Ways to Stay Focused – Concentration is Within You.
Michael Kerr, an international business speaker, author and president of Humor at Work says,
There are so many competing demands and expectations during the holidays that it is very easy to get overwhelmed and even burn out
With the holiday season around the corner, quite a times you would be distracted and lose momentum at work. During those times of planning, shopping, travelling, partying, hosting and work, you would feel as if the sack full of work swells up while the time you have to do spare work shrinks. This adds up a lot of stress on people. According to Casey Moore, The Productivity Coach,
Personal stress often affects work performance. It distracts people and diminishes productivity.
During such times people become less productive and lose focus due to lack of motivation and involvement in their personal life. On the other hand having a manager or senior, who is off for a vacation becomes even more troublesome. And if you have kids back home from school, you are definitely foreseeing some challenging times. Here the key is to balance family and work life.
And guess what if you are able to maintain the balance and focus on your work you get a chance to stand out. When you still bring about clients and business to firm during such chaotic times, you get noticed.
So here is what you could do to stay focused: WAYS TO STAY FOCUSED
- Get your working cube organized: If you are a person who has everything at the arms reach, you are in trouble. Remember to have only those things you are working on, around you or on your table. It is advised to keep off all the other things in the drawers or the shelves. Have a small little place for your personal stuff, eatables such that you are just able to grab your stuff when you need, thereby avoiding distractions.
- Make a daily “To Do List” and get your priorities straight: Always make a list of things you would like to do on the particular day. When you first come in the office, try and make a to do list in the digital or print format and get everything out of your mind. When you see all the things that is needed to be done you can arrange things according to your priorities and strike off tasks when they are completed. Try to arrange task as per your interest. usually during the first hour of work you are full of energy so keep all the challenging and difficult task during that time. This would keep you focused and save you a lot of time.
- Commitment is boon but over commitment is a sin: You don’t have to offer people to do their work. Neither are you obligated to go to every party that is being hosted by your colleagues. It is very important to say no when you are already stressed up with your own work. Don’t forget to get good sleep and keep yourself fit. Maintaining the work-life balance might force you to say “NO”. Do not hesitate doing so.
- Self-Evaluate yourself at the day end: This is perhaps another important factor that helps you stay focused. At the end of the day take some time out and check if you were able to complete your tasks. If not, Find out what kept you from doing the task? What did you do differently? What do you plan to do differently tomorrow. Make sure you know yourself. And if you were able to complete your task, KUDOS !, treat yourself with some time off.
- Stay motivated: Its important to stay motivated when you are working. Always ask yourself whether its a holiday today. Work when when you in office and have fun and enjoy while at home. Be positive and spread the same
- Don’t take your work home: In this digital age its almost unthinkable of doing it. However trying to strive for it is definately the best approach. Try and accomplish most of this feat in your office. The idea is to set clear goals which can be completed reasonably and use the inspiration to get out of the door to avoid distraction.
- Remember what vacations are for: It goes as said. Vacations are for enjoyment and to take break from your hectic schedule. Don’t be stressed with work during those time. “Play hard, Work hard.” It is as simple a that.
- Keep your email organised: You are very likely to get a lot of work and personal correspondence. This may include email subscriptions to discounts, blogs and various other websites. With hundreds of mails flocking in your inbox, these could easily distract you for a moment. The best way top is to keep your personal and work email separate. Alternatively keep your mail box organised by keeping mails and sending them to a specific folder (filter them accordingly) . In that way you know which mails are important and which aren’t. And off-course unsubscribe from those emails which really aren’t required. Don’t forget to check your personal only after you finish your daily task.
- Multitasking, Try to do one thing at a time: It is good to if you can multitask. However if you feel you are being pulled into different direction by the work. Try and do one thing at a time. For instance if you have multiple projects, ask your supervisor for assistance or keep some off for some other time. Once again don’t do work and personal things at the same time. Shopping online and having a important conference call at the same time could be catastrophic.
- Better to keep your phone silent: Do you jump every time you hear your phone ring for whatever reasons it does. ? Then perhaps it would be a nice exercise to keep you phone on silent mode at work. Phones can be the most distinctive object that reduces your productivity as well as your colleagues. So, reiterate your phone use. Have check at it when you having a break.
- Keep your computer organised: Put your files for a ongoing project in one folder on the desktop. It is best to keep all the other files, arranged in a folder (as per the project), kept in a drive on your computer.
- Regular Breaks is crucial: It is important to take regular break . Sitting in the office and doing the work is bound to keep you stressed. Always take regular breaks and make sure you have some fresh air in between work.
- Have water at an arm’s length: You need to be hydrated all the time. Your brain is working like a machine in the office, it needs water to cool down. Drinking water is not only healthy but also a good way to refresh yourself. Have water at an arm’s length to stay focused on your work.
- Plan early and schedule your tasks: If you are aware of the fact that you would be taking a week off for a vacation next month, plan and schedule accordingly. Convey the same to your seniors so you are not given work that requires you working when you are on leave. Planning here is important as this would help you to lead the project so that you are not stressed as the vacation time comes nearer.
- The earlier you start the better off you are: When you are given a project to work on, make a timeline and decide your approach. The earlier you start a project, better it would be for you.
- Stay Physically fit to keep yourself mentally fit and stress free: Exercise more and not less. Sleep a bit more , not less. Such activities help you stay physically fit which is reflected directly in your work If you keep yourself fit, your schedule would automatically fall into its place. At the same time keep a check at your diet too.
- Stay away from social networking websites while at work: Stay away from these sites when you are working. News, status and information on your feed are going to distract you a lot if you don’t discipline yourself at work. Login only when you have some extra minutes. And chances are that you might stay longer than you had planned. This would defeat the purpose of staying focused. Hence stay from them as much as you can.
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