Think about it: the purpose of push notifications is to interrupt whatever you’re doing and draw your attention to something else. If you work from home, try designating a room in your house as your office to avoid distractions. Yet another way to prevent coworkers from disrupting your work is to shut your office door (if you have one). Put on HeadphonesĮven if you prefer silence, the simple act of putting on headphones can signal to colleagues that they shouldn’t interrupt you. Studies have found that white noise (as opposed to silence) improves new word learning, recognition memory, and the speed of calculations.
Listening to white noise while working might be even better than music. But it’s probably best to do it only if you aren’t new to the type of work you’re doing. So whether listening to music while working is good for your focus might depend on individual preference. The author of that study, Teresa Lesiuk, said that the people who benefit most from music during work are those who aren’t novices but also aren’t experts. The developers also spent more time on tasks than they intended to during the “no music” week. On the other hand, a five-week study of developers at four different companies found that mood and quality of work were at their worst when music was off for one week, compared to the four weeks with music. In one study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the group that had total silence performed better on academic tasks than any of the groups listening to music. It’s debatable whether listening to music improves performance, but if you’re in a noisy work environment with chatter or traffic noise, sometimes it’s better than nothing. Technology isn’t always a bad thing for focus in fact, some apps can help you block distractions. Why? Your brain is actively trying not to reach for your phone.īased on that study, your best bet is to put your smartphone in another room, or at least out of sight. Put Your Phone AwayĪ University of Texas at Austin study found that just having your smartphone within reach-even if it’s turned off- drains your cognitive resources. That way, every time you “Go Serene” within our desktop app, your phone will automatically switch to Do Not Disturb Mode so you can do your work distraction-free. Instead, you can automate this process using Serene. Remembering to put your phone into Do Not Disturb Mode and then take it out again when you’re done working is a hassle.
#Hot to avoid distractions how to#
How to Automatically Silence Your Phone When You “Go Serene” In case of emergencies, configure your phone’s Do Not Disturb Mode settings so that people can still reach you if they’re an important contact or if they call twice in a row.
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To do this on an Android phone, go to Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb.To do this on an iPhone, swipe up from the home screen and tap the crescent moon icon.How to Silence Your Phone Manually – Do Not Disturb Modeįor maximum focus, put your phone in Do Not Disturb mode that way, if you receive a notification, your phone won’t even light up and distract you.
If you use Serene, you can set your single goal for the day and quickly revisit it to make sure you’re on target. And research has shown that you’re more likely to stay committed and succeed when you focus on one goal instead of many. Remembering your most important goal for the day will ensure you make the most of your time. That way, when you get distracted, a glance at your to-do list will help you get back on track. From there, prioritize each task you can do this using the ABC Method. So before you begin work, map out your day by listing every task you need to complete. Studies show that when you have a written plan of action, you’re more productive, and your brain is less burdened. Though we live in a technologically advanced age, the old-fashioned to-do list hasn’t gone out of style. So how can we block interruptions and better manage our time? Below, I’ll detail 15 ways you can avoid distractions and stay focused at work. According to Gloria Mark, a University of California, Irvine, professor who studies interruptions, “it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task.” From chatty colleagues to email notifications, intrusions lurk around every corner, threatening to derail your productivity.Įvery time we get distracted, we pay a price in wasted time. In an ideal world, the office would be a zen zone where you could get your best work done, but the reality is it’s more like a minefield of distractions. How to Avoid Distractions and Stay Focused at Work 15 Ways to Avoid Distractions and Stay Focused
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