How to Improve Focus at Work: 3 Important Tactics to Increase Your Productivity
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One of the main benefits of working remotely, besides saving time, is increased productivity in the workplace among employees at all levels.
Did you know that during 2021, productivity at work increased by 13% due solely to working remotely?
This productivity boost is the result of various factors. The most significant probably being the absence of the distractions that occur more frequently when co-workers are physically present in the same room.
According to data, this is the first reason why 84% of remote workers prefer working from their homes.
However, this doesn’t mean that a remote work schedule can solve all of your problems and guarantee productivity. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of components that can throw employees off their game and get in the way of productivity.
To avoid these situations as much as possible, we’ve put together a list of three top tips to improve focus and concentration, to have a more productive day at work.
Avoid distractions and take regular breaks
Distractions come in many forms – a message on your phone, social media, or the latest video that’s trending on YouTube. These are all obstacles that can prevent you from giving your full attention to your tasks, therefore diminishing your productivity.
If your goal is to improve focus and concentration at work, to become a better professional, you should start by eliminating these distractions.
Try to better organize your tasks by having a well-planned schedule for your workdays!
For example, take the first part of your day to check all your work communication tools and apps. Reply to e-mails and messages you have there. Then disconnect from the outside world for a couple of hours – close social media windows on your internet browser and put your phone on airplane mode.
Once you have completed all tasks designated to that time window, you should give your brain a couple of minutes to rest.
In fact, take all the time you need – it may be five minutes, it may be 20 – in the end, what matters is refreshing your mind. By taking a short rest, you’ll be more likely to get a second wind of inspiration and creativity to help you get through the rest of the day.
After a short break, once you’ve recharged, put your phone on airplane mode and close social media windows on your browser again. Avoid distractions and remain focused on your work!
Segmenting your day into time windows dedicated to work and recreation has two purposes. It improves your concentration and productivity at work on one hand, and on the other, also helps you lead a more balanced life!
Seek out peace and quiet
When it comes to understanding the way that people work best, you’re sure to find many different patterns.
Some people work better when surrounded by noise, while others may be more productive working in total silence.
Regardless of the category you find yourself in, if you’re looking for ways to improve focus and concentration at work, begin by creating a favorable environment for that. Do everything possible within your power. This applies to both working remotely and in an actual office space.
If you’re the type of person who needs peace and quiet to stay focused and productive at work, look for spaces that offer the silence and tranquility you need. It could be your study at home where you work alone, an isolated room, or an empty meeting room, if you’re still physically working at the office.
In case your company still doesn’t have a remote work policy, but you feel that working remotely would improve your focus at work, talk it out with your manager!
Remember that, in the end, upward communication can have a positive impact on employees and companies alike.
Prioritize the most important tasks, but also know when to switch between them
Although true in most situations, your most important projects might not be the ones that consume most of your time and energy.
When deciding your schedule, think of it like this: the fresher your mind is when working on something, the greater the chances of finishing it faster. Therefore, the sooner you start working on a task, the better!
Let’s be honest, isn’t there a universal feeling of relief once you know your most pressing tasks are done?
It’s crucial to learn how to distribute your energy and resources on the projects that matter the most! You’ll see that in the long run, this will prove to be a successful strategy your superiors will surely appreciate.
However, there are also times when priority tasks are complex and require an incredible amount of time to fully resolve. With these cases, you shouldn’t force yourself to finish all of them at once.
If you feel like you’ve exhausted all your ideas on a subject for the day, you shouldn’t force your brain to dwell on that topic. In situations like this, you not only lose precious time but also risk becoming frustrated with your work. Instead, you could try doing a project switch.
Consider reorienting your attention towards less important jobs that you may have put off when prioritizing more important assignments. This strategy could lead to better results.
All in all, it’s important to remember that there are better times for different tasks. The real secret behind improving focus at work is doing what you love and prioritizing your projects based on their importance and your mood.
Final thoughts
This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to improve your focus at work, but ultimately, the most effective strategy to improve focus at work relies on you being more organized. Whether it’s about your work agenda, your documents and papers, your meetings, the physical space you work in, and so on.
Now it’s your turn – do you have any other tips on how to stay focused and productive at work that you consider worth including in this guide? Let us know!
Andreyana Kulina is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Brosix, specializing in Content marketing and outreach strategies. Besides her passion for digital marketing, she likes hiking and mountain-biking.
