there is a little something-something in your teeth. Resist the urge to take care of personal grooming issues immediately and wait until you have a break or the end of the day to fix things up. Preferably, spend some time during your break to take care of personal grooming.
Surfing the Web
Last but not least, surfing the web is probably one of the biggest distractions people face today. With so many different websites to explore, it’s not too much of an understatement to identify with expert assessments that the average person checks their phone up to 150 times a day. This is a no-no when you’re trying to be productive.
Remember these top ten distractions a.k.a., productivity killers. Be sure to implement failsafe tools and resources like BlockSite, daily planning, schedule setting, and undistracted workflows to counter them, and keep you on point.
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