Thinking Productively About… Distraction

Focus is the brain’s way of zoning in on a single task by filtering out irrelevant input and information. When we are focusing, we can enter flow, that glorious but elusive state where ideas are connecting, information is aligning and clear solutions and answers form.

Distraction is a major obstacle to focus and flow. Distraction occurs when you are drawn into issues and actions instead of fixing your attention on the intended task.

Here is my thinking on how you can overcome various distractions and find your flow.

DISTRACTING TECHNOLOGY

Don’t be a hero and try to overcome the temptation to look at your smart phone when you leave it within eyesight in your work station. Cell phones are full of addictive apps and interactions, and you will have repeated impulses to look at your phone.

PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY. Put it in a drawer, in your bag, in a coat pocket – wherever! But do not leave your personal phone within easy reach. Hiding the phone will reduce the likelihood that you will give in to the impulse to pick it up and get lost in Instagram every three minutes.

DISTRACTING PEOPLE

You have a colleague. You may like them, you may not, but they LOVE to chat. They will come to your cubicle and corner you so you cannot escape their soliloquies.

What to do about these folks? You need to establish boundaries in a cordial way and protect your time. If the conversation endures past initial pleasantries, then be honest about your situation. “I am so glad your party was a blast this weekend, Margaret, but I have got to get this report to our boss Helena before her meeting at 11am.” Or “That’s great news about your root canal, Austin, but I am just preparing for a meeting, so I have to get back to it.”

If you are genuinely fond of the person, you can also suggest a rain check “Can I find you this afternoon for coffee?”

When faced with overly chatty colleagues, it is okay to be polite and assert your need to return to your work.

DISTRACTING INBOX

Do you start your day with grand ambitions, but end up spending your whole day responding to other people’s emails? I am not going to suggest you ignore your email – this is not an option for most of us. But consider blocking off sections of time where you close your email application.

Depending on your role, this could be 15 minutes or 2 hours. However, you will find focus more easily without constant email notifications.

Same goes for office direct messaging apps if you have the option of shutting down messaging functions when you need to hammer out a task.

DISTRACTING TABS

Are you the person who has 20+ tabs open on your internet browser? I was guilty of this particular distraction sin. I used to treat my internet browser like a ‘to-do list’, keeping tabs open to remind me of various tasks. It did not work, and it was not necessary. Now I prefer to keep the tabs to a minimum.

Consider closing down apps or web browser tabs that are not relevant to your current task. This is the digital equivalent of a clean desk. If all you need is one web page and one word document, or one Excel spreadsheet and your database app, close all the unnecessary program.

DISTRACTING THOUGHTS

You have a major presentation to write, and all you can think about is how you need to bake the cake for great-aunt Marigold’s birthday next month.

If an intrusive thought keeps popping up, take a moment to write it on a notepad. Do a brain dump of all the thoughts or to-do items that keep interfering with your ability to focus. This way, your mind will be satisfied that you are not in need of constant reminders.

To be on the safe side, jot these down on paper. You can add them to your phone calendar and email later if need be, but taking out the phone risks intensifying the distractions instead of exorcising them.

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That’s it for now, friends. Wishing you focus & flow!