If you find yourself distracted, wasting precious time, and unable to focus on your tasks, you’re probably not being as productive at work as you’d like. Whether it’s common distractions in the office or home, or even mental distractions and intrusive thoughts that keep you from doing your best work, it’s easy to lose track of the task at hand when you’re always battling one stimulus. or another.
If you’re feeling this way, it can be helpful to have a few tricks up your sleeve to get you back on track. To share some of their favorite hacks, the members of Council for Young Entrepreneurs each agrees below on a hack or trick they would recommend to find and maintain your focus in the workplace.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Do a mindfulness exercise
One trick or trick I have for getting my focus back on track is taking a break and doing a quick meditation or mindfulness practice. This works well because it allows me to clear my mind and refocus on the task at hand. Taking a few minutes to focus on my breath and ground myself in the present moment allows me to let go of distractions and return to work with renewed energy and focus. This technique works well for me because it helps me relax, reduce stress and improve my concentration and productivity. – Benjamin Royas, All in one SEO
2. Work with productive people
The best trick to getting back on track is working with productive people. Focus is contagious, so working alongside my productive and focused colleagues is always effective in getting me back on track and forgetting about distractions. This ensures less chance of being interrupted. When my colleagues are not focused and they keep interrupting me, I try to set boundaries. I create a productive environment around me to keep myself and the team efficient. – Alex Circei, Waydev
3. Give yourself a reward to look forward to
One way to stay motivated at work is to reward yourself with something you enjoy every day. This can be a small treat, like your favorite candy or coffee, or something bigger, like taking yourself out to dinner. The main thing is to find something that you really like and that energizes you inside. Whatever it is you enjoy, make sure you schedule it into your day so you have something to look forward to. This will help you stay focused and motivated even on days when work is challenging. Moreover, it is a way to show that you are capable of achieving your goals. If you feel good about what you’ve accomplished, you’re more likely to stay motivated in the future. – Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
4. Remove any distractions from your environment
One trick to getting your focus back on track is to create a distraction-free work environment, whether you’re at home or in the office. This can be done by creating a workspace that is free of distractions, such as being surrounded by lots of strange decorations, distractions, and objects, or by going off the internet or social media. When I’m not distracted, I can concentrate on what I’m doing. – Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
5. Complete your ‘Reset Routine’
When I’m not performing at my best, I withdraw and reset my energy levels and mindset, which I do by having a “Restart Routine”. For me, a Restart Routine is an activity that recharges my batteries and feels good. I have a list of activities that fit into this category that I choose from based on my current condition. The list includes activities such as going for a run or going to the spa for a massage, getting a haircut or a manicure or pedicure, buying new gadgets or clothes, or even more mindfulness exercises, such as thinking about all the things I’m thankful for and remembering of the serenity prayer to accept the situation and see what is in my power to change it. Taking this break gives me a different perspective and gives me solutions and ideas. Productivity just follows. – David Henzel, TaskDrive
6. Get some exercise
Do some light physical activity. For me it is a tour through the neighborhood or business park. Activity allows us to both mentally and physically break the attitudes that have led us to be distracted while being relaxed enough to allow for some form of meditation. The truth is that if we see physiological signs of reduced efficiency, we probably haven’t been effective for a while. By creating both physical and mental separation from the tasks at hand, we can then recharge effectively and come back more efficiently than before. Ultimately, working efficiently will allow items to be checked off our list, and taking enough time to recharge will allow you to spend more time maximizing efficiency and productivity. Once you do this enough, you’ll understand your habits and plan your day accordingly. – Liam Leonard, DML Capital
7. Take a short nap
If you’re distracted you’re wasting your time anyway, so why not use it for something to refresh you? Humans are very sensitive to distractions. So it is normal that we lose focus while working. What makes things worse is that when you try to get that focus back, you’ll find it more difficult compared to channeling it the first time. So, whatever the reason you lost focus, take a step back and try not to overdo it. Take a short nap and replenish your energy. It will be much easier for you to get your mojo back with a fresh mind. – Chris Closowski, Simple digital downloads
8. Think about where and who you want to be
I smile at myself and remind myself that I am human. Distractions can happen to me just like anyone else. Then I immediately stop what I’m doing because without undivided attention you don’t grow quality. I leave my workplace, make a cup of coffee and think about where I want to see myself in the next two years. How do I get there? How can I take my business to the next level within this time? I like doing this math. This simple trick motivates me from the inside and inspires me to get back to my computer. There is no way to get rid of distractions. You have to understand them and the psychology behind how to get back from them. There is also no one best trick for dealing with distractions during work hours. Everyone has their own way of dealing with it. – Candice Georgiadis, Digital day
9. Switch to a more fun task
Whenever I find myself distracted and unable to concentrate, I check my to-do list and see if I have a task that’s a little more fun to work on. Some tasks can be boring and monotonous, and working on them can make you more easily distracted by what’s around you. While all the tasks on your to-do list are important and for a reason, prioritizing the ones that pique your interest is a great way to get back in the zone. – Jared Achison, WPForms
10. Take some time off
Short breaks are a great way to refocus and recharge. Taking a break from work, even just for a day or two, can help you feel refreshed and ready to tackle your tasks again. This works so well because it allows you to take a step back from work and come back with fresh eyes. – Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress theme
