The world is full of distractions and you can easily lose your train of thoughts. It takes an enormous amount of will power to gather your inner strength and keep your focus on the object. Sheer determination is an important tool via which you can harness your ability to get your work done resourcefully. Distractions manage to divert your attention and create a heavy boulder in the ways of success.
It is utterly essential to avoid it if you want to stay focused. Yes, it is not easy to stay on a task but remember it is all about how you handle your focus so be tough and say no to distractions.
1) Be aware of the distractions
Distractions are part and parcel of our life and you will be facing them continuously during every scenario on daily basis. Do not sabotage your own productivity simply take measures to avoid distractions. It is important that you are aware of your surroundings and realise immediately when you are trying to lose your focus. The minute you reach out your hand towards checking your phone, tablet or even diary remember this is not the time for it. Take a step back and make a conscious decision to get back to your work.
Be vigilant in your efforts and as soon as you realize that something is going to steal your attention away remind yourself to get back to reality. Be aware of common distractions and ignore them.
2) Resist procrastination
Some tasks are more difficult than others and people tend to procrastinate so that they will not have to handle them any time sooner. This is a wrong mindset as it can become a habit. You want to avoid distractions then let go the habit of procrastination. This delaying tactics will become ingrained and will prove a serious distraction in your life.
It is important that you become focused and disciplined in your efforts so that you can convince yourself to complete the work in one go without any distractions. Remember you will not get any work done if you are distracted from the onset to the end. Choose responsibility in favour of distractions to meet success in your ventures.
3) Focus consciously
If you are one of those people who gets distracted at the drop of a hat then you are in a serious problem. How will you be able to gain 100% productivity and complete your work in the given time frame? Take a deep breath and make a choice to remain focused no matter what to avoid distractions. You have to apply yourself so that you can complete the job in hand. Remember to put your entire onus towards one object at a time.
No need to multitask as it will sidetrack you from your specific goal. Take baby steps, complete one work, then next and so on. Do not let your mind to wander from one place to another. Consciously stay away from things that will prove distractions to you.
4) Identify the source of distractions
In order to avoid distractions, you need to identify the things which are getting you distracted. Pinpoint the cause to know whether it is internal or external factors. Are you involved with several projects and while completing one forget about the other? Is anxiety causing you to get distracted? Organize your work list and create a schedule to handle the problem. Are external causes the main reason for your flightiness?
Is it an intrusive co-worker or are you prone to reach out for your mobile after every few seconds? Identify the reason and make a plan so that you can accomplish your goals in the given timeline.
5) Move away from distractions
You have identified the source of your distractions but the work is still half done. You cannot achieve full productivity until and unless you remove them from your surroundings. Physically remove them, for instance, place your mobile device a few feet away from you so that your hand does not reach for it after every few minutes, Stop the notifications alert that signal every incoming and distract you from the work.
Go offline to remove yourself from the temptation of social media platforms. Tune yourself out so that you can concentrate on the work in hand and avoid distractions.
6) Maintain an organized workstation
A cluttered desk full of useless things is a recipe for disaster. One simple way to avoid distractions successfully is by cleaning up your workstation and making it orderly. Make your place of work comfortable and organized so that you will be able to handle work efficiently. Throw away unnecessary things in the trash so as to avoid any distractions. Create a planner and place it in front of you as a reminder to complete the work within the timeline.
The few minutes you spend in planning will save ample time during execution so plan ahead. Remember when things are placed in their proper place it gives a feeling of satisfaction and you can work much better to achieve your goal and avoid distractions.
7) Take a break
When you are getting distracted and are unable to regain your focus then it is the time to take a short break. Sometimes our mental facility stops working even if we try to force them to do so. You should realize the importance of a power break. Step back for say fifteen minutes, go for a walk, drink a cup of coffee, simply sit back and relax or give in to the temptation of going through a pleasurable activity like checking up your phone.
Remember to set an alarm beforehand that will remind you that it is a short break and not your exit time. This is the time to take stock, reconsider and refocus to achieve your target.
8) Break it down
When you are prone to distractions it will take a lot of time and energy to regain your focus. Make tasks simpler by breaking them into smaller parts. When you studied in school did you try to learn one chapter at a go or used to divide it into portions so that you could easily learn every part? Try something similar to your work. Divide it into small projects and create a timeline to finish them.
The work will not seem impossible and you will find it attainable. This will increase your concentration level and will help you to avoid distractions.
9) Give yourself a reward
You get distracted because your mind is wondering towards things that you find pleasurable. The work is a necessity whereas the distractions are delightful. If you start starving yourself you will feel hungrier. Try to create a balance that will be a perfect compromise. Praise yourself whenever you complete work and now think about the reward. Decide beforehand of goodie that you will indulge in after completing a set of work. For instance, think of watching a Netflix show for half an hour.
This will soothe your inner beast and will prove a great incentive for completing further work. Create a plan where you will reward yourself with different awards so that you can work diligently without any distractions.
10) Start your day early
According to a recent survey, the best way to avoid distractions is by starting your day one hour earlier than your regular time. Use this time productively. Organize your thoughts and create a plan that will help you in achieving your goals throughout the day. Remember to add rewards on the list whenever you complete a significant amount of work.
Once you are organised and clear in your mindset you will start looking towards the rewards and this will act as a booster and encourage you to work efficiently and productively without distractions.
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