Handling Distraction

We have all been there. You finally have that block of time you need to start on your project - suddenly you hear a knock at the door, a buzz from your phone or your mind just starts wandering. With all the stimuli that we are exposed to everyday, it is very easy to become distracted and unproductive. Here are some ways you can fight the urges we get when distraction rears its ugly head:

1. Re-evaluate your space: Look at your work area. Is it covered in papers, cables, and Legos (like mine is right now)? Do you have distracting things on your desk, like unpaid bills or other mail that you’ve been neglecting? Your workspace could be hindering your ability to focus. Clear your desk of everything but the bare essentials. Weekly, I like to put everything on my desk into a box. As I need an item, I take it out of the box and put back it on my desk. At the end of the week, everything left in the box gets filed or thrown out.  A clean desk will calm your senses and help you focus your mind.
2. Minimize digital distractions: This one is my arch nemesis. Phone-checking, web-surfing, Google News, and social media constantly leads to procrastination. How do I combat these distractions? Fortunately, there’s an app - well, many apps - for that. If an app isn’t your thing, you might consider minimizing screen time altogether. Occasionally “lose” your phone or put it out of reach. Close your e-mail and any unnecessary browser tabs. I promise you won’t miss anything.
3. Protect your time from other people:  You can’t avoid everyone. There will always be drop-ins, e-mails, texts, slack messages, and phone calls. Whether you are working from home or at the office, ask for your space. At our home, we use do not disturb signs as an effective form of communicating the need for focused attention. Letting people know that you need some time alone to focus can be surprisingly effective.
4. Practice mindfulness and meditation: When your mind starts to wander,  practice some meditation and mindfulness. There are good phone apps available for guided meditation. The basic principle is simple: stop, take a deep breath, and use your senses to notice everything around you.  You can’t fix the past, nor can you predict the future, but you do have control over what happens now.
5. Find healthy, time-limited distractions: Sometimes I just have to embrace my distracted mind.   When I can’t shake off it off, I might read a chapter of a book or take a quick walk. Avoid rabbit-hole activities like social media or firing up Netflix. These can quickly eat up your whole day. Don’t use your time to come up with new projects. Doing this will just lead to “productive” procrastination. Keep in mind that taking a break for a few minutes now might prevent you from wasting hours later on.

Distraction happens. But it is what we do after we’ve lost our focus that matters. By being proactive, you can turn the tide of distraction and reclaim your time.  So put up your “do not disturb” sign, put down your phone, and get to work.

If you want more ways to increase your productivity and bring focus to your day, order the Mood and Productivity Journal. This journal is for those who understand better productivity leads to a better mood and a better mood leads to better productivity.

Editor: Peter P. Khalil