It seems like nothing causes low productivity more than distractions. They have a way of making us backtrack, or forget something that we had to complete. Yes, there are some things we can not control, like if you have a kid. Or, if someone comes up to you and asks a question.
There are some ways that we can reduce the distractions under our control. The tips may differ for some people, depending on if you work in an office or work from home. There should be a way for you to incorporate one of these into your daily routine.
Set your goals for the day, and have an organized workspace. How to focus is one of the main questions people want answers to. There are natural remedies to help with this whether in the workplace or at home.
Put your phone away and set time limits for certain activities. These will help boost your productivity throughout the day. Lastly, taking breaks is essential to keep the mind focused because the mind can sleep 24 hours a day. There is a lot to look forward to so let’s get started.
Set Your Goals for the Day
Have you ever got up for work and seen all the things on your to-do list and immediately felt intimidated? Having too much on your plate is a real thing, and can cause you to become distracted by unnecessary things.
Your goals for the day do not have to be huge, they can be smaller tasks that complete one goal. Breaking down tasks can have you feeling accomplished once you complete one. For those who want to know how to focus there are also natural ways to do this as well.
Focus patches can help kids and adults when needing a push to focus on particular projects. It can help you to complete one of the goals you set up for yourself and have better intentions of completing them.
Organize Your Work Space
Having an organized workspace can help increase your concentration and stop unwanted distractions. A clutter of papers and folders can distract your eye when working. Especially when you work from home, your desk can contain many household items.
Trash can tend to build up your space if you eat in your office constantly. Open papers you forgot to put away can cause you to jump from one project to another. It is great to have binders and folders for loose papers. Even investing in a cabinet may be useful to your progress.
When building your workplace make sure it is a quiet place, free of distractions. No tv or gaming systems should be present to tempt you. Make sure you have some natural sunlight as well, which will help you be productive.
Can I Keep My Phone?
When working it is important to not have your phone present to you. Although this can be difficult when some jobs require your phone. You may be receiving phone calls all day you have to answer.
If you don’t have a job where a phone is required, it is best to distance yourself from it. Social media has people in a chokehold and you can be distracted for hours. The worst part is that there are numerous social media apps that can occupy your time. Once done with once it will be easy to skip to another.
Another step in this is to turn off your notifications for a certain time period. Notifications are just distractions waiting to happen. If you need help there are apps that help you restrict your phone, just in case you have a moment of weakness.
Set Time Limits
When completing a task it is easy to get stuck on one goal. That is why you should be timing yourself on all your work. It is important to know when you want to start your workday and when you want to end it. This of course goes for those who work at home.
Working for long periods of time is not always good. You can work for eight hours but only be productive for five of those. Having deadlines can be good for you to get tasks done without taking too long.
When you set time limits for yourself it is important to stick with them. If you go against your schedule so easily, it would be easier to get hit by distractions.
Can I Take Breaks?
Taking breaks does not sound like it can help you focus better, but it can. Long hours with no break can be stressful for you mentally.
Nine to five workers are usually given an hour or 30-minute lunch, with one or two 15-minute breaks. This is because corporations realized that tired workers are less productive. Having breaks keeps you refreshed and ready to start work again.
When taking your break, it is important to time yourself as well. If not disciplined, those breaks can easily become huge distractions. If used right it will help you increase your focus.
This is the time you should eat, or have a snack. Having a good healthy snack can also keep you focused on your task ahead.
Conclusion
With so many people working from home now, they are looking for ways to get rid of distractions. Getting rid of distractions can not only help you focus better but can increase your productivity.
Make sure you set your goals for the day and have your workspace organized. To help you focus on these tasks you can use natural focus patches with essential oils. Put your phone away and set time limits on your work. This can help you be productive in short periods of time instead of long drawn-out periods.
Lastly, taking breaks can not only help you focus when it’s time to get to work. They can also give you a chance to refill, with snacks or food. These are not the only ways to eliminate distractions but they are a great start.