Distractions from coworkers are making a triumphant return as businesses reopen. An overwhelming majority of workers (24%) say that their colleagues are the biggest source of distraction for them on the job.
Various workers have returned to the workplace and are adjusting to the various disruptions they were previously able to avoid, such as seeing colleagues they haven’t seen in person for some time. Here is some advice to help you overcome those workplace distractions that are preventing you from keeping focused.
1. Make your work environment conducive to achievement.
If you want to find methods to work more effectively, executive coach and founder of the Pryority Group (a consulting and coaching organization) Henna Pryor recommends to start with your immediate surroundings. Find out what pulls your attention away the most. Keep your phone out of sight if you find yourself reaching for it too often. Invest in some noise-canceling headphones or earphones if you find that workplace sounds are distracting. She warns against depending on self-control alone. Is this the most critical thing you should be doing right now?—that should be your phone’s unique wallpaper, according to Pryor.
2. Disable push alerts
“The most common workplace distractions these days are digital,” remarks Pryor. According to her, “all while we’re on a Zoom call and hammering the mute button before someone hears all of it,” which means that you may be inundated with text messages, Slack notifications, and email alerts without your knowledge. If you want to avoid becoming distracted and start a new task before you complete the one you’re on, disable as many alerts as you can.
3. Figure out which objectives are most important.
Bill Catlette, a partner of the leadership consulting company Contented Cow Partners, and an executive coach, claims that we frequently fail to communicate effectively despite the abundance of means at our disposal. We typically do a dismal job of helping our workers grasp — truly understand — where we’re heading, despite billions spent on internal communications and comms portals placed in every pocket or palm,” he argues. Collaborating with your boss can help you comprehend the significance of your job in relation to the organization’s goals. When you don’t know what you’re working for, it’s hard to care about your work and give it your all.
4. Maximize your adrenaline surges
Throughout the day, you probably feel more or less energised at different points. Sarah Deane, founder and CEO of MEvolution, an organizational consulting business, argues that you should save your most energetic and focused periods for tasks that need maximum attention and inventiveness. Every single one of us follows our own internal circadian cycle. When our energy levels are high, we are able to focus more intently and get more done.
5. Change your mental habits
According to Pryor, getting back into the groove of working in close proximity to other people could need some practice. “The human brain is like a trainable mental muscle. It can be made better with practice.” You can shape your brain to operate in deeper periods of attention with repetition, she adds, but it takes time. So, practice establishing objectives, keeping track of your progress, and evaluating your effectiveness in discouraging and avoiding distractions.
6. Set Up Times to Make Up
It is natural to be excited to see your colleagues and want to catch up if you are just starting off or if you have a hybrid schedule where you aren’t always in the office at the same time. “Unrelated office chatter has taken over again because we’ve missed connection,” Pryor remarks. Set a time limit before you start chatting; for instance, “you have 10 minutes to chat now.” This may help keep small talk to a minimum. You may also plan to meet up at a prearranged time, say, over lunch, coffee, or a little break.
7. Set up time in your work calendar
To get more done in the workplace, Pryor suggests setting aside specified times each day. Use your calendar to set off time for certain activities, including administrative duties or one-on-one chats, taking into consideration your own energy cycles. The Pomodoro Technique is another option; it entails focusing on a single activity for a certain amount of time. She explains that these methods are more practical than attempting to work uninterrupted for lengthy periods of time since they allow you to concentrate on little tasks at a time.
8. Listen to “red light, green light.”
Pryor adds that visual clues might be useful in the workplace as well. Some businesses’ employees have taken to using Post-it notes or colored paper to create a “red, yellow, green” framework on their desks. A digital version may also be made.
9. Be wary of burnout
Burnout makes it hard to be productive, which in turn affects your health and well-being, according to Cara de Lange, creator of Softer Success®, a firm that offers evidence-backed treatments for burnout to organizations. She explains that “quiet quitting” is a sign of burnout. To avoid burnout, learn to notice when you’re becoming weary or irritated and take a break.
10—When possible, delegate
WorkSmart Systems’ head of benefit services Andrea Meyer warns that individuals shouldn’t think they are responsible for every aspect of their lives. The ability to delegate tasks to others is a hallmark of efficient management, not sloth. Instead, she argues that workers may “gain leadership experience and develop skills that will ultimately benefit your company” by being given more responsibility. You may improve your attention and productivity by redistributing your time to activities where you excel.
