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 the pandemic in 2022, remote work productivity increased by 9%?
This productivity boost is the result of various factors. The most significant is probably the absence of distractions that occur more frequently when co-workers are physically present in the same room.
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.
Top 3 Tips for Better Focus at Work
To help you avoid these unpleasant situations as much as possible, we’ve put together a list of three top tips on how to be more focused at work.
Take a look at it below.
1. 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, adopting methods to enhance your attention span could be beneficial.
Start by eliminating distractions. Proper time management is key. Try to better organize your tasks by having a well-planned workday schedule or to-do list.
For example, take the first part of your day to check notifications from your work communication tools and apps. Reply to the emails and messages you have there. Then disconnect from the outside world for a couple of hours—close social media windows in your internet browser and put your phone in airplane mode.
Once you complete your work, you should give your brain a couple of minutes to rest. Take a walk, for example.
In fact, take all the time you need—it may be five minutes or 20—but in the end, what matters is refreshing your mind. By taking a short rest, you’ll be able to focus more easily. It’s also 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 in airplane mode and close social media windows in your browser again. Avoid interruptions and stay focused on your work.
Segmenting your day into time windows dedicated to work and recreation is highly beneficial. It improves your ability to focus, your productivity, and your overall mindfulness at work. This also helps you live a more balanced life.
2. 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 increase focus at work, begin by creating a favorable work environment for that. Do everything possible within your power.
If you’re the type of person whose ability to concentrate is positively influenced by silence and tranquility, then look for a workspace that offers a quiet environment. 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 in the office.
In case your company still doesn’t have a remote work policy but you feel that working remotely is one of the ways to improve your focus, talk it out with your manager.
Remember that, in the end, upward communication can have a positive impact on employees and companies alike.
3. Prioritize the important tasks and know when to switch between them
Although this is true in most situations, your most important projects might not be the ones that consume most of your time and energy.
When deciding on your schedule, think of it like this: the fresher your mind is, the greater the chance to complete tasks 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 focus and energy at work on the projects that matter most. You’ll see that in the long run, this will prove to be a successful decision that 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. In these cases, you shouldn’t force yourself to multitask and try to finish all of them at once. Instead, focus on one task at a time.
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 toward less important jobs that you may have put off when prioritizing more important assignments. This strategy could lead to a better quality of work and a reduced risk of burnout. As for the latter, it’s also important to get sufficient hours of sleep each night and indulge in physical activity whenever possible.
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 on How to Focus Better at Work
This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to improve focus at work, but ultimately, overall concentration requires you to be 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 increase focus at work that you consider worth including in this guide? Let us know!
