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by Vartika Kashyap

Distractions at work are common. No matter how much we crib about them, the fact of the matter is that they are bound to come, especially when we are working in a team. But that does not mean you can simply let these distractions bug you and hamper your productivity.

The most common distractions come in the form of emails, visitors, office gossips, meetings, and the internet. And, all of these things cannot be avoided. The only way to keep yourself productive even when you are surrounded with all these causes of distraction is to fight through these demons.

So, how can you do that? Here are some tips that can help –

  • Maintain a rhythm

If we talk about all at the natural activities around us, we can observe that everything has a set pattern. Nature follows a cycle of day and night. Our body follows a circadian rhythm. There’s a set time for every activity that’s happening around us. But, do we employ that to our work? No!

When you don’t have a planned schedule, you have no idea what’s in store for you at work. But, if you have a task list with things lined up in front of you that you need to accomplish today, you can plan your day without getting distracted with random bursts of work from here and there.

  • Don’t bite off more than you can chew

Everyone likes to be the hero in their team. But, focusing too much on getting popularity can be a big distraction at work. Altruistic behavior is good as long as it does not hamper your productivity. It is good to help your co-workers when they are need, but saying yes to help them when you already have too much in your platter is something that’s going to crush you. After all, letting your work suffer while you were busy helping someone else is of no good. So, before focusing on helping someone else at what they are doing, finish the tasks that are lined up in your priorities list first.

  • Stop screen sucking

Social media, emails and web surfing are the top contributors when we talk about distractions at work. How many times have you checked your phone while reading this post? More than a couple of times I guess. Well that’s exactly what we are talking about here. Technology has brought us to a point where we are glued to screens almost for the entire day.

Social experiments at workplaces show that there is a constant urge amongst employees to check their cellphones after a few minutes, even when there is no notification. And, what starts as a mere urge to check for notifications, ends up with the employee spending minutes scrolling through stuff, which is completely unrelated to the work you are doing.

  • Stay wary of office gossip

Now this is something we all do. I’d like to quote a small example here. While I was writing this post, still pondering over the thoughts of what to include and what not to, one of the colleagues came to my desk. It had happened with me in the past as well. He used to come and strike out a random conversation. By the time the conversation was finished I was left contemplating what was I doing? And, it used to take me quite some time to get my horses running back on the same track where I had left.

But, this time before he could begin I told him straightaway that I was busy doing something urgent and we could talk about this during the break time. By doing so I saved almost an hour of my work time. And, you can do it too.

  • Train your brain

You can switch off your mobile during office hours, or organize your workstation to avoid getting distracted. But, there are certain things, which are beyond your control. Such as the loudmouth employee seated adjacent to your desk who has been talking incessantly. So, how to avoid that? Simple – train your brain.

Practice mindfulness. It can help your brain to focus on what’s important and ward off the unnecessary distractions at work. Try out this simple exercise before you begin your workday – sit upright, relax and close your eyes for the first 10 minutes while sitting at your desk when you reach the office. This simple exercise can prepare your mind to stay focussed throughout the day.

Over the course of time, I have learned to practice and implement ways that have helped me focus more on my work when I am at office. I have tried to share my thoughts for the same with you. I hope these points can help you in fighting your demons of distractions. In case they do, don’t forget to share your experience with me.

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