These days we are bombarded by distractions, it’s no wonder we are unable to focus.
It has been thoroughly debunked that “multitasking” is something that we can do effectively, so what we need to do in order to achieve our goals is to focus and do one thing at a time. There are several things we can try to help us be able to keep our focus, for example:
- Disable or snooze notifications. If at all possible the best way to take back control of your attention is to disable most notifications. Allowing calls from your immediate family in case of emergency and not much more is an ideal way to maximize your focus
- Keep your workspace organized. Having a cluttered desk distracts us and uses up cognitive energy, having a cluttered computer does the same. Spend some time to tidy it up and see how the order helps concentration.
- Pay attention to only one thing at a time. Many of us use multiple screens or widescreen monitors where you can place windows side by side, this is very useful as long as the windows that you have side by side are related to your current task. Try not to have IM, email or any other distracting apps visible at the same time as you’re working.
- Make sure your working time is free from physical interruptions. If you don’t live by yourself, make sure that your family or housemates know when they shouldn’t interrupt you, and make sure you return the favor.
- Be mindful of your own unique distractions, and try some experiments to see what works and helps you maintain focus for longer.
“Life is long, if you know how to use it.”
— Seneca
Photo by Febe Vanermen on Unsplash