Whether you’re working from home or in the office, it’s easy to get distracted. So how do you stay focused throughout the day? Here are a few tips to follow to help keep you on track without feeling burnt out.
- Remove distractions. Put your phone on silent. Better yet, put it on silent and then put in your drawer. Close out any tabs you’re not currently using in your browser. Are there noise distractions? Try using headphones with ambient sounds.
- Make a list or a plan. Jot down what you need to get done today and what you want to get done. If needed, write out some what-ifs to help you prioritize tasks. Example: What will happen if I don’t complete this report today? Can it be run tomorrow? At the end of the day, see what carry-over items you have left to start with tomorrow.
- Celebrate the small wins. Did you just cross off an item from your list? Don’t be afraid to give yourself a little round of applause or a moderately loud “aww yeah!” Celebrating yourself is a way to stay motivated to complete more tasks.
- Thinking negatively about a project? Try to reframe your mindset and view it as an opportunity to grow, or a challenge to refine your skills. Reframing stressors can help your mind think more productively.
- Take a break, and do it right! Do: stretch, go outside for a walk and a nice dose of vitamin D. Don’t: try to be productive and answer emails or make appointments. Take those 15 minutes and disconnect: focus on a few deep breaths, take the opportunity to drink some water, or grab a crunchy snack like carrots. Make a mental note of how you feel after your breaks. If you’re not feeling refreshed and re-focused, maybe that’s your body’s way of telling you to schedule an entire mental day off.
- Get some sleep! I know, easier said than done, but if you’re having consistent trouble focusing at work, it might be that you’re not getting enough rest. Think about little tasks that might eat up parts of your morning and determine if they can be done the night before. Budget those to-dos into your after-work time and enjoy some extra zzz’s the next morning. Obviously, bonus points if you can get to bed earlier too. Are you a repeat snoozer? Just change your alarm time to the realistic hour you get up; it’ll help with sleep quality.
EOD offers the online Career Pathways Program with modules that focus on personal productivity. You can complete them at your own pace and it’s free! Check out our website if you’re interested or send us an email at eod@unm.edu.
