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By Titilola Abimbola Shawana
Being focused and productive is not the absence of distractions but, rather, the ability to minimize distractions and recover focus after being distracted. According to Gloria Mack, a professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, it takes about 24 minutes for an individual to get back to the task after a distraction.
But what exactly is a distraction? Psychologydictionary.org defines distraction as an interruption to attention or anything that draws attention away from the primary task.
In this article, we will discuss how distractions impact our work and examine some strategies for managing and minimizing them. They are as follows:
• Achievable goals: The human mind loves to be rewarded. By looking forward to the results of our work, we can “trick” our brains into staying on task. It’s being proactive as opposed to reactive. We can also set small goals that, once attained, release the “pleasure hormones.” Various tasks are divided into smaller goals that are easily achievable and therefore rewarding.
• Organisation and task management: Our time is valuable, and distractions steal it. One way that helps is to have a routine we follow to always keep us on track. Some people are disciplined enough to plan each minute of their day and not go off track. However, the majority of people are not. Studies have shown that, for most people, assigning blocks of time to different activities helps minimize distractions. This type of schedule allows for flexibility and helps people avoid being overwhelmed. With advancements in technology, many applications can help create the most suitable schedules for us.
• Conducive environment: Create different work and relaxation spaces, especially when working remotely. Your workspace needs to be quiet, tidy and, if possible, away from your phone, as this limits distractions. A study conducted by global tech protection and support company, Asurion, discovered that the average person cannot go more than 10 minutes without checking their phone. At times, a quiet space is not feasible, particularly in an open-plan office environment. Office surveys have shown that employees use noise-canceling headphones to drown out the background noise. As American footballer, Tim Tebow, said, “Don’t worry about what you can’t control. Our focus and energy need to be on the things we can control.”
In an office environment, it is not possible to avoid human interaction. So, welcome it because a part of productivity involves collaborating with others. At the same time, setting boundaries and informing your co-workers of the exact time at which you would like there to be no interruptions further helps your work.
• Staying consistent: Studies show that if you perform a task regularly for 60 days, it becomes a habit. The same ideology applies to the limitation of distractions. The more you manage them, the easier they become to manage. Honesty also comes into play here. It is necessary to be introspective and ready to admit shortcomings, especially those that affect concentration. For example, alcohol impairs function and concentration, so it’s a good idea to avoid it before doing anything work-related. Another example is social media, which is like a black hole that sucks you in. The Economist magazine reports that employees logging into social media costs the U.S. economy $650 billion a year, or $4,500 for each employee.
• Rest: Overworked minds and tired eyes are easily distracted, particularly for people whose work involves computers. Optometrists recommend implementing the 20-20-20 rule, which is every 20 minutes, watch an object at 20 feet for 20 seconds. This helps the eyes relax and refocus.
Distraction is part of our daily lives, and it is something we should embrace because, in distractions, especially healthy ones, we find motivation. Healthy distractions, like taking a break to rehydrate, can be a gateway to creativity and productivity, if we let them happen.
•Shawana is Director Human Resources Oluteep Engineering
