How do you deal with distraction? What helps you focus? In other words, what helps you redirect your laser beam of attention onto work?...
Replies18
- Just having a set deadlines (or artificially inventing one) or Pomodoro timers generally do the trick for me.I like the 25min focus / 5min rest split that pomodoro gives me. If you get a digital one, you can tweak it for longer sessions too.
- Some great suggestions there already @Amy Chiniara. Pomodoro timers and full screen mode on MacOS are two other simple but effective ones that work for me.
- Hi Amy,I have recently started to schedule my calendar every Sunday assigning daily time slots with different tasks.The during the week I know what I have to do and my phone reminds me what is next (and what I am not doing). It is a pretty basic trick but puts you in a place where distraction is a choice, that I sometimes take in willingly.Hope this helps!
- @Beta Lucca I LOVE No.2 :-D
- I feel like knowing yourself and when you have the most energy helps. I personnally find it easier to focus in the AM, so I try and do tasks that requires me to focus and think then and leave my afternoon for calls / meetings. When I need to get in the zone, I put my phone away so Im not tempted to look at it and put on some classical music or any type of music that doesn't have lyrics and crack on. Also don't be hard on yourself if you can't, it's better to have a short break and a snack and then to get back at it than to just panic in front of a blank page. I allow myself a break every 2 hours. You can't be laser focused for more than that !
- 1. Music for your brain - I use focusatwill.com and it puts me in the right mood to stay focused2. Go to a cafe (if possible given our current restrictions) with your laptop fully changed and WITHOUT your charger. Set your TO FOCUS list and get it all done before your laptop dies. This is the best "timer" for me.3. Stop what you're trying to do and move your body. Such a great one in WFH times. Dance and sing to your favourite songs or have a shower and put on your fave clothing to "go to work".Hope these help! :D
- Nurafone - big chunky cans version, good coffee, water, chillhop playlist and turn the phone off.
- Decide what is actually 'productive work' and what is 'busy work'. Write down 3 big things you want to accomplish today. Focus on those and don't worry about everything else.
- Exercise and Mozart's Requiem or Depeche Mode (oddly limited work music). If I am flaking out, I take a half-hour yoga break or do a full regular work-out. I easily gain back the time in improved productivity.Also ditto others in starting early. Especially with writing, I find that the first half of the day is better than the last.
- @Alexandra (Lexy) Hearth Music ALWAYS ;-D
- Starting working early in the morning and prioritising tasks. Music is always really helpful too!
- I have a habit of breaking down tasks to the minimum atomic unit. This allows me to strike items off the list as often as possible and gives me a continuous sense of accomplishment and reward.At the same time, I always know exactly what to do next by simply looking at the list. It gives me direction, focus, and a macro and micro sense of what I am doing.You can keep an "atomic list" for different projects, or simply atomise your general to-do list. Whatever works for you.Pen and paper works fine, or I use a simple tool called tweek.so which is something in between a calendar and a to-do list.I don't know if my method exists and is used by others, if it is I would love to read more about it - share resources if you have any :)
- My Yankee candle an audiobook/ podcast/gd music as I draw
- Might be a placebo but solffegio frequencies and binaural beats do the trick for me when I need deep focus.
- Working first thing in the morning before other people are awake - it's always when I get the most done in the shortest time. Then I find music, and the right setting also have a huge impact on my concentration levels, Alexandra x
- Leaving my phone in another room or at least muting it and turning off all notifications, forbidding myself all social media for the time I need to focus on work. All incoming calls or e-mails can wait until I'm finished or at least have a break. Sometimes the right kind of music helps me brainstorm ideas but usually I need complete silence for creative work. So noise cancelling ear plugs are sometimes a neccessity when working from home.When I start I just try to focus on my own breathing, emptying the capacity of my mind. If you work from home as I do, it's a good idea to take a walk before you start working. You conceptually leave your house and go to the office. Even though it might be the same room and you just go around the block it helps to mentally switch to a work mode.
- I listen to music. Nothing with words I can understand, or I start trying to follow them. It also helps cover up the sound of the local roadworks!
- Seems pretty simple but when I realise I'm getting distracted or bored I give my self a SHORT break, turn off any background noises, give myself a checklist + try keep your internet tabs minimal- so no extra ones that clutter your mind. :)
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