How to Reprogram Your Brain to Eliminate Work Distractions

Everyone faces distractions at work from time to time, and it doesn’t matter if you work at the office or remotely. However, the reality is that distractions affect cash flow and operations . Whether it’s a coworker stopping by the desk or a ringing phone, distractions are unavoidable in the workplace. Add in the constant pings of notifications, and you have a recipe for continual interruptions.

These distractions take your attention away from what you need to accomplish and keep you from getting things done efficiently. These disturbances might seem small but add up over time depending on how often they occur. For instance, the average smartphone user checks their cell phone about 63 times a day (yes, it often happens during work hours). Ultimately, this affects work quality and productivity and frustrates teams.

Have you noticed how the complaints from your team has increased regarding all the notifications they get on any given day? There's an app for everything, and the technology that was supposed to simplify our lives seems to give us much more work to stay in touch with every ping, text, and notification that arrives. Moreover, people have become accustomed to immediate replies, so there's continual pressure to stay on top of everything.

Still, it doesn’t mean you have to continue letting distractions get in your way of progress. There are various ways to reprogram your brain to eliminate work distractions so you can get back on track with efficiency and focus whenever they occur again. The following are some tips for eliminating distractions to increase focus and productivity.

Identify What’s Causing the Distraction

This may seem like a strange tip since it may seem obvious. But identifying what’s causing a distraction is the first step to eliminating it. If you notice that you get distracted by something, you can find a solution for that specific issue. Being mindful of what's causing a distraction is essential because it allows you to recognize the problem and find a way to solve it.

Set Clear Goals and Deadlines

You should create clear goals and deadlines for every project you're doing. In other words, when you set to work every day, you should have a plan you want to accomplish by the close of the day. Doing so helps keep you focused and shifts your thinking to try not to get sidetracked by other things. Distractions occur when you don't have clear goals or deadlines for what you want to do.

Commit to a Ritual That Helps You Focus

Sometimes you need to go a step further and commit to a ritual that helps you focus on getting things done. Habits are helpful because they provide a consistent way of doing things that help you develop a productive mindset. For example, you could turn off all notifications on your phone, turn on some music that allows you to stay focused, or even just set a timer for a certain amount of time to stay focused on the task.

Don’t Let Repetitive Tasks Derail You

We all have repetitive tasks that we must do at work, but sometimes these can be a significant distraction. If you find that you have a repetitive work task that's causing you to get distracted, there are a few ways that you can prevent it. For one, block out time. Try blocking time in your calendar for it. Also, set challenges for yourself with a reward. For instance, stay at the task for one hour, at which time you’ll grab yourself a good cup of coffee. ?

Establish a Culture of No-Distractions Working Hours

If you work in an office, you have the potential to influence the culture of your workplace by encouraging a no-distractions rule while you’re working. So, how do you do that? It’s very simple. If you work in an office, you could post a sign in your area that informs people that between such and such time, it’s your focus time. You could also set your notifications and emails off during that time or when you have a project you need to finish.

Break-up Your Day Breaks

If you have a large a big project, it could seem daunting. Another approach is to break up your day by having frequent breaks. Having regular breaks can help you to stay focused, and it also allows you to avoid getting overwhelmed by a large amount of work. It's important to note that breaks don't have to be long. They can be as short as taking a few minutes away from your job to get a drink of water or walk around the office.

Turn Off Your Phone Notifications

If you find that you constantly get distracted by your phone, you could set up your iPhone to Do Not Disturb and do the same on an Android phone . You can also download anti-distraction apps to block incoming calls and texts so that you don't get distracted by your phone. More apps not your thing? You could, of course, turn off your phone’s ringer and place the phone somewhere away from you.

These tips should help you eliminate distractions and get back to focusing on your work. Once you’ve eliminated distractions, ensure they stay gone by creating an environment that helps you stay focused.

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? 2022 Wayne Elsey . All Rights Reserved.