Maybe even now, while you are reading this post, you have multiple tabs open on the browser, some social media notifications that require your attention on your mobile phone, the TV in the background and if you think well about want you are going to eat tonight, you notice that you first have to get out right now and go to the supermarket.
In order to work the right way you need concentration and it is virtually impossible to focus on one task when you have several distractions that swirl around your brain.
You just need some tips to limit the mental input and create more attention!
1. Create Adequate Mental Space
As soon as you sit down on your desk to do some kind of work, immediately your brain is attacked by snippets of ideas, pending activities and things to do that require your immediate attention : leave them out of your mind!
Take note on paper of everything that is taking just a little bit of your concentration, such as grocery list, emails to read and answer or any other things to do.
Expel them from your head.
In this way, before you start working, you already have created the conditions to breathe your mind, allowing full concentration.
2. Be Monotasking
We are in the era of multitasking, where there are continuous stimuli and you always need to be connected to social media.
What if our brains were not designed for multitasking?
If you concentrate on several tasks at once, your brain literally begins to rewire itself in function of the multiple stimuli that receives, bringing inversely the attention span to ever lower levels.
Moral of this story?
Don’t be multitasking just because it’s cool to say that, rather try to say to yourself : “Now let’s focus on one thing at a time”!
Even now probably your fingers are jumping from one button to another, or touching your tablet screen, ready to switch from one to another application, reading your email or checking the new photos uploaded by your friends on Facebook.
A solution? The Pomodoro Technique!
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method invented by the italian Francesco Cirillo, which consists to set a timer for an interval of 20, 25 or 30 minutes, watching one simple rule : with this time you are going to do only one thing.
For the more daring, there is a free application to download on FocusBooster to test it by yourself.
3. Break Your Barrier of Attention
You may notice different experiences, but on average it takes about 15-20 minutes to get to focus intensely on one task.
It’s like starting a kind of warm-up routine, required before reaching the peak of concentration.
Sometimes it takes 20 minutes, at other times maybe more, but when you pass this barrier of attention, there is an invisible boundary beyond which nothing hangs around your brain in addition to what you are doing : it is a truly magical moment. 😀
4. Manage Digital Inputs
With all your laptops, tablets, phones and so on, it’s easy to be distracted for a moment.
Checking for a second Facebook or writing just a quick Tweet are examples on how you can lose your valuable concentration.
You are basically trained to automatically respond to technological stimuli (eg. notifications), immediately checking the source.
Well, if you want to do a great work, you can not be slave of the notifications. Then follow the next point.
5. Disable Notifications
Almost every app has some kind of notification system, like a simple figure that shows you how many emails you have to read, or an audible “ding” or even a pop-up of some sort.
Each notification you receive while you are trying to focus on something is like putting someone with an accusing finger pointed constantly on your mind.
Turn off or disable the notifications as far as possible, at least for the period of time necessary to focus on a specific task : it can be really a manna from heaven for your concentration.
6. Manage Your Phone
It’s also a good idea to turn off your mobile phone or switching to silent mode until you complete your task.
You do not want to be disturbed while you reach the peak of your attention!
7. Turn Off Your WiFi
Another way to address the digital distractions is tackling the problem at its source : the internet connection.
Turn off your WiFi while you are working is a simple, but effective strategy.
8. Close the Black Holes
Social media is like a black hole for your attention.
A solution?
There are applications (such as ColdTurkey for Windows or SelfControl for Mac) that can give you a help in order to block access to certain web sites, email servers or other programs for a certain period of time.
Or you can simply clear your browser cookies preventing certain sites remembering your password, forcing you to re-insert it each time : a little trick that can be very effective.
9. Prevent Visual Pollution
Do you have a lot of clutter on your desk?
This kind of visual pollution has a big inhibition to your mind.
It can create a sense of comfort, looking really busy to your boss eyes, but let’s face it , in reality it is only a distraction.
Just try to have at hand only the strictly necessary to the realization of your current job (most of the time a folder, a laptop and your ideas).
10. Beware of Human Interruptions
In general, it can take up to 20 minutes to regain concentration after being interrupted.
Sometimes it may be necessary even a sign on the door of your office, something that indicates “do not disturb” to your colleagues or to your family, if you work at home! 😉
It’s not being anti-social : you just need to claim a short period of time in which you can concentrate without being distracted by external stimuli.
Therefore it is necessary to enjoy the gift of space, time and peace of mind needed to make a meaningful work.
I hope this article has given you some concrete ideas on how to improve your productivity.
Please let me know what you think in the comments below, thanks!
Image courtesy of Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Kaloyan Banev says
February 19, 2014 at 12:46 pmThe guide is excellent, though it can be really tough call, especially if you work at home and have small kids running around you all the time.
Erik Emanuelli says
February 19, 2014 at 5:56 pmEh eh, small kids are a bundle of joy,
but they may decrease your productivity dramatically. 😉
Thanks for commenting, Kaloyan.
Harleena Singh says
February 21, 2014 at 7:31 amHi Erik,
A much needed post indeed 🙂
I think ALL of us are caught with distractions sometime or the other. If it’s not the TV or our cell phones, it’s the noise and the kids around the house – not to mention dogs and cats too who add to it all!
But as they say, when you have to work, you just need to cut away from all such distractions and make place and peace with the surroundings, just with the tips you mentioned. Some people are able to work pretty well even with the distractions around them because they tend to ignore or let it pass – I wonder how!
