You’ve woken up bright and early in the morning all pumped up to start the big task that you’ve been preparing for.
Ten minutes into the task and your phone beeps. You just received a message from your best friend and ended up chatting for 20 minutes. You mentally scold yourself for spending 20 minutes out of your time.
You go back to your work and after a few minutes, you decide to check your email for a few minutes. Before you realize what is going on you have spent 2 hours watching cat videos on YouTube.
I am sure we all have experienced this one way or the other. You start the task with all determination and before you realize what is going on, you have wasted all day doing nothing productive.
There is hope for us though. In this article, you would read on 8 simple techniques to stop getting distracted easily.
Here are eight simple techniques:
1. TURN OFF ALL NOTIFICATIONS
Smartphones are one of the greatest sources of distractions for our generation. With the advancement in social media, it is very easy to get lost in YouTube, email, Instagram and all other things on the internet.
Even without a smartphone you can also get distracted from a simple SMS.
Before you start any new project or task i recommend that you turn off all notifications. If your case is extreme, i recommend you put the phone on silence or remove the phone totally from your immediate vicinity. Just seeing the light emitting from your phone can urge you to pick it up.
If you are worried that you might miss an important call or text, you can have an intentional break time. You can check your phone for any important messages or text and call them back.
2. TURN OFF THE INTERNET
It is better to limit the sources of distractions. That is one of the most important step to take to stop getting distracted.
If you are working on your computer and the internet is on, it would be very easy for you to get tempted. Turn off the internet before you start the task. That way you don’t fall into temptation.
If there are certain materials or resources you might need online. You can download the materials offline and use it instead of browsing the web.
Except you absolutely need the internet to do your work, I advise that you turn it off the increase focus and productivity.
3. PERFORM BREATHING EXERCISE
What distraction does is alter your workflow. Distraction come in waves and you feel it in the form of urges which can be overwhelming. The urge to check your email, the urge to watch just one episode on Netflix and so on…
The thing about urges is that they might be intense for the first few minutes but if you ride the waves, the feeling would reduce. How can you now fight these urge? By performing breathing exercises. These breathing exercises would help you stop getting distracted easily.
Here is how to perform the exercise: Close your eyes, breathe in for two seconds then breathe out gently for two seconds. Continue to do breathing exercise until the urges completely leaves you.
Breathing exercise for 10 seconds would save you 15 minutes of distraction time.
4. CHECK UP ON YOURSELF
Your source of distraction can be internal as well as external. Try and pinpoint the main reason why you are distracted. Is it anxiety? If you find out the internal source of distress and find a solution, it would be easier for you to stop getting distracted.
5. TAKE BREAKS
All work and no break makes Jack a distracted boy. It is important that you take few minutes of break between work. Take few minutes to relax and replenish your energy. This break would help you to refocus. A short break isn’t just a reward, it helps you reaccess and sharpen your mind.
6. SET A DEADLINE
It would take you about 90 minutes to complete any task that is worth it. Setting a deadline would help you put your mind to the task. If you set a time limit for your workflow, it would be easier for you to stay focused because you would know when to expect the end.
7. START THE DAY EARLY
Starting your day an hour or two before everyone wakes up come with a lot of benefits. If you live with roommates or have a big family, starting your day early gives you time to get things done on time and avoid distractions.
Even at work, starting your day an hour or two before others give you time to get organized. Having an organized workspace help to reduce distractions by at least 50%.
8. GET AT LEAST SIX HOURS SLEEP
When you have a lot of work to do, sleep can be the last thing on your mind. You have realize that for you to stop getting distracted, sleep is very important.
Getting at least six to eight hours of sleep every night is important for you to perform optimally. Research has shown that sleep affects your memory, concentration and brain function. Some symptoms of sleep deprivation includes:
- yawning
- moodiness
- fatigue
- irritability
- depressed mood
- difficulty learning new concepts
- forgetfulness
- inability to concentrate or a “fuzzy” head
- lack of motivation
Here are some tips you can use to help you get to bed early:
- End the day by reading a book.
- Do not take caffeine after 3pm
- Go to bed at night same time everyday.
- Set an alarm for bed time.
In a world where the internet and technology is the order of the day, it is very easy to get distracted. You have to make a conscious effort to ensure that you stay committed to the task you are performing.
I hope these eight steps was beneficial and get you closer to increased productivity.