Distractions at work have always been present and come in various forms for everyone. You might have your phone lying on the desk, tempting you to scroll mindlessly through social media or to read that message that could wait a little later. A distraction could also come from a co-worker who wants to check in on how you’re doing for the day. So many little things happen throughout our day that we sometimes don’t notice, leading us to lose focus on the tasks that need to be accomplished. In one study, it is said that it takes 23 minutes and 15 seconds to recover from a distraction; multiply this by the number of times you encounter a distraction daily, and you’re met with hours lost. The lack of focus could lead to feeling unaccomplished at the end of the day. Here are a few helpful tips to stay focused:

Plan Ahead

Before your day ends, make sure to plan for the following day. Make use of a to-do list. You can use a digital or a hand-written one, whichever works for you. This list clarifies what needs to be accomplished throughout the day. The list will also help you remember all tasks. Also, list them in priority order so you can focus on the more critical or extensive tasks first. The list will also be a visual indicator of what you’ve done. As you get on with your day and cross-off tasks one by one, you’d be able to stay on track and won’t miss a thing! There’s also something about crossing off things from a to-do list that’s quite satisfying.

Resist the Urge 

It’s easy to get distracted by constant messages or social media notifications when working. Set checking these aside during your breaks. Some phones have a setting wherein you can put them on ‘work mode’ or filter out notifications during work hours. You may set it only to receive important messages and calls from family and friends. Keep the social media off for now.

Breaks Are Important

Taking enough breaks throughout the day will help refresh your mind and gives you time to stretch those legs. Feeling hungry can also lead to losing focus, so it’ll be good to grab a snack or lunch during this time. It’ll be tempting to use your break to do more work, especially during a busy day. Still, it is equally important to set aside time for yourself to continue to work effectively and efficiently throughout the day.

Declutter Your Desk

An organised desk will help clear your mind, as seeing clutter everywhere would feel as though your things are screaming at you for attention. Label drawers and boxes so you know where everything goes and won’t have to scramble around looking for something. Keep a sticky note on your desk to quickly label things as needed.

Be Mindful When Multitasking

Multitasking can make you feel more productive and get more done quickly. It could feel rewarding to answer emails while listening to a webinar and sending messages in between. But sometimes, it is counterproductive, and you may not finish anything in the list you created with the many things you’ve started. Do things in order of priority and get them done one at a time so that your undivided attention is on the task at hand.

Workdays won’t always be perfect. There could be times when an urgent request comes up, or your manager will suddenly call you to a meeting. Give yourself room to breathe, and try not to stress out when this happens. Your to-do list should help you get back on track. There will always be distractions, but remember that there are ways to work through them.