Staying Focused on Work
It is frustrating to be distracted from work, especially on days when you set out to be extra productive. If you’re working from an office, it can be easy to be distracted by coworkers or whatever is outside your window. From home, there might be even more ways to lose focus, including family members and the numerous household chores you have to get done. Finally, no matter where you are, your phone is almost certainly tempting you all day, especially with the busy world of social media we have access to.
With a job that requires a lot of sitting in front of a computer, we here at LáLew Public Relations understand the antsy feeling that comes from work distractions. You are not alone in trying to figure this problem out while managing your work-life balance. These are resources out there to help you depending on who you are and what the source of your distractions may be. Here’s some advice for staying focused on work throughout the day:
General Workplace Advice
Some focus tips can be applied to many people regardless of industry, work environment or personal attributes. In general, some useful advice to keep your mind on your work include:
Keeping your workstation clean and organized
Creating an hourly work plan
Taking short breaks
Holding yourself accountable to work on only one thing at a time
Keeping your phone in a drawer or anywhere else where you aren’t tempted to look at it
Choosing music to your taste (experiment with this!)
Managing your Health Outside of Work
Your day doesn’t end when you’re done with work. It’s important to focus on your personal well-being no matter where you are or what you’re doing. For both your own sake and work’s sake, here is some advice to take care of yourself while off the clock. Some tips include:
Meditation
Keeping track of your sleep patterns
Routine exercise
Eating healthy
Spending time with friends
Neurodivergent Focus Tips
It’s important to recognize that not everyone’s brains work the same, and that some people simply function and work differently when compared to neurotypical people. This does not make neurodivergent employees more or less productive than anyone else, but it does mean that they may require different methods for remaining focused on work. There is a wonderful article written by an autistic individual at WDC Creative that delves into strategies neurodivergent workers can follow to remain focused. Oskar, the author, shares ideas such as:
Using noise-canceling earbuds
Using fidget toys
Writing everything down
Of course, these strategies are not limited to those diagnosed with conditions, nor are they guaranteed to work for those who are neurodivergent. For everyone, it can be useful to think strategically about how your brain functions, what distracts it and what can be done to hone in on the work you need to focus on throughout the day.