THE ability to concentrate and focus is at an all-time low.
The distractions of the world are growing stronger each day. It’s too easy to entertain ourselves on Facebook, Instagram, officemates and the urges to snack, pee, sleep and dream. The ability to ignore distractions is a skill that takes time to develop, but the focus champions actually become champions of their own work.
By improving your ability to focus on your work and saying “No” to the rest, you accomplish more. Here’s how:
1. Get a more comfortable chair. If you spend most of the day seated, be willing to spend some money on a good chair.
Consider how many hours a day you sit at work over several years. This isn’t a place to be stingy. You sit in your work chair more than you watch television or ride in your car. How much did you spend on those things? If you’re comfortable, you’ll be less distracted. A sore back or rear end will cut your productivity and your ability to focus. There are German-made chairs designed with your spine and comfort in mind. Else, stock up on pillows and back support to make work a comfort.
2. Know your priorities. Work on the most important items of business first.
Key in one or two hours every day on your most important tasks. Use the golden hours in the morning to do the most important things. That is when you are most focused and clear headed.
Key in time for useless e-mails at the end of the day when all the big rocks have been checked off your list. Do your most important work when your ability to ignore distractions is the greatest.
3. Use headphones. Not only can you block out the noise of your work neighbors, you can also choose to listen to something that will enhance your concentration.
Choose wisely as some people get distracted by some kinds of music. Classical music is great for creative work, while nature sounds are good for logic and math.
4. Plan Ahead. This allows you to show up to work on time.
It’s hard to get caught up if you show up late to work. It’s also stressful and distracting. Improve your morning routine so you can consistently arrive at work on time lets your brain focus on real work.
5. Eliminate distractions on your computer and phone. Put distracting programs, like Facebook and Snapchat, in the bin where you will have to find it.
Use your personalized home-screen to compliment your productivity, like having a reminder for the things you have to do.
One popular app is called the “pomodoro”, which comes from an Italian dish that takes about twenty minutes. This is a work system where you work for a focused 20 minutes, and have a break for about 5 or 10 minutes, then start again. This guarantees that your 20 minutes is pure and unadulterated productivity. Search it now.
6. Regulate and plan your breaks. Your breaks should be less than your work time, not the other way around.
Tell your officemates that you need to finish something, beg off the lengthy coffee meetings on their private lives, and get to your desk. Use your breaks as incentives, like you can only get a sweet pastry if you finish your report. This should create enough steam to get you going. Give yourself incentives for breaks and punishments for overtime breaks.
7. Keep water and a snack near your desk. You can get up and eat or drink without getting caught up on gossip at the coffee station. Keep your essentials near you.
Do not eat in the same chair or place that you do for work. This tells your body to be hungry when you are there. Shifting could be as easy as standing up and munching away, or turning your chair a certain way every time you eat. This keeps your body in “work mode” when you sit in your desk.
8. Clean up your work area at the end of the day. End the day on a positive note and give yourself the best opportunity to start the following day well.
A cluttered desk is a subconscious distraction to some. You can spend hours cleaning and no time working. Keep everything in its proper place so you don’t waste time looking for things or get distracted deciding what you want to throw and keep.
Studies have shown that those in an office environment only spend a few hours each day doing productive work. The rest of the time is spent on nonessential activities and things like getting coffee, talking with a cubicle mate and playing on the Internet. This is for most people.
If you want to be a focus champion, you can use the time they slack off to get ahead and rise above the crowd of mediocrity.
****
Sherlyn Kim is a certified international etiquette consultant and trainer and speaks on “The Professionals and Leaders Paradigm Podcast.” The views Kim expressed in this contributed column do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror’s.