Staying Focused in the Face of Distraction

We live in a distracting world—and social media isn’t making that any easier.

Maybe you can relate: You’re trying to get a project finished, and you’re moving along at a brisk pace. Then you hear that all-familiar ping—a new Facebook comment, or an alert to a new post from your favorite blog. Maybe someone’s tweeted at you. Or maybe it’s just an e-mail.

Those little distractions take us out of our work, if only for a moment—and as such, they really add up over the course of the day. We may not complete as much work as we’d hoped to, and the quality of our work may lack focus.

How to Keep Working in an Age of Distraction

The question is, what can you do to be diligent in the face of these distractions?

Consider a few tips.

Keep busy. Maintain a pretty full schedule; if you have an open hour in your calendar, devote it to something like going to the gym, or catching up on e-mail replies. Don’t allow too much down time, because that’s an invitation for distraction!

Practice your skillsets. If part of your job is writing company blog posts, make sure you spend a few minutes writing every single day. Keep those skills sharp; allowing them to fall into disuse will make it harder to stay on your grind.

Forget about multitasking. It just doesn’t work—and study after study confirms it. Close out your Facebook window and turn off your e-mail notifications while you’re trying to get stuff done. Focus on the task at hand; make Facebook and e-mail their own, distinct tasks.

Have a plan. Know what you need to accomplish today, this week, and this month. A clear sense of goals can keep you focused, chugging along and getting your work done as needed.

Clean your desk. It is often said that a disheveled desk is the sign of a creative mind. In reality, a messy desk is a breeding ground for stress and distraction. Take some time to make your desk area fully functional and distraction-free.

Have boundaries for your work day. Cut it off at 6, or whatever time you deem appropriate, and then don’t take your work home with you; give yourself the evening to catch up on family time, leisure, hobbies—and yes, catching up on interesting new blog posts or tweets.

Keep those distractions at bay—and see how your work life improves!

For more actionable workplace skills, don’t forget to check the ACES page!