Healthy Ways To Stay Focused and Productive at Work

Whether we work in a traditional setting or at home we have all experienced times where we lack focus and lose productivity.

It doesn’t matter what the distractions are; there are times we just can’t seem to tune them out.

So how can we stay focused amid the distractions and stay productive? We have put together some tips on staying focused and being more productive at work.

Effortless ways to stay productive and focused even with distractions

We understand that there are times we just can’t focus amid the distractions but here are some tips to help you make those times fewer.

• Potted plants
  – live plants can detoxify the air, lift your spirits, and help you relax
• Create a to-do list
  –mark or put the most important on the top of the list, cross off the items as you finish them. Having a list of things to achieve makes it easier to
  stay focused and produce the items you need.
• Look after your health
  –get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, learn to meditate to help you relax. When you take care of your health and learn to relax the distractions seem
  less distracting especially if your coworkers are noisy at times.
• 
  Eat breakfast
  
  –far too many of us end up skipping the most important meal of the day and then by midday we have run out of energy and even when we have lunch we just
  can’t seem to get back over that hump. Eating a well-balanced breakfast can help keep you focused and energized for your day.
• Do the tasks you hate the most first
  –that one task you just hate to do; get to it first get it out of the way while you are fresh and less stressed from the day.
• Phone calls
  –keep the ones you must take short, if you can screen your calls and only answers those that are important to the project you are working on or an
  upcoming deadline. This will help keep the distraction low.
• Exercise
  –if you exercise you will have
  more energy, reduce stress, and be able to focus better allowing you to be more productive.
• Reduce multitasking
  –you do not need to constantly multitask in fact studies have revealed that multitasking can actually slow you down. It can also lead to mistakes. You
  do not have to do everything at once. Set a time for returning calls, replying to emails, and so on. If you set a specific time for these activities
  you will not have to do them when you should be focused on other tasks.
• Get outside
  –combine fresh air with a walk for exercise will do you good. It can clear your mind, reduce stress, and we all need sunlight.
• Every hour to two hours get away from your desk
  – grab a cup of java or just stretch your legs for a few minutes will actually boost your productivity.
• Turn off notifications
  –email and social media notifications should be turned off; they are too distracting during work. You do not need to cut down on your productivity with
  nonessential notifications.
• Create your own deadlines
  –create your own deadlines and try to beat them, this will help up your productivity and keep you focused on your work.
• One task at a time
  –concentrate on one thing at a time this will also help you stay focused and keep mistakes to a minimum.
• Use a time online
  –get an online timer and set it for 2 hours this will help you make an effort to get up and stretch your legs; get you away from your desk and clear
  your mind for a couple minutes. This helps you when you come back focus on your work and be more productive. Or use online help with your tastks (writing for example). Use review of companies which may be a good help for you.
• Size your tasks
  –large projects can be overwhelming and tiring. Break them down into smaller sections and work on each one. As you accomplish each section you will
  have a feeling of accomplishment and at the same time reduce the size of the project that is left.
• Be tidy
  –keeping your work area and tools tidy provides for more productivity as you do not need to spend time looking for the tools you need. It also helps
  keep you focused since you do not need to split your attention on what you are working on and finding your tools to do the work.
• Sort your email
  –setting up your email with specific folders can help you find things later as well as prioritize your email from urgent, medium importance, and low
  importance. This helps you reply to things that require immediate attention and schedule a time for later to those that are not urgent but require a
  reply or action to be taken.
• When you get stuck; move on
  –undoubtedly we all become stuck on one thing or another at times. When you become stuck move away from your desk, stretch your legs, and come back
  then start on a different task for a while.
• Reduce background noise
  –whether you work in a busy office or at home if the background noise cannot be reduced then use some ambient background noise in headphones to cancel
  out the distracting background noise.
• Know the signs
  –be aware of the signs for yourself when it comes to distractions and being unproductive. If you know the signs you can reduce distractions. If you are
  unsure keep a notebook with you and jot down the things that distract you. Doing this will allow you to see patterns and then make positive changes
  before you become too distracted to do so.
• Decorate your workspace
  –a few personal items can make your workspace cozy and less distracted. Just limit the number of items you place in your workspace as well as the
  colors.

Conclusion

Knowing the things that distract you allows you to use the tips above to change those distractions.

If you cannot reduce or change the distractions then ambient noise can be tried.

Exercise, good diet, and proper sleep also help you be more productive and focused so stop being a zombie at work.