5 Tips to Avoid Distractions at Work
It starts innocently enough: your coworker stops by your desk to see how your weekend went. Four impromptu meetings, three phone calls, and two emergencies later, your workday is almost done! In order to work more efficiently and stay focused, our team of productivity consultants suggests limiting distractions that consistently interrupt you. Here are some tips to help you stay focused:
- Silence your mobile phone – Turn your phone to the vibrate setting and flip it upside-down so pop-up notifications don’t distract you.
- Use headphones to mask background noises – Listening to light music can help drown out unwanted and startling sounds by giving you a consistent white noise. Another benefit is that coworkers may be less likely to interrupt you if they see you have headphones on.
- Post a sign to limit visitors – Try setting focused office hours and posting a sign that says, “Focus Time” on your door to indicate to coworkers that you’d rather not be disturbed.
- Turn off pop-up notifications from email – Take a quick moment to modify your email settings so you don’t receive notifications for each incoming email. They undoubtedly catch your eye while working on your computer, distracting your train of thought or taking you away from your task at hand.
- Plan ahead for social media – Pre-schedule posts whenever possible using a tool like HootSuite or TweetDeck, and then just check it for as little as 20 minutes a day.
What are your biggest distractions during the day? What are your tips for limiting workplace distractions? Share with us!
