You’ve got a to-do-list as long as your arm. Emails keep coming through. You need to focus but there are endless distractions. Are you aware of what they are or how you can save yourself some time? Here I highlight some of the most common distractions in the office.

Sometimes it can feel like little progress is being made towards your goals when you’re pulled in several directions. You’re overworked and juggling too many plates, so it’s hard to get things ticked off your list. Scoring a line through that dreaded task feels great, but two more things get added before you’ve even finished what you’ve started. So what’s preventing you from honing your focus?

Distractions at work

At work your time, effort and expertise are sought-after so you need to be efficient to get through your forever growing to-do list. You do your best to stay focused and a small distraction might seem trivial, but time slips away quickly when you’re trying to do too many things at once.

Let’s take a look at those seemingly insignificant distractions:

1. Emails

They’re everywhere you turn. Your mailbox is always full and by the time you’ve properly replied to one, that unread count is even higher. Can you guess how many times you check your emails in an hour? On average 36 times! How on earth is anyone meant to focus when we’re distracted almost every 2 seconds?

2. Meetings

Sometimes your day is full of them and more things get added to your list as a result. Not to mention that you can’t do any of the other work you need to get on with when you’re in them. A huge amount of progress can be made in meetings and they’re valuable when you’re moving in the right direction, but they can be time-consuming and draining when they’re not focused and succinct. Do you know 73% of attendees do other work whilst they’re in meetings? That can’t be productive for anyone; not the attendee who’s got half their attention on their work and the meeting, or the host who’s time and effort goes amiss. Does there really need to be so many of them in the calendar? How could you make better use of that time?

3. People

You know the culprits. We all need some downtime when we’re working but some people love it more than others and it’s a huge distraction for not only you but everyone else on your team. According to a Udemy report, chatty co-workers are rated one of the top distractions at work. It’s hard to focus when there are constant mutterings going on in the background so it’s no surprise that you find it difficult to concentrate.

Hone your focus

We spend 2 hours per day recovering from distractions, that’s just over one-third of your day if you’re working 7 hours. Wouldn’t it be great to save yourself the trouble and frustration of being distracted so you can get on with the things you need to do?

When I’ve spent the day away from other people and only check my emails occasionally, my focus skyrockets and I finish whenever I happen to have on that day (writing content, organising an event or working on a website - see more on the services I offer) much sooner than expected.

There are always going to be distractions in the workplace, nothing happens in a vacuum and sometimes they’re welcome. Taking a break from the task you’re trying to finish can help you focus but distractions become an issue when you feel unfulfilled, frustrated and stressed. Do yourself a favour and take note of what’s taking you away from the task you’re trying to finish.

Minimise distractions

If your mailbox is overwhelming, turn off your desktop and mobile notifications so you can pay full attention to the task you’re doing. You could even use a tool like Inbox When Ready or Boomerang to hide or pause your mailbox when you’re trying to get on with meatier tasks.

If meetings are the issue, try to only accept the ones that are absolutely necessary. Could there be another way to address the topic of the meeting? If all else fails, at the very least when you’re in them make sure there is a clear agenda and goal, in addition to actionable tasks that don’t include scheduling another meeting!

When it comes to people, physically remove yourself from people who distract you. Then set yourself time to take a break and catch up with them when it suits you. That way you get the best of both worlds.

What are you distracted by the most and how do you focus on what you’re meant to be getting on with? I’d love to know what your experience is like and what you do to minimise your distractions at work. If you’re always able to get things done, what’s your secret and how do you stay focused? Leave me your comments and share this blog with anyone that will find it useful.

We spend 2 hours recovering from distractions, here’s 3 distractions keeping you from your work