Yes, closing all the irrelevant tabs on your gadgets, whether computers or laptops and other distractions is the key to being more productive. I just can’t work if there’s noise – my concentration level becomes nil, and that’s in the evenings when kids are around, so I prefer to work during the morning hours.
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice weekend 🙂
Erik Emanuelli says
February 22, 2014 at 11:03 amHi Harleena,
so glad to see you here! 🙂
I guess it much depends on your family situation and where you work.
As you said, some people are able to be productive, even with big noise around them.
Personally, I use earplugs. 😉
They help me stay focused working in front of my pc.
I find mornings too being the part of the day I am more productive.
Thanks for your visit and comment here, Harleena.
Have a fantastic weekend!
James Frost says
February 23, 2014 at 12:13 pmLoved the article.Specially the image where the guy put a sticky note at the back 😀
Turning off the wifi helps a lot to focus& I do it most of the times when the work load is massive.disable the notification is also very helpful as it gets the attention very easily and the point it happened to me while reading the article at least 3 or more than 3 times.
I think the tips will help us to concentrate to our work rather then wasting the time in vain.
Erik Emanuelli says
February 24, 2014 at 9:20 amHi James,
yes, the second image is really funny! 😀
Thanks for your comment here, appreciated!
Stephan says
February 23, 2014 at 2:24 pmHi Erik
Firstly, this is such another great article of yours.
Secondly.i really impress about Monotasking, i have same problems that you mentioned above, many questions at the same time, just like i still can’;t figure the first one out, the second one is ready to launch. omodoro Technique is what exactly i need now.
And thanks so much for your information.
stephan
Erik Emanuelli says
February 24, 2014 at 9:24 amThanks for the kind comment, Stephan.
Naveen says
February 24, 2014 at 4:28 amHi Eric,
You’ve mentioned most valuable points, most of the bloggers face these 2 issues is time management and how to avoid distractions which are the barriers of productivity.
I love your way of presenting this article and the time management app suggestions are awesome.
Thanking you. Have a wonderful day.
Erik Emanuelli says
February 24, 2014 at 9:25 amHi Naveen,
glad you liked the article.
Thanks for commenting! 🙂
Remi Badozi says
March 3, 2014 at 1:34 pmHi Erik
Awesome post…
I love the one about disabling notification. With the advancement of technology, it’s amazing how those bleep noises from our smart phones make us want to stop and check what the notification is!
When you stop what you’re doing to check emails (which most of the times are not worth a millionth of your second!), it kind of break your chain of thoughts and can be very difficult to get back into whatever you were doing before.
Thanks so much for sharing this…. very timely!
Blessings.
Erik Emanuelli says
March 3, 2014 at 2:02 pmHi Remi,
so glad to see you here.
I agree on notifications point.
It’s very useful if you test it!
Sometimes it can be really easy to increase productivity, just following some of the tips explained in this article.
Thanks for your comment, really appreciated! 🙂
Have a fantastic week.
Tania says
March 10, 2014 at 11:08 amAwesome article! And I’ve just set the Focus Booster application on my computer. I hope, it’ll really help me to join my productivity and time together. Thanks!
Erik Emanuelli says
March 10, 2014 at 11:11 amGlad you liked the resources mentioned in this article, Tania! 🙂
Sarmista Aun says
March 12, 2014 at 7:30 amHi Erik,
Awesome post. I do agree with you. Monotasking will increase the efficiency of our work and as result we can submit our work within time.
Erik Emanuelli says
March 12, 2014 at 9:03 amHi Sarmista,
glad you liked the post.
Increasing productivity is a hot topic! 🙂
Sagar Nandwani says
March 16, 2014 at 3:08 amGreat tips. I know lack of productivity is my greatness weakness. Getting better though. These tips will help. Thanks!
Erik Emanuelli says
March 18, 2014 at 12:54 pmThanks for commenting, Sagar.
Aras Androck says
March 18, 2014 at 8:06 amYes. Monotasking is key. Since I suck at multi-tasking.
Erik Emanuelli says
March 18, 2014 at 12:57 pmThat’s right, Aras. 😉
Writer Town says
April 20, 2014 at 6:41 amYou are absolutely right about monotasking. We are indeed in an era of multi-tasking thanks to the vast amount o resources we have at hand. Access to so many things to read, to explore and to ultimately absorb. How can we possibly stay on target?
When it comes to productivity, I use a desktop application by the name of Write or Die. It basically punishes you by deleting your words if you remain idle, or it rewards you with a nice picture if you reach a certain word count, and so on.
Overall, I use it for my website and my every-day business to increase overall productivity.
Thanks Erik.
Erik Emanuelli says
April 21, 2014 at 9:35 amYou mentioned a nice application.
I’ve never heard of it.
It seems very funny and productive at the same time.
Thanks for commenting!
Kuldeep says
July 2, 2014 at 10:52 amNice tips Eric,
I spend most of my time on social media and that is making me unproductive. I’ll try to follow these tips and I hope It will help me to improve productivity.
Thanks for sharing.
Erik Emanuelli says
July 2, 2014 at 11:19 amI hope the above mentioned tips will help to increase your productivity, Kuldeep.
Thanks for commenting!
rohit says
May 1, 2017 at 6:11 pmfantastic article, Good Learning . I Like to implement these points
Erik Emanuelli says
May 3, 2017 at 9:48 amThanks Rohit.
Aditya Singh says
June 16, 2017 at 2:33 pmThis is really nice. Thanks for sharing this useful information and that’s great one.