No matter how hard or easy you consider your job, there’s one thing that can get in the way of any professional occupation – distractions. Even if you love your job, it’s all too easy to get interrupted by the inevitable distraction from time to time.
Once your attention is diverted, it can be hard to get back on track. Luckily, you’re not alone – workplace distractions are very common for all employees across industries. Here are four of the most common workplace distractions and what you can do about them to get your productivity in check.
Clutter
If your desk is littered with year-old documents and old snack wrappers, concentrating on your current tasks can be even more challenging. These things may seem minimal and harmless, but they’re really just one more thing to take your eyes off of your workload. Try tidying your desk and maybe even decorating it to get yourself in the zone. Seriously, how distracted can you really get with an inspirational quote staring you down?
Social Media
Scrolling through our smartphones can become addictive, but it becomes invasive when it inhibits our ability to perform our jobs. A recent study by SimpleTexting.com revealed that nearly 30% of people spend at least an hour in the office on social media – with 7% admitting to spending more than three hours spent scrolling. The best way to combat this is by enabling the do not disturb setting on your phone and training yourself not to pick it up. Over time, you’ll get used to limiting your screen time and see significant spikes in your productivity.
Stress
Sometimes having too much on your plate can overwhelm you into doing nothing at all. If you’re getting stressed by your workload, odds are you’ll waste time panicking about getting things done rather than just jumping right in. This will turn into a vicious cycle of your workload building up further while you’re busy stressing over it, leading to even more stress. Take a deep breath, and then follow these steps on coping with stress at work in order to reset your mind and focus.
Hunger
If your stomach is growling at your desk, it can be impossible to get anything done. Luckily, this one is a simple fix – pack snacks to keep yourself fueled the entire workday. It may be smart to invest in a few snacks you leave at your desk to save you a few extra minutes in your busy morning. Either way, snacks are the perfect way to keep you full and motivated all day long.
Whatever’s distracting you in your office, try to pinpoint the source and make a move to change it. Simply being aware of the problem will allow you to come up with a solution in order to make yourself the best employee you can be.
