Staying focused as you return to the workplace

With some offices reopening as restrictions ease, many of us may soon be working from somewhere other than the our makeshift home office. While a return to the office may sound exciting for some, not everyone is thrilled about it.

Studies have shown that most workers want to continue to work from home or a hybrid arrangement after restrictions lift.

A return to the office may also mean a return to shared workspaces, which can take a bit of adjustment, especially after so long working at home. Particularly if your at home office has been fairly quiet.

Open offices can mean more interruptions and noise to contend with which can increase feelings of?stress and anxiety. Research shows that when we get interrupted and have to unexpectedly halt what we’re doing to complete a different task – such as have an impromptu meeting – our memory for the original task can deteriorate. It can make it harder to pick up where we left off when we continue working.

While ignoring interruptions altogether isn’t always possible, there are things you can do to help to keep distractions to a minimum.

Prepare your workspace

Background sound can reduce performance. If you really need to concentrate on a task, think about relocating to a quieter area. If this isn’t possible, then?noise cancelling headphones?may help block out background noise. If nothing else, wearing headphones sends a message to co-workers that you are less open to conversation and therefore less likely to be interrupted.

Plan for interruptions

If you do need to be pulled away, try to find a natural pause in your work.?Dealing with interruptions between tasks is less disruptive than stopping what you are doing in the moment and trying to pick it up again later. You might want to quickly note down key points you had in in your mind, or highlight the email you last actioned. These?cues can help you to pick up where you left off. Even just pausing to make a mental note of what you were about to do next, can be beneficial when you come back to resume your tasks.

Listen to music (depending what you’re doing)

Research shows that it’s easier to work in quieter spaces, but some people feel that listening to music can help them to focus. Design based tasks – such as product design or architecture – requires you to mentally rotate objects, so listening to your favourite music before you start can improve your performance for a short period of time.

For tasks that involve remembering things in order - such as mental arithmetic and reading and writing – your brain will process background music as distraction. It doesn’t matter if it’s music you like or dislike, or even whether the music is loud or quiet –?studies show that you will be more prone to making errors.

Ultimately, heading back into the workplace is going to mean an adjustment period and some level of compromise when it comes to noise levels and interruptions. Many companies are taking a flexible approach to remote and office working, so hopefully you’ll be able to find a balance (and noise level) that suits you.