{"id":34853,"date":"2016-05-28t09:27:35","date_gmt":"2016-05-28t13:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.deco-dalles.com\/?p=34853"},"modified":"2024-08-01t16:08:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01t20:08:58","slug":"7-strategies-to-stay-focused","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.deco-dalles.com\/7-strategies-to-stay-focused\/","title":{"rendered":"7 strategies to stay focused at work"},"content":{"rendered":"

staying focused at work can become a difficult task when you workplace is\u00a0hectic and chaotic.\u00a0yes, it does come with the territory – loud equipment, people walking by, loud discussions, deadlines, busy schedules, and clutter, but\u00a0all of\u00a0that can be cultivated so that it doesn\u2019t have to stress you out. even the\u00a0slightest changes can\u00a0become leveraged strategies to stay focused when your workplace isn’t zen.<\/p>\n

according to a 2015 study conducted by plantronics<\/a>, office noise <\/em>has an adverse effect on office workers and the quality of their work. furthermore, open office environments are causing serious noise challenges for individuals and their colleagues, undermining productivity<\/em>.<\/p>\n

so how do they focus on work when\u00a0the environment is chaos like disneyland on friday night? to begin with, roughly\u00a060%<\/strong> of the respondents in this research stated that listening to music<\/strong> with a headset helps to minimize the noise and allow for more genuine focus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

maybe you’re like me and find music is more distracting than helpful to get my zen on.<\/p>\n

well then i’ve got more strategies you can\u00a0try.<\/p>\n

7 strategies to stay focused at work<\/h2>\n

1. schedule a meeting with yourself<\/h3>\n

by scheduling a \u201cmeeting\u201d with yourself you prep your brain in advance for \u2018focus\u2019 time. this strategy to stay focused can either be done to reorient\u00a0your priorities by making a list of tasks that needs to be completed based on importance or by having a meeting with yourself where you focus on one project at hand. this time that you set aside can help take the pressure off and allow you to get the most urgent things done quickly rather than focusing on smaller tasks. scheduling some time to \u2018meet\u2019 with yourself will increase productivity because you are more organized and ready to tackle your work with a clear mind.<\/p>\n

2. shift into low gear and stay there<\/h3>\n

put yourself in a mindset where you won\u2019t become overwhelmed with moving from one urgent tasks to the next. work on the smaller or important tasks first thing in the morning or after lunch before you dive into the urgent tasks. it\u2019s important to give yourself plenty of time. working in short bursts can be a valuable tactic to implement right before you get deep into the urgent work.<\/p>\n

3. take short breaks\"strategies<\/h3>\n

go on a short walk outside, mediate, read, or do something that can help relax your mind and get your work flow going. short breaks can help shift your mind into a more creative mode where you can start thinking strategically. instead of committing to working hours straight which can be overwhelming, tell yourself that you will work for 25\u00a0minutes and then take a short break to refocus and start again if needed. this is called the pomodoro technique<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. designate a place for focusing<\/h3>\n

create your space. find a location that is comfortable for you to work. for some this is difficult to do but for others if you have the option it\u2019s a great way to start fresh. it could be at a coffee shop, booking a conference room, or working from home. for example, avoid working on non-urgent projects when you\u2019re working in a conference room can help train your brain in advance on what it needs to focus on.\u00a0by associating a certain location with a project, getting work done can become easier and less overwhelming. advanced preparation of your mind can be very helpful at achieving success.<\/p>\n

5. step away from your computer<\/h3>\n

this may not be practical for most people as computers are essential, but just like associating a location with mental activity, being in front of a screen can unconsciously influence a certain style of thinking and can be more of a distraction. sometimes going old school is the best way to do it. grab a white board and draw or jot down your ideas. by not having the distractions of the computer or internet this can help you concentrate only on the task at hand and help you reach your goal faster. some\u00a0strategies to stay focused<\/a> are simple and nothing could be easier than taking a break.<\/p>\n

6. toggle between the important and the urgent<\/h3>\n

if you have numerous deadlines coming up all at once and don\u2019t know where to start, toggling between tasks may be something to look into. this can be done by completing a major step in an urgent task and then doing the same on a smaller one which can help get the ball rolling. although this may not be an ideal way to complete projects, it can help get you started. of course, you’ll want to keep moving so you avoid decision fatigue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

in step 3 the pomodoro technique was mentioned. this could also be implemented here. you could work on an urgent project for about 30 minutes, take a short 10 minutes break and when you come back start a less-urgent task for another 30 minutes and continue to rotate until completion.<\/p>\n

7. enlist positive peer pressure<\/h3>\n

the final strategy is to recruit a colleague to hold you accountable. in a busy environment, we\u2019ve established that it can be hard to focus and by having someone who can hold you responsible can help drive you to tackle those urgent projects right away. another option would be to set-up various follow up meetings with your boss (making sure they are effective meetings<\/a>) to present status updates on the project. by being held accountable it can motivate you to get things done no matter how hectic it can be.<\/p>\n

just because your desk is a mess and your schedule is packed, you don\u2019t have to feel overwhelmed. by implementing these 7 strategies or even just one, you\u2019re bound to be less stressed. just take a deep breath and once you\u2019re mind is at peace and your projects are organized you can have a more productive work vibe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

what strategies to stay focused do you use in your hectic workplace environment? share your tactics and help out your fellow professionals to reach that state of focus too.<\/p>\n

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seven strategies for regaining your focus in a hectic workplace | lifehacker<\/a><\/p>\n

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