Tips for Avoiding Digital Distractions

There's no denying that in recent years, technology has made life so much easier. The recent pandemic has only boosted the power of digital devices, making it possible to access any aspect of work from anywhere in the world.

On the other hand, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to avoid digital distractions... whether you’re at the dinner table and an email pings or you’re in a meeting, and someone has sent a hilarious meme, digital distractions pull your attention away from where it should be.?

Digital distractions prevent you from enjoying quality time away from work. Remember, just because we have our work at our fingertips, it doesn’t mean we have to slaves to it 24/7. As much as technology can help us at work, it can also slow us down when it comes to all we need to achieve.

Fortunately, we have 9 tips to avoid digital distractions:

#1. Use the various modes available

?The sound of messages doesn’t only distract you. It also distracts those who are working around you, just as much as your colleagues’ constant beeps annoy you. Whether you work alone or with others, make the most of features like Do Not Disturb or Out of Office, or even just put your phone on silence.

#2. Manage your notifications

First of all, decide what notifications are important—to the working day, and what notifications aren’t. Yes, Mom might feel it’s urgent to know if you are coming for dinner at the weekend, but it can wait. Without realizing it, you might have all of your notifications set to ‘always-on’. Check to see which ones you can set for different times of the day, or just turn them off.

#3. Set a time to check your devices

The Pomodoro technique is a great way to structure your time for 25-30 minutes of intense work followed by a short break, normally 5 minutes. Each 25-minute session is known as a Pomodoro. If you string together a few Pomodoros, you can take longer breaks.

It’s during the breaks that you can check your devices but it’s crucial that you don’t get distracted in your break and spend too long on your device. If you’re the type of person who knows you won’t stop, or there will be too many notifications, leave it for a longer break.

#4. Organize your email filters

Unsubscribe to anything that is no longer relevant. You can also set up filters that separate your personal and work emails. This is a great way to make sure your inbox isn’t filled up with emails that are going to distract you and make it easier to find those all-important emails quickly.

#5. Let others know when it is a good time to contact you

Back in the old days when we didn’t have smartphones— or even mobile phones, we would ask when the best time to phone someone would be. Since the beginning of the digital age, we just sent out messages, emails etc in the moment. We are all guilty of it, mainly because we think we will forget later.

Asking clients and colleagues to contact you when possible, during your working hours isn’t rude. Reminding friends and family not to disturb you when you are at work doesn’t mean you don’t love them. It just means that at both work and home, you can be more engaged.

#6. Think about the best time to post on social media

If you give your friends an update or share something that amused you, you are probably going to get likes and comments soon after posting. Many of the social media sites give you the option to schedule a post. So, the next time you want to share, schedule it for when you know the replies won’t distract you.

?#7. Reduce the number of apps you have

?This is a tricky one because some people are on Slack, others are on WhatsApp, then you have Google Docs, Asana, Zoom, and so on. Naturally, the more apps you have, the more notifications you receive. If you don’t use WhatsApp for work, don’t install the desktop version on your laptop. The same applies to all of your apps. Decide the use and where you need them. You don’t need your phone and computer to ping at the same time.

#8. Find a distraction for the distractions

Some people find music helps them to concentrate. Even if it’s not music, white noise can improve focus. It’s surprising how things like a fidget or a stress ball can help your mind remain focused on the task and not wonder what you are missing out on in the digital world.

#9. Out of sight, out of mind

It sounds too easy but if you are eating, regardless of whether it’s with a loved one or a client, put your phone away. The same applies to when you are determined to complete a task in the office, exercising, or just watching TV. As soon as the device is out of sight, it’s amazing how much more engaged you become in the activity at hand.

If you want a job on the Islands, visit our?jobs portal ?to see the latest vacancies.

Are you hiring??Book a Discovery Call ?if you’re hiring and see how we can help.

Actuarial | Audit & Advisory | Corporate Services | Finance | Insolvency & Restructuring | Legal | Regulatory & Compliance | Trusts | US Tax?