On a scale of 1-5, how well do you get (and stay) focused at work?
To what degree do you find it difficult to stay mentally focused on any one task for extended periods of time? When was the last time you could point to that you were able to “get in the zone” and be truly productive for an extended period of time? You know…those moments when you look up at the clock after working on a project for a while and say to yourself, “Wow! I can’t believe it. Two hours have gone by and feels like five minutes.”
As I began my morning scripture reading, affirmations, and reflection the other day, I realized how challenged I am. I literally had to reread one particular passage 5-7 times before I could truly focus on the message. I’ll bet you can relate.
Thoughts of what I needed to do, appointments I anticipated, and responsibilities I needed to take care of kept bombarding my mind. It felt like I was experiencing the phenomena that author John Ortberg describes as “the monkeys are jumping around in the trees”. Ha! You know what I’m saying? And that was BEFORE I started my workday.
It’s no secret that we are growing increasingly distracted with the rise of social media, the always-on mentality of email and cell phone communication, and the hurried pace of our lives.
But do we stop to consider the actual cost of distraction and how to protect ourselves against it?
One LinkedIN article set out to cite the true cost of distraction. It says, a “University of Berkeley study reveals the staggering impact of distractions on our productivity. A simple interruption, such as responding to a text message or checking social media, can lead to a loss of focus that takes an average of 8 to 25 minutes to recover from fully. Multiply this by the number of distractions encountered daily, and it becomes evident how significantly our overall productivity is compromised.”
And recent studies have shown that we’re distracted on average every 11 minutes in the workplace. If you do the math, hundreds of hours are lost in productivity each year to distraction and a lack of focus.
And lost productivity leads to missed goals, lost opportunities, disappointment, and even feelings of defeat.
Maintaining focus at work can be challenging, but if you are looking to increase your levels of focus, there are several strategies you can use to get focused and stay on track.
One practical approach is to prioritize your tasks and tackle the most important ones first. This can help you avoid getting sidetracked by less pressing matters. Do you have a to-do list? If so, do you prioritize your to-do list regarding what’s most important – and what ONLY YOU can do? Also, are you taking control of your time as best as possible, or are you allowing others to set your priorities and schedule? These are just a few things to think about.
Another helpful technique is to break up your workday into manageable chunks, with regular breaks in between. This can help you stay energized and focused while also preventing burnout. If you have a difficult task, block out a few distraction-free minutes to tackle it. Setting a stopwatch for between 2 and 5 minutes can help you increase your productivity – especially on tasks you are not looking forward to starting. And then take a break as a reward for doing that difficult task. Breaks give you space to pause, reset, and refocus again. Or how about your email? Do you have a few time-boxed blocks to check, respond to, and organize your inbox instead of letting it drive your day through repetitive, distracted checking? Time-boxing your tasks is a great way to give focus and productivity to what you’ve identified as most important. And time-boxing your breaks will help you from going down digital rabbit holes and doom-scrolling.
Here’s a simple one that’s often overlooked: stay organized and keep your workspace tidy. This is essential, as clutter and disorganization can lead to distractions and decreased productivity. Is your workspace comfortable, functional, distraction-free, and do you have everything you need to do your job within reach? A productive workspace is both organized and functional. What can you do to maximize your workspace (and productivity) today so that you remain focused and on task?
Finally, shut it off. Your mobile device is a portable playground that daily distracts your attention and robs you of focus. And yet we’re addicted to them. Some of the latest research indicates that the average phone user touches their phone 2,617 times daily – with the extreme users touching their phone more than 5,400 times daily! That same study showed that average users spent 145 minutes on their phones daily. Simply put, we’re on our phones a whole lot. Think of all the notifications you get in a single day – how many times you hear that new message notification – or see that little red dot indicating someone’s engaged with your post. Many of us aren’t even aware of how often we pick up our phone when we’re bored, are looking for a quick dopamine hit, or are frustrated with the task in front of us. What if you kept your phone in a shut drawer instead of your pocket and only periodically checked it? What if you turned your phone off before bed – and not on again until you started your day with intentional productivity? What if you just SHUT IT OFF when you want to focus on what’s most important? Can you imagine how much more productive and focused you’d be without your phone constantly bugging you?
By implementing these strategies, you can improve your ability to stay focused and productive.
So if you’re at a 2 or 3 in productivity right now, imagine what it would feel like to finish the week at level 4 or 5.
By applying one or more of these principles, you’ll be well on your way to moving the needle regarding focus and productivity.
And how good would it feel to know that you’re improving your productivity, growing in your ability to focus, and giving adequate time and attention to what’s most important?
Those rewards are worth it, both personally and professionally.
For your growth (and productivity),
Bill
