3 Proven Ways to Eliminate Distractions at Work for Your Most Productive Day Yet
Ahhh, handling distractions at work…. A “Code Blue” announced in the hospital setting is because a patient needs immediate medical attention! It’s an urgent and important life or death situation.
What do your own code blues throughout the day look like? Chances are that none are actual life and death situations at work, but in the moment, it may actually feel like it.
An issue, emergency, or someone else’s emergency, can all create angst, and a sudden rush to deal, handle, and cope with it. So what is the best path to handling distractions at work ?
We also have to consider the role that cell phones, social media, and simple common distractions through the work day that can impact our own stress and mental health.
Many employees also ask us these two questions: “How can I avoid online distractions and how can I focus better?”
Unfortunately, there are 3 issues with your own “Code Blues” and handling distractions at work
1) We succumb to the urgent and it trumps the important!
Common workplace distractions are simply a result of succumbing to the urgent. We deal with the issue not because it’s the most important thing, but merely because it’s perceived as urgent. It requires patience.
2) Handling distractions at work takes away from our focus.
The path to productivity is through your focus and staying immersed into the task at hand. Workplace distractions take us away from the moment. We want to and need to get to that highest level of flow and focused work, where we boost productivity because it magically takes off by itself.
This simply cannot happen with common workplace distractions or by handling other issues throughout the day.
3) Our focus and attention is limited.
Taking care of one code blue in our work environment is entirely different than managing five or six of these workplace distractions.
However, during the business day, we don’t know how many or what issues will arise and hence which distractions at work are worth our energy and focus. Once we get into the weeds and handle all the issues and the stop and go of the day, our efficiency, and productivity drops.
And as a result, our focus has waned as well. That’s why we become irritated, tired, and feel like we are trying to play catch up.
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3 Performance Solutions of How To Stop Handling Distractions At Work
1) Know A Real Code Blue
Is it life or death and/or does it need your immediate attention? Does it require you to stop, drop, & roll to make sure this is handled, right now?
The way to focus better is to understand that every urgent situation is NOT a code blue. You’ll have to determine what is a real issue that needs to be handled NOW, or one that can wait a bit. This simple solution to managing interruptions and distractions at work is how to focus better. It’s a way that many hall of famers focused as well.
2) Schedule Your Emergency Room Times To Eliminate Work Distractions
Just as you need to be immersed in your most important tasks of the day, scheduling and blocking off time to handle these distractions in the workplace will greatly enhance your productivity and keep your attention levels at their peak. This is simply the best way on how to focus better at work.
If you’re serious and want coaching, check out the fast video series to help boost productivity, efficiency, and save time.
Schedule and specially plan a few times throughout the day to handle distractions in the workplace and check-in on these issues!
3) The One Minute Rule
These examples of handling distractions at work are tested well with the one-minute rule of focus. If it’s a pressing issue that you won’t be able to mentally let go of until it’s handled, then assess the time needed.
If it takes less than one minute to handle it, then go ahead.
However, just note, few issues and responses actually take less than a minute. This technique is key to answering the question of how to avoid distractions and stay focused.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
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