10 Steps to Boost Your Concentration and Beat Distractions

If you are able to stay focused at work, or at school, and on your goals, you’ll be productive, you’ll get things done and you’ll reach your goals in record time.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. If you are constantly distracted or multitasking all the time, you are preventing yourself from reaching the next level.

For the average person working in an office or from home, it’s easy to become distracted. Recent studies shows that nearly 50% of American employees say they work for only 15 minutes before becoming distracted, while 53% report wasting an hour or more a day because of disruptions. From constant noise to overflowing inboxes to feeling fatigued or stressed, almost anything can cause people to lose focus.

The ability to concentrate, the ability to focus all your attention on the task at hand is going to determine how productive you’re going to be and how fast you’re going to achieve your goals. If you’re focused, you’re going to achieve your goals much faster compared to if you’re being distracted, if you’re multitasking, or if your attention is being pulled in different directions.

There are some useful tips that can help people stay focused on their work and make the most of the day:

1. Eat a good breakfast. Studies have found that eating breakfast can improve attention and concentration. A bowl of oatmeal may do more than jump-start metabolism.

2. Meditate. Scientists have discovered that meditation may enhance certain brain functions linked to attention. It can’t hurt to try shutting everything off to get more done in the long run.

3. Eliminate Distractions. We know from science that every single time you face a distraction, it can take you up to 21 minutes to regain your focus. Don’t waste your time. Eliminate or at least reduce distractions as much as possible. Put your phone on vibrate and put it in a different room. Close the door to your room or to your office. Put a “Do not disturb” sign.

4. Work offline. One survey found nearly 60% of disruptions at work come from email, social networks and cell phones. So for tasks that don’t involve the Internet, try using old-fashioned paper and pen — perfect for brainstorming! Put your phone on silent and check email only occasionally (try once every hour). Limit time on social media too.

5. Take little breaks. We live in a society where taking breaks and relaxing is not “cool”. You’re supposed to be “on” 24/7. Getting to the office early, working through lunch and staying late doesn’t necessarily mean getting more stuff done. Short bursts of hard work followed by quick breaks can be more beneficial than never taking a breather, since the brain may just burn out.

6. Do smaller tasks. Some psychologists suggest that our brain works way too hard to process incredible amounts of information. So working on one large project can be overwhelming — like trying to plan a whole event at work in one afternoon. Split up projects into individual tasks so they’re easier to accomplish.

7. Time box. Work on one project for a specific amount of time, rather than working until something is finished. (For ex: write emails until 2 p.m.). This way we know we can work hard until a certain time, and then be able to take a break.

8. Clean up. Anything from Post-Its to pretzels and family photos can become a distraction. Clear off the workspace and have out only what’s needed (laptop, notebook, water bottle — check!) to help stay in the zone.

9. Reward yourself. A little motivation can go a long way. Say, “After I finish this page, I’ll go buy a cookie!”. Watch that to-do list vanish in no time.

10. Wear headphones. At Greatest, we practice the “headphone rule”: no one’s allowed to talk to someone who’s wearing ear gear. It’s a great way to show you’re working on something important and don’t have time to chat. (Sometimes I don’t even have music playing — my secret!)