Do you spend too much of your days procrastinating? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Trying to stay focused when you are surrounded by distractions isn’t easy, especially if you have too many tasks to complete.
The recent lockdown has highlighted just how difficult it can be to stay productive and focused when there are so many other things going on. However, there are ways to limit distractions and prevent them from interfering with your day.
Here are ways to stay focused even when you’re surrounded by distractions:
Start with Small Tasks
The easiest way to start improving your focus and minimizing distractions is by starting small. This means, setting aside just five minutes for each task you need to complete.
Set five-minute blocks to work on specific tasks throughout the day. During these five minutes, don’t allow yourself to focus on anything else. Ensure you are fully committed to what you are working on for those five minutes alone. Then, once you get used to being able to focus for five minutes at a time, build it up to ten minutes, then fifteen minutes, and so on.
Switch Off Those Notifications
A really simple yet effective way to minimize distractions and improve focus is to turn off your notifications. If your smartphone is constantly beeping and alerting you to social media or news updates, you’re going to find it really difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.
If you’re worried you might miss something, schedule times throughout the day where you can check your social media, emails, or newsfeed. Just don’t allow yourself to get distracted by them with constant notifications.
Ensure You Have a Clean and Organized Working Space
If you find it difficult to focus on work, it could be due to your working environment. Make sure the area where you work is clean and organized. When a room is cluttered, it can really impact your focus and motivation.
Spend a little time cleaning up the area and ensuring you can easily find everything you need. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to concentrate when you’re surrounded by a clean and tidy area.
Get Difficult Tasks Out of the Way First
It can really help to start by completing the most difficult tasks first. Often, when we procrastinate, it is because we are putting off something we don’t enjoy. The longer you put off completing a difficult task, the more you’re going to allow yourself to be distracted. This will affect the quality of your work on the other tasks you perform in the meantime.
Schedule difficult or boring tasks to be completed first and you’ll find this automatically helps you to focus better on those jobs, and you will find yourself flying through the tasks that follow.
It’s not easy avoiding distractions, particularly if you’re working from home. However, if you follow the tips above, you should start to see a major improvement in concentration levels. As with everything worthwhile, it’s about training the mind and that requires you to be patient. You’re going to need to follow the tips above repeatedly until you develop better focus.
