Thanks to technology: Now everything is at the tip of our fingers. It is even more compelling to take a sneak peek into your email, send a short WhatsApp or instant message, or the temptation for a quick Snapchat to your friends. Our attention span has become extremely short, and we can easily get distracted at the workplace. The constant distractions at work hamper productivity and cause stress to the employees. So, how do we manage distractions in the workplace and hone our focus? If you are thinking of taking the initiative to create a distraction-free working place, don’t worry!
Here is a list of tech tips to manage distractions at work. Let’s dive in.
What are Tech Distractions?
The technology-based distractions include your smartphone, the internet, and all forms of social media.
Tips on How to Manage Tech Distractions
Distractions can be in many forms: external or internal. For example, gossiping around the office, visiting for tea or snack breaks, or getting distracted by outside noise. The solution to defeating workplace distractions is not to keep technology at bay but to learn to work along with the technology nuisances.
Tip 1: Disable Pop-Up & App Notifications
You cannot focus on a single task while you hear sound interruptions from your smartphone. To combat this problem, turn off all notifications from your social media and mute sound notifications from phone calls and messages. You will notice a boost in your efficiency and productivity.
Tip 2: Schedule Phone & Social Media Usage
the most effective way to limit distractions is to set a schedule for technology usage in your workplace. For example, schedule a time to check your phone and social app notifications; let’s say every hour or 2 hours. Set the alarm that reminds you to take a break and check your phone. Once the designated time ends, resume your work.
Tip 3: Take Breaks from Technology
The over-burden of technology in the work environment can undoubtedly become an interruption instead of a tool. Sometimes, technology acts as a help, and sometimes, it becomes a hindrance.
To increase efficiency and minimize disturbance, plan “technology breaks” where you can effectively take part in the use of technology at determined times to keep up-to-date, then plan “work time” where technology is quieted or stowed away from view. Spare 5 or 10 minutes break every 60 to 90 minutes.
Tip 4: Block Out Office Noise
If you are the one who enjoys listening to music while you work, then you can tune out noise using wireless earphones. On the other hand, if you’re on the other side of the spectrum and need silence during work, noise cancellation headphones could be ideal for you. One way or the other, you’re more averse to being diverted by colleagues if you can’t hear their discussions.
Tip 5: Enable Airplane Mode
You can also set your smartphone on the Airplane Mode to restrict phone calls and message interruptions during specific slots. If doing this gives you anxiety, you can absolve some numbers, for example, those of friends and family or esteemed and significant business partners. You can set “Don’t Disturb” mode on an iPhone to permit your assigned “favorite” contacts to be able to call while hushing others’ calls or messages.
Tip 6: Block Unnecessary Websites
You can stay focussed in your workplace by blocking distracting websites. Many apps and extensions can help you avoid unnecessary websites. Most such applications let you make a blocklist of sites you need to boycott yourself during the specified time. Some of the valuable solutions are StayFocusd (Chrome extension), Cold Turkey (macOS), and Freedom (Chrome extension, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android). These apps also block social media for a specific time.
Wrapping Up
A distraction-free workspace is an employee’s absolute dream. It can help employees stay productive and unleash their true potential. Minor interruptions seem innocuous; however, constant distractions hamper your work efficiency. They can hurt your mental peace. So, you lose your focus and sense of achievement if you are externally or internally distracted. But, you can perfectly handle distractions if you incorporate the tips as mentioned earlier.
