Have you ever been sitting in front of a computer, trying to get something done so you can check it off your list, but you just can’t seem to pull your attention away from everything else going on? Perhaps. You should focus on goals and methods for eliminating distractions. Instead of focusing on the tasks at hand, you’ve been spending too much time on Facebook or getting lost in the never-ending rabbit hole of online news, social media, and other sites.
You have company. As many as 84% of us suffer from procrastination on a regular basis[1]. Getting to the weekend without having finished what I’d set out to do was a common occurrence for me in the past, and I now know that procrastination is to blame. That meant working longer hours on the weekends and evenings when I could have been spending time with my loved ones or getting in shape and making a positive investment in my mental and physical well-being.
That’s why I spent two years trying out different strategies, apps, and apps to help me concentrate better (check out our guide here on how to achive my goal).
My three young sons and I don’t miss a single bedtime or weekend outing since they were born. Here are some of the methods I’ve used to reduce the number of hours I spend at work while increasing my productivity.
Read More: Mavie Global
Pomodoro Technique: The Best Timer for Difficult Tasks
The Pomodoro Technique is a time-based strategy for maximizing efficiency. Named after the tomato-shaped timer that inspired its creation, the Pomodoro technique is the brainchild of Italian engineer Francesco Cirillo.
It all comes down to a basic idea. To maximize your productivity, you dedicate the next quarter of an hour to a single, undistracted task. Take a five-minute break after that. You do this for a total of 115 minutes, during which time you will work for 100 minutes and rest for 15 minutes.
As you learn more about your optimal working conditions, you can modify the timings or the number of repetitions.
If you choose to try this method of goal-setting, keep in mind the following.
- You must devote your full attention to the task at hand for the full 25 minutes. Put your phone in a drawer and log out of all your social media accounts so that no one can bother you. Maintaining concentration is essential.
- It isn’t a universal solution. This method is not suitable for group work. In my experience, it serves me best when I am tasked with writing a report, writing some copy, or conducting some desk research.
- You shouldn’t anticipate instant gratification. It took me a few days before I saw any significant changes in my work speed, but by the end of the second week, I was finishing reports in about half the time I had previously expected.
Jot Down Your Objectives.
A pen and paper give us all the power of super-memory. What it boils down to is psychological. A study cited by Robert Cialdini in his book Influence found that when patients were asked to write down their own appointment times, the number of no-shows dropped by 18%.
Now, each day begins with me making a list of the tasks I have set for myself. It’s a quick adjustment that makes a big difference in my ability to maintain concentration.
There are few things as satisfying as marking something off with a huge tick! What you get when you click a button isn’t the same.
It’s a simple suggestion that won’t take much time out of your day, so give it a shot!
Read More: Mavie Global
Try to Schedule Your Work Time So That You’re at Your Most Productive.
The two strategies discussed above are easy to test out right now and see if they help with concentration. I realise that many people do not have the resources to do what I am about to propose.
But if you’re one of the fortunate few who can, schedule your day so that you work at your peak efficiency.
It is estimated that the average person is productive for fewer than three hours daily[2]. Nonetheless, we usually schedule our workday from 9 to 5, leaving us with little time to unplug.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that working such long hours will leave you feeling as though you have wasted at least half of each day.
For about a month, I tracked my productivity at various times during the day. However, there were days (freelance life!) when I worked nonstop. What I discovered was the following.
My most productive times for writing copy (after having completed all necessary research) were as follows:
What was I thinking forcing myself to do these tasks that required concentration when I was obviously not in the mood for concentration?
To me, this was a revelation on the topic of goal-setting. As much as possible, I started adjusting the way I worked. To get more done, I’ve been getting up earlier in the morning and, if necessary, working late into the night. If at all possible, I plan my day so that the afternoon is free for a walk or other physical activity. Then again, if that’s not feasible, I’ll be on the phone or in a meeting.
If I can help it, I try to avoid writing anything official in the afternoons.
My productivity skyrocketed, and I was finally able to cross everything off my weekly to-do list by the weekend, giving me more time to relax and enjoy my loved ones.
There are two factors that made this possible for me:
- I have the freedom to set my own hours because I am self-employed.
- Because my husband also has a job in the company, we are able to split up the childcare responsibilities so that I can structure my workday as follows:
It could be beneficial to discuss this with your employer if you are an employee rather than a sole proprietor. It may be possible to convince your employer to let you create your own schedule by making a compelling business case for how they will benefit from your services.
Even if you can’t arrange your day in such a way, shifting the emphasis of your work (documentation during peak hours, socializing during lulls) can help you stay on task.
To Avoid Distractions, Add Productivity Add-ons to Your Web Browser.
There are aids for those who have trouble focusing due to distractions like the news or social media.
- Deprocrastination is a Chrome extension that helps you monitor your most productive times of day, identify time-wasting websites, and then block them.
- Stayfocused is a similar extension that allows you to block specific websites.
Use Your Brain at Work
I’ve been able to spend more time doing what I enjoy without sacrificing my work or my ability to earn more money thanks to my willingness to try out new ways to increase my productivity.
It was the little things that made the biggest difference for me, and I wish the same for you as you set priorities and complete tasks.
