Chances are you aren’t managing your time right and get too distracted when working. Which leads to doing less work, not being satisfied with the end result, and even working on things that don’t require your attention, at least not right now.
But what you work on and how you do your work are 2 key factors to getting ahead in life and in business.
Luckily, there are easy things you can do to fix that and finally be distraction-free.
Here are some ideas:
1. Make changes in your environment.
Let’s begin with the place you work at.
What’s around you affects your mind and actions, so don’t be surprised if you get nothing done and are surrounded by clutter, your desk is messy, there are all kinds of lists on it, sticky notes with random tasks, and even icons on your laptop.
All that is overwhelming and it blocks creativity and productivity.
It’s time to clear your workspace and optimize it for maximum results.
If you’re working from home, you have full control over this and can design the ideal home office with a few easy hacks.
Do that by removing what’s distracting you from the room, going for the more minimalist look, and even adding design elements that are sure to improve your focus.
Your work environment has a huge impact on your mental clarity, so don’t underestimate the importance of an efficient office setup for doing your work distraction-free.
If your home allows it, you can even turn another part of it into your new creative sanctuary. Here’s an example of how one freelancer turned her garage into her new office space.
If you’re living the real office life though, get rid of anything that’s not related to work or doesn’t motivate you to get stuff done in any way. Think about adding plants, getting a better chair and/or desk if you can, or suggesting some specific measures to be taken during the next meeting that you believe will make all employees more productive.
As a business owner, make sure you know what your employees want in terms of office design, and focus on things like furniture, lightning and even creating spaces for individuals to work together to inspire team work.
2. Do one thing at a time.
If you have many windows open on your computer every time, if you work on more than one project, if you are trying to get a few tasks done at the same time, and if you’re working on improving many aspects of your business simultaneously, you’re going to waste time and energy and end up being unproductive and getting nothing done right.
As studies suggest, our minds just do their best job when focusing on one thing at a time.
That’s the best and only possible way to give an activity or task your full attention. It’s also how you work distraction-free as you eliminate any outer factor that usually has an influence on how you think and behave.
3. Put the headphones on.
Contrary to what you may have heard, sound does impact productivity in a positive way.
You may have seen people with headphones on when working at a coffice, checking out a coworking space, or anywhere else where someone was concentrated on doing some work on their laptop.
Well, they weren’t really enjoying any latest music hits. Some of them might simply have them on to trick their brain into ignoring any noise in the background, but most of the others were either making the most of white noise or using some of the best sound apps for work.
So, these 4 ideas should be enough to encourage you to do something for a more distraction-free workplace today.
What will you start with? What in your current work environment is preventing you from doing focused and better work?