In today’s age of digital distractions and constant work demands, staying focused is tougher than ever. In fact, studies show that the average human even has a shorter attention span than a goldfish. So, if you’re wondering how to stay focused, you aren’t alone.
Thankfully, there are some proven methods to stay focused and productive, no matter what interruptions are thrown your way:
Don’t multitask
Multitasking might sound good on paper, but in reality, it detracts from the workload of everything you do, and destroys your focus. Instead of halfheartedly taking on multiple tasks at once, consider prioritizing.
By tackling the most important things head on, you won’t only stay focused, but you’ll strategically use your depleting mental batteries on what actually matters.
Use tech to fight back
You probably know that one of the biggest enemies of attention is all the notifications, Tweets, and vibrations from your digital world. What you might not realize is that you can also use tech to fight back in the distraction war. There’s a plethora of tools out there to filter your inbox/social media and transform the time you need to spend focusing on notifications into time spent working. For instance, Sane Later is a tool that can automatically save unimportant emails for later in the day.
Harness your emotions
Sometimes, it’s not an iPhone or Facebook notification that hijacks our attention. A burst of negative emotions (like when you have a nasty encounter with a supervisor) can be just as, if not more damaging.
If you’re wondering how to stay focused during times of emotional volatility, consider stepping away from it all and taking a breather. Although it might seems counterintuitive to get away from your work, research shows that a tiny break will allow your emotions to cool, and your focus to rejuvenate. Trust me – that project will still be there after your walk in the park.
Do you have any tips on how to stay focused during the workday? I’d love to hear them!
For more tips, check out my articles in Medium and Inc. Magazine.
