5 Ways To Improve Focus & Concentration at Work

Believe it or not, but the average office worker is productive for only 3 hours a day. That’s right. According to statistics from 2,000 full-time office workers in the UK, getting distracted by several things like social media, emails, and the news was a common struggle. The good news is that there’s no secret to increasing your productivity and quality of work by improving your focus abilities. 

In this article, we’ll go through how you can apply different tactics to stay on top of your game and get stuff done!

Keep your workspace clean

For starters, a clean workspace equals a clean mind. Limiting distractions while working, primarily if you work from home, can get pretty challenging. However, make sure your workplace is clean and organized so you can quickly locate what you’re searching for, whether it’s digital or non-digital (i.e., email), to help you avoid distractions. 

Your workplace should be friendly and comfortable as well. Create an environment that motivates you to work and makes it simple to do so. 

Complete high-necessity tasks first

Writing down what you need to get done is an excellent method to plan your day, whether you make a to-do list, use an app or an online calendar. After making a list of all your tasks, prioritize them and start with the most urgent ones. 

These are likely to be more difficult or unpleasant, but if you get them out of the way first, you’ll be less inclined to procrastinate and leave them for “later.” 

Time your tasks (The Pomodoro Technique)

While completing all your tasks in order of importance, a good way to keep track of productivity is setting timers for yourself. It might sound scary, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll notice that your productivity levels immediately improve. 

For example, using the Pomodoro Technique technique can help even if you have trouble focusing for more than 30 minutes on one thing. The reason is, this technique sets aside 25 minutes for you to complete a task with absolutely no distractions. Then, you have 5 minutes to take a break and start the cycle over again. 

 

Know when to recharge  

Once you finish with all your tasks, you’ll need to find time to take a break and relax. It can even help you concentrate your mind even better.

Do this by taking a walk, preparing a meal, or meeting someone for coffee. Also, always remember, never work overtime unless you need to. After-work hours should be strictly for your activities and not for replying to emails. Even though it seems hard to take a break from your job, doing so might help you enhance your brain function and attention.

Follow a routine that fits you

As unique as we are in a physical sense, we’re also unique when it comes to the way we do things – in our lives and at work. Everyone does their best job at different times of the day and in different ways. Perhaps getting up early and doing your first task before breakfast is beneficial, or a trip to a coffee shop will be just what you need to accomplish that final report.

Try creating a routine based on your preferred working style. Repetition of that process each day can help you develop the habit of concentrating on work when it is most needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ready to kick start a new week? 

Once you’ve chosen a method that best fits your needs, make sure your colleagues, clients, or partners are aware of your new schedule.  Just because you work for yourself doesn’t imply you have unlimited time to accept calls, socialize, or run errands. Set office hours, inform others of them, and stick to them. Setting limits will help you stay on track with your plan and increase your focus and concentration levels.