Introduction
I know, I know. You’re tired of hearing about how to stay focused and productive at work. That’s fine! It’s a complicated topic to write about because there are so many different ways that people can get distracted from their work. But if you want to be more productive in your job, then it’s time to stop being distracted by all the other things going on in life. So here are five tools that might help:
Get rid of clutter.
- Get rid of clutter.
You need a spot where you can focus on your work without distractions, and this is especially important if you’re writing or doodling while working. You could use an area in your bedroom or living room, but make sure it’s free from clutter, so there’s no danger of putting off what needs to be done because something else is distracting! A dedicated space will help keep things organized and eliminate any unnecessary items that might take away from the task.
- Use a planner/journaling tool such as keeping track of daily tasks with a calendar app; writing down all relevant information about deadlines and upcoming events; using an electronic organizer like Trello (which allows users to create lists), Evernote (which lets people store documents), or Basecamp (which provides management tools).
- Develop a habit of setting aside time every day precisely for working on projects — even if just 30 minutes! This helps ensure that when they start feeling overwhelmed by the piles on their desktops they remember how much harder those tasks would seem without regular breaks throughout the day
Set a timer.
Setting a timer is one of the most powerful ways to help you stay on task. If you’re working on something that requires focus, such as writing an essay or editing photos, using a timer will help keep your mind focused on what needs to be done and give you time limits for each step.
If it’s possible for us humans (or at least some of us) to get distracted by other things while working, setting a timer can help break up those distractions so we don’t lose track of where our work is in relation to others. This can also be useful if there are multiple tasks being worked on at once — forking over one thing doesn’t mean we have time for another thing yet!
Setting up reminders throughout the day can help remind us when certain deadlines are approaching so we don’t forget about them altogether (think: “I’ll take care of this tomorrow”).
Prioritize your work.
- Prioritize your work.
There are three main ways to prioritize tasks: based on importance, urgency and value. The most important tasks should be given the highest priority while the least important ones get the lowest priority. A good way to determine these values is by using a scoring system (again, like Weighted Average) that takes into account your own personal goals as well as the relative urgency and value of each task in comparison with others’ goals.
- Prioritize according to what you can realistically do in a day or week (or even month). If there’s something that seems like it would take too long to complete — like writing an essay — you may want t move this task up on your list because there’s no point in putting yourself under stress when it comes down simply getting started!
Take breaks.
Take breaks.
It’s no secret that the best way to stay on task is to give yourself a break every 30 minutes or so. But what exactly does that mean? The ideal time for taking a break varies depending on your schedule and lifestyle, but we recommend at least five minutes in duration: long enough to do something else other than what you’re working on — but not so long that it becomes procrastination by default (and then again: if you’ve been working for an hour straight, chances are good that no matter how many times you tell yourself “just five more minutes,” those 5 will feel like 10).
Use music to keep you focused.
Music can be used to help you focus, stay motivated and block out distractions. It’s a great way to keep your mind in the game when you need it most. So use this tool!
- Use music as a distraction: If there are no rules or deadlines on your project, then any audio that isn’t related directly to what you’re doing will help keep your attention on task longer. This includes background noise (like traffic) and songs from other projects/tasks that have nothing to do with this particular task at hand.
- Use music as motivation: If there are deadlines associated with working on a project, then having something motivating playing in the background can help keep employees focused and motivated during their workday — especially those who may not get enough sleep at night because they’re too busy working through lunchtime or after hours into early morning hours of their next day’s schedule!
It’s time to stop being distracted and get stuff done!
It’s time to stop being distracted and get stuff done! To help you accomplish this, we’ve put together a list of tools that will keep you focused on the task at hand. These tips can be applied to any area of your life — from work and school, to cooking and cleaning.
Conclusion
I hope these tips have given you some ideas for how to stay on task. If you’re still having trouble with getting your work done, then it’s time to revisit your goals and find some new ways to achieve them.
