An eight-hour work day can be filled with dozens of distractions. From emails to meetings to coworkers asking you questions, it can feel almost impossible to get everything you need to done. It’s important to remember that staying focused while you’re at work is a matter of building good habits. Below are five ways that can help you stay focused at work.
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Work in 60-90 minute blocks
At the end of each 60 to 90-minute cycle, take a break. These breaks allow you to reset your focus. Go for a walk, grab lunch or listen to a podcast.
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Put Your Phone on Airplane or Do Not Disturb Mode
Text messages, social media notifications and news alerts can steal your most precious resource at work, time. By putting your phone on airplane or do not disturb mode, you can hide notifications and check them at a later time.
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Limit Background Noise
We can’t control where we sit at work sometimes. If you sit next to a noisy neighbor or the breakroom, consider investing in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. If you can’t get a hold of noise-cancelling headphones, listening to white noise through regular headphones is another great option to cancel out the noise around you.
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Go for a Walk
You may think staying at your desk all day will help you get the most work done, but that isn’t the case. Studies have shown that going for a walk can help increase your focus and energy levels.
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Create a to-do list
Creating a to-do list will provide structure and help you stay on top of deadlines. It also important to make sure that this list is realistic, so that you’re setting yourself up for success. Surprise deadlines or forgetting projects can put a huge damper on productivity, so the more you can stay ahead, the better.
