12 Workplace Distractions and How to Deal

We live in a fast-paced, media driven society and are constantly bombarded everywhere we turn whether at home, on the go, or at work. Here are 12 of the most common distractions and how to deal with them:

• SMARTPHONES. I mean, obviously, this is number 1, right? In the 1970’s a computer with the same power as your smartphone literally took up an entire floor of an office building! Smartphones are an amazing feat of technology for sure! But in this case, it is definitely possible to have too much of a good thing. How to deal:
  • When you’re trying to work, put it on silent, and/or lay it face down so you don’t see every little news, weather and social media update that flashes across your screen.
  • Check it every so often instead of picking it up every time you get a notification. The longer you can go without checking it, the better. How about just on your lunch break and at the end of the day?
• INTERNET. This goes hand in hand with the above in a lot of ways, but if you’re working on a computer, it’s really easy to open a new tab or click an ad and be transported away from the work you were so diligently just doing. Next thing you know, it’s 40 minutes later and your Amazon order will arrive the day after tomorrow. How to deal:
  • There’s the obvious solution of setting boundaries: no non-work related internet activity during work hours. But if your self-discipline proves weak, there are a few tools that can help.
  • Chrome extension “Distract Off”- this is a handy little extension for your Chrome browser where you can set your own limits and it will temporarily block sites you shouldn’t be visiting during work hours. it’s easy to turn off in case your venture is legit.
  • Another method is a bit of a bait-and-switch tactic. Every time you get the urge to click away from what you should be doing, instead, replace the action with a task that needs to be done. Maybe file something, or answer an email, or complete a task from your to-do list.
• SOCIAL MEDIA. Again, this goes hand in hand with the above. The desire to check your social media every time you get a notification can be a very strong pull. But also the urge to post to social media every time a though hits your brain can be a huge distraction! How to deal:
  • First, if you are one of those people that are just wired for social media and you love posting all the time, it might be worth seeing if your talent can be of use to your employer. Instead of classifying this as a distraction, perhaps it could be used to benefit the company. It’s worth a shot!
  • If you’re just one of those (like me), who just likes to scroll along and see what everyone is up to, maybe click on that interesting quiz or slideshow of cute puppies, it’s a problem! Implement the same solutions as in “internet” above.
  • Remove social media sites from your toolbar or turn off notification badges, banners, etc in your phone settings.
• EMAIL. While email is work (for the most part, usually), it can still be an enemy of being productivity when you’re stopping every time a new email comes in. How to deal:
  • Process your emails in batches. Instead of checking every time one comes in, check in intervals, or at least once you have completed the task at hand.
• NOISE. Workplaces can be very noisy. Especially with the open office space concept growing in popularity. How to deal:
  • If re-location isn’t an option, try earbuds or earplugs
• MULTITASKING. Believe it or not, though many of us pride ourselves in how much we can do at once, multitasking is actually proven to be anti-productive. How to deal:
  • Prioritize. Tackle your most important or most urgent tasks first and follow through to completion.
  • Make a list. write down your prioritized items and mark them off as you complete them. A list will help you stay on task and follow through to completion.
• INTERRUPTIONS. Interruptions are inevitable. Some more than others depending on your position and job function. But at any level, interruptions can be a huge distraction. How to deal:
  • Communicate boundaries. Set times that you are available and unavailable.
  • Allow time for interruptions- time that it planned where you are prepared to deal with needs as they come
  • Create a process and procedure for how to deal with distractions so that they can either be dealt with later, or dealt with efficiently and promptly in order to be completed and you can return to your tasks.
• CLUTTER. Clutter can cause your mind to bounce around from one thing to another. things remind us of things, and the less visual distraction, the better. How to deal:
  • Set aside time to clear off your desk
  • Organize your workspace in order to optimize functionality and decrease distraction
  • Implement a system to help you stay organized and manage problem areas
• HUNGER. We’ve all been distracted by hunger at one point or another. It’s hard to focus when your stomach is growling and or your head begins to ache. How to deal:
  • Stay in front of it by keeping a routine of eating at regular times
  • Keep healthy snacks on hand. If you get the munchies, you can eat a small snack to tide you over until you have time to really eat.
• ANXIETY. Roughly 18% of our population have anxiety issues. We live in a culture that runs at a rapid pace and the demands on us seem to be ever-increasing. Feelings of anxiety can make a huge impact on our ability to focus and be productive. How to deal:
  • Mange your anxiety by regularly making time for things you find relaxing. It’s important to rejuvenate so you can refresh and then focus on your work
  • Plan regular breaks for both body and mind
• SHORT ATTENTION SPAN. This is an ever-increasing issue in our society. It’s hard for us to stay engaged and focused for long periods of time. How to deal:
  • Tackle your biggest or highest priority item first. This will create momentum to keep you focused and moving forward
  • Plan regular breaks to keep blood flow going, maintain a clear head, and keep the forward momentum going
• MEETINGS. Did I just hear you say, “YEAH, no kidding!”? Meetings can be a giant waste of time, especially if the meetings get off track, as many meetings tend to do. How to deal:
  • Hold better meetings. I realize this may not be up to you, but if you are able to have any influence or input towards how meetings go, here are a few tips to make meetings more effective:
    • Appoint a leader that can ensure the meeting stays on topic
    • Set a time limit (and stick to it!)
    • Record action items and assign tasks

Being able to deal with distractions in a healthy and effective way increases not only productivity, but quality of work, company morale, and ultimately, the bottom line. For more helpful tools and improvement methods including coaching and training, contact us!