While the office is designed for work, the reality of working on-site is that this space is often rife with distractions. Whether you’re gunning for a promotion or you’re simply looking to be a better professional overall, this can prevent you from reaching your full potential. Fortunately, plenty of people have been in your shoes before and have managed to overcome their lack of focus. Let’s walk through five effective ways to improve your focus while at work that might help you get back on track.
1. Eliminate Any Obvious Distractions
You can’t always control what’s going on around you, but you can control how you react to it. Things like your phone, tablet, and even people in your environment might be regularly pulling you away from your work. Look for strategies to support less distracted work. For example, you could put away any non-essential electronics, find ways to add more barriers between yourself and those around you and clear your desk of anything you might play with when you don’t feel like working.
2. Try CBD Throughout the Day
Most people reach for caffeine when they need to focus, but this might not always work. Instead, you might want to try something like cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a hemp derivative that is believed to support cognition, reduce stress, and curb anxiety. If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety and stress, taking CBD might help you calm down enough to stay on task.
3. Use Website Blocker Apps
Having the web at your fingertips during work is a blessing and a curse. If you’re not careful, you can end up spending too much time on websites that aren’t related to work. One way to maintain your focus is to use website-blocking apps. All you have to do is inform the app as to which websites aren’t to be used and then get back to work. If you do try to go back to the website, your app will either block you or redirect you to another website of your choice.
4. Test Out the Pomodoro Technique
Productivity tips and hacks abound in the modern world. One tool that many have turned to is the Pomodoro Technique. It’s quite simple. All you do is prepare to focus and then set a timer for 25 minutes. You work uninterrupted for those 25 minutes, then give yourself a five-minute break. It can help some people get into the mindset for work and do short bursts of work rather than hoping they might feel productive during their eight hours in the office.
5. Get a Pair of Noise-Canceling Headphones
Are your biggest distractions your coworkers? Are you allowed to listen to music in the office? If the answer is yes to both, invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. These will allow you to listen to music that keeps you motivated and focused without any external noise coming through and distracting you.
Work is supposed to be productive, but it’s very easy to get distracted. If you need to stay on task, use the five tips above to improve your focus and get more done.