Three ways to minimise distractions and interruptions
Distractions are a part of everyday life and impossible to completely avoid. However, it's important to minimise their impact as they can significantly reduce your productivity and increase stress.
You know that feeling when you're trying to get work done, but everything around you seems to be conspiring against you? Well, most offices are actually designed to be distracting. Even though open-plan spaces and open-door policies are supposed to encourage collaboration, they can make it really hard to focus on your tasks.
Even at home, unless you have a secluded area where you can do your writing, you get distracted and interrupted by your loved ones. It’s not intentional; it’s how it is.
Even writing this article, I got interrupted multiple times by the washing machine, delivery driver and phone call.
You've probably read articles that tell you to embrace "deep work" and "flow" to be more productive, but let's be real—that's easier said than done. especially when our inboxes are constantly pinging us with new emails, updates, tasks, and requests.
It's no wonder we have a hard time getting into the zone!
So yeah, getting deep work done and achieving a flow state can seem like a far-fetched dream.
But let’s not fully dismiss any ideas.
When it comes to managing distractions, one thing is clear. You need to know your environment.
You might not be able to apply deep work in a busy open-plan office space, yet it could be a valuable tool in your private home office.
Distractions can mess up your productivity during the workday. The standard advice suggests avoiding social media and turning off email notifications. But what if you miss something important by ignoring emails?
According to Dr. Gloria Mark, a professor of Informatics at the University of California, it takes an average of 23 minutes for you to fully focus on a task again after being distracted. Observers conducted a study where they timed every activity of individuals to the second for three and a half days. They found that people switch activities every three minutes and five seconds on average, and about half of these interruptions were self-induced.
Let’s take a look at several more eye-opening statistics — because I love statistics — and you might find them as intriguing as I did.
“One way to boost our willpower and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us.”
Email: Email notifications can be a significant distraction for many people. A study by Loughborough University1 found that people who checked their email frequently (every five minutes) had a lower IQ score than those who didn't check their email as often. The study also found that frequent email checking can reduce productivity by up to 10%.
Social media: Social media can be a major distraction, particularly for younger workers. A study by CareerBuilder2 found that 24% of workers ages 18-34 spend at least one hour per day on social media during work hours. This can lead to a loss of productivity, as well as a decrease in quality of work.
Meetings: Meetings can also be a significant source of distraction, particularly if they are not well-organized or are not directly relevant to the work at hand. A study by Atlassian3 found that the average employee spends 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings, which can reduce overall productivity.
Multitasking: Many people believe that multitasking can increase productivity, but research has shown that it can actually reduce productivity by up to 40%. This is because switching between tasks requires time and energy, and can lead to errors and a decrease in quality of work.
I’ve recently published a quiz on productivity, and one of the ten questions included is dedicated to distractions. The question goes like this:
How do you handle distractions and interruptions?
And here’s what I found from, so far, eleven people who took the quiz:
The leading response is to eliminate them as much as possible. That's great. So, how can it be done? I am glad you asked.
To help you answer this question, I’ve gathered research and broken it down into practical strategies you can use going forward to minimise workday distractions.
Handling distractions and interruptions by eliminating them as much as possible
1. Spot your distractions: Make a note of the things that distract you the most. It could be social media, loud noises, personal worries, or anything else.
2. Set up a distraction-free workspace: Choose a place to work or study where distractions are at a minimum. Keep it tidy and free from clutter.
3. Use tools: You can use apps or browser extensions to block distracting websites or apps during work sessions.
4. Set some limits: Tell your family, roommates, or colleagues that you need some uninterrupted time to work or study during specific hours.
5. Get your priorities straight: Start with the most important tasks to reduce the chance of getting sidetracked by less important things.
6. Be mindful: Use mindfulness techniques to refocus on your task whenever distractions come up.
Handling distractions and interruptions by setting boundaries and limits
1. Decide when you'll work or study and tell those around you. Try to stick to these hours as best you can.
2. Take short breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. Use this time to check messages or do something fun.
3. Let your friends, family, and colleagues know when you're free to chat and when you need to focus.
4. Plan your day by setting aside time for specific tasks. This way, you'll have a routine and be less likely to get sidetracked.
5. Focus on one task at a time to increase your efficiency and reduce interruptions.
6. Learn to say no to requests or invitations that interfere with your schedule or work.
Handling distractions and interruptions by incorporating them into my work schedule
1. Be flexible with your work schedule: Try to go with the flow and adjust your routine when unexpected things happen. This will make it easier for you to manage interruptions without feeling too overwhelmed.
2. Break tasks down into smaller chunks: Dealing with large tasks can be tough, especially when you're interrupted. Splitting them into smaller, more manageable pieces will help you get back to work faster.
3. Use interruptions to your advantage: Interruptions can be a great opportunity to collaborate, network, or solve problems. Take advantage of these moments to connect with others and learn something new.
4. Stay organized: Keep a to-do list or use a task management system to stay on track and prioritize your work. This will help you stay focused even when you're interrupted.
5. Be adaptable: Develop resilience and adaptability to handle interruptions gracefully. Stay focused on what you need to accomplish while being open to changing your plans as needed.
6. Reflect and adjust: Take a step back every so often to evaluate your work habits and figure out what works best for you. Try different strategies to see what helps you manage interruptions most effectively.
To handle distractions and interruptions, you can either eliminate them, set some boundaries, or work them into your work schedule. These tips can help you manage them in a way that suits your style.
Your weekly task for this week is to participate in the poll and vote for the distraction you struggle with the most👇