How to Avoid Distractions at Work
It is very easy to fall into the trap of procrastination, or the art of putting tasks off, when you are doing something that you don’t particularly enjoy anyway. However, if you are not careful, you will find that you have wasted whole hours of your day and yet you still haven’t completed important work. You probably won’t be able to avoid procrastination completely, but you can at least cut down on wasted time in the following ways:
Draw up a schedule
If you don’t know exactly what it is that needs doing, you are bound to end up procrastinating, until you suddenly remember you are about to miss a deadline. You need to draw up a schedule so that you know what you need to do by then. This doesn’t need to be a detailed timetable; if a checklist suits you, then that is fine. The point is to ensure that you keep on top of your tasks and complete them in plenty of time. Tick off each task as you complete it so that you can see what you have achieved.
Prioritise
When you have important and difficult tasks to complete, it is tempting to procrastinate by doing the work that comes easiest to you first. However, unless you want to make a bad impression at work, you need to get your priorities right. When drawing up your schedule, make a note of which tasks are the most important and go out of your way to complete those first. If you need help with prioritising, ask your line manager for some advice. There may be in-house time management courses in which you can participate.
Schedule important tasks early in the day
Procrastination can run riot when you are tired, purely because you can’t concentrate properly and are easily distracted. You should work on those tasks that need attention to detail, are important, and are perhaps the tasks you like least as early in the day as possible. Some people just aren’t morning people, so it may not be advisable to start important tasks as soon as you get into the office. However, you certainly shouldn’t leave them until just after lunch when you are sleepy, or last thing in the afternoon.
Allow yourself plenty of breaks
You can only concentrate for so long before you start to lose interest in what you are doing. That is when you will start to procrastinate, simply because your brain needs a rest. Head off procrastination at the pass by taking regular breaks. If you are able to, scheduling a few minutes break every hour or so will help keep you fresh. At the very least, make sure you take your full coffee and lunch breaks. Talk a walk outside if you can, but certainly don’t stay at your desk, staring at all the tasks you still need to do.
Learn what distracts you
If you’re tired, or not enjoying what you’re doing, you will be easily distracted, which is directly linked to procrastination. It is impossible to get rid of all distractions, but you can at least cut down on them in your work environment. Make a note of what is most likely to distract you from your work. For example, if you work with a lot of other colleagues and enjoy chatting to them, you may need to start shutting your door, or making it clear that you are not to be disturbed.
Turn off electronic devices
Few people can get through a day at work without the ping of a new email or a text message. If it is necessary for your work, you may not be able to avoid it. However, most people can afford to turn off electronic devices for a couple of hours while they are trying to concentrate. This is particularly important when it comes to personal messages. You shouldn’t really be dealing with personal issues while at work anyway, but it can be tempting to do so instead of what you really should be doing. Try to wait until you are on a break.
Learning how not to procrastinate can take time and you will need to work at it. However, eventually, you will find yourself managing your time in a much more efficient way.
