Removing distractions to increase productivity

Are distractions blurring your focus and affecting your productivity? You’re not the only one!

Distractions stop us from achieving our goals in a timely manner. Below are simple ways to eliminate distractions and tackle your to-do list with focus. After all, there is no better feeling than satisfaction at crossing off items on your list!

Here are my top tips for eliminating distractions:

1) Identify habits that undermine your productivity

Write down a list of the items that distract you.
Being consciously aware of the distractions will enable you to create solutions to eliminate them.
Simple habits such as listening to the TV in the background affect your ability to focus and be productive.
If these distractions occur daily or even hourly, completely eliminating them is not realistic. To effectively reduce these distractions, these habits can be ‘pocketed’ into a specific time in your schedule.

2) Declutter the mind

Instead of spending a break aimlessly scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, go for a short walk! Walking outside clears the mind, increases blood flow to the brain and leaves you refreshed, energised and focused.
Concentration music can help increase focus and productivity. Spotify have hundreds of playlists specifically for focus and concentration.
Plan your week! By setting specific targets for each day, productivity is increased and important tasks are effectively tackled!

3) Declutter the computer

Check emails once in the morning and evening. The most effective way to do this is creating a calm box. The signature at the end of the email notifies the receiver: This is a Calm Inbox: email is checked once in the AM and once in the PM.
Clean your desktop by sorting files into neat folders and changing the screensaver to a calm and refreshing image.

The most effective way to tackle these distractions is to recognise them! Once these hindering habits are identified, they can be reduced or even eliminated, enabling you to focus and be productive.

What things do you find distract you? Please SHARE below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

40 Comments

- - mrsdew17 said
  - 30 Jul 2015
    12:09 am
Distractions!! Just so many…and my brain is the biggest! Even my cats walking into the room is enough for me to stop what I’m doing…
- relauncher replied
  
  30 Jul 2015 , 9:42 am
  I recommend you read this…http://bit.ly/1MVohhC. Thanks! 🙂
- - tinakraja said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    10:51 pm
emails, mom sites and TV all distract me like now lol
- relauncher replied
  
  30 Jul 2015 , 9:44 am
  This should help with the “emails” part – http://bit.ly/1I2Seei. Thanks! 🙂
- - mom71809 said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    9:18 pm
I work in an office next to someone who sniffs, everyone eats at their desks except me so the office is full of various competing food odours and people yell across the room – even my boss and even when I am on the phone to a customer. It took me a long time to adjust but it’s the price I pay for getting a job close to home.

- - Carolineb said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    9:05 pm
Good tips. I get distracted easily.

- - mom113055 said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    8:17 pm
this is a useful post that s for sure,dont get distracted just make a list and get rod of what distracts us

- - mom112217 said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    7:29 pm
Good tips,best to organize your time!

- - BellaB said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    4:45 pm
Having a good to do list saves me from being distracted by less important stuff.

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    2:42 pm
I get so distracted and off task especially if I sit down at the computer -_-

- - jenniw said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    12:33 pm
Very timely article for me right now as I’m avoiding work by looking at this website. Must go for a short walk and see if I can get back into being productive 🙂
- relauncher replied
  
  30 Jul 2015 , 9:40 am
  Here’s another interesting article for you..http://bit.ly/1MVohhC on being productive..Thanks!
- - mom74640 said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    11:28 am
Lke it
- relauncher replied
  
  30 Jul 2015 , 9:38 am
  Thanks!
- - mum4107 said
  - 29 Jul 2015
    5:34 am
Great advice. Thank you. It’s mostly my mind being busy that distracts me
- relauncher replied
  
  30 Jul 2015 , 9:28 am
  True..it’s our biggest asset yet also our biggest distraction..I have a post on my website about calming your mind, in case you’d like to read more about it – http://bit.ly/1MVohhC.
  Thanks!