How to stop distractions and focus on business

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Tips for those who need to go headlong into work, but something constantly gets in the way.

Scientists are sounding the alarm: we have forgotten how to concentrate. Over the past decade, we have been subject to a continuous all-round attack, the goal of which is to snatch a piece of our attention. Sitting down and working quietly, without distraction, has become an almost impossible task.

American scientist and writer Cal Newport coined the term "deep work". In his opinion, Knowledge Workers are Bad at Working (and Here’s What to Do About It…)., deep work is an activity that requires absolute attention, which forces us to do what we are capable of, and, in turn, develops our skills. The better we focus on what we do, the higher the quality of our work.

Why are we constantly distracted?

Full immersion in work means focusing on complex tasks for an extended period of time.

But we have the internet. And as soon as we are faced with a really difficult task that needs to be tackled closely, the temptation immediately arises to switch to another tab and see if we have missed anything interesting.

Despite the fact that we have had the Internet for a long time, we have not developed immunity to its distractions.

Social networks and apps use the same technique as slot machines - variable reinforcement. When we update our Twitter feed or Facebook feed, or check our email for the hundredth time, we don't know what we'll get: interesting news, a lot of bullshit, or nothing at all. But the unpredictability of the result forces us to refresh the page over and over again. Gradually, a habit is developed and addiction arises.

Less distractions

How not to be distracted at home and on the street

• Remove social networking apps from your phone. If necessary, you can enter them through a mobile browser, but this is inconvenient, which means you will do it less often.
• Don't take your phone to the toilet. Funny, but it saves a lot of time.
• Place your phone away from your bed. If you have already gone to bed, then sleep, and do not check your mail.
• Do not carry your phone in your pocket, but in your bag or backpack. This will make it harder for you to get it.

How not to be distracted at work

• If you are using Chrome browser, install Timewarp. In it, you can set up a time counter for selected sites and see how much time you spend on them.
• Switch your phone to Do Not Disturb mode and remove it from the table.
• Open windows in full screen mode.
• Hide the browser bookmarks bar.
• Close the mail client and open it only during the specially allotted time.
• Listen to classical or modern instrumental music.

Other than that, there are many useful Chrome extensions that you might find useful. For example, Inbox When Ready hides your inbox so you can write a letter without being distracted by new mail. News Feed Eradicator hides the Facebook news feed and slips a motivational quote instead. Or Forest, which grows a virtual tree when you work and kills it mercilessly if you access blacklisted sites.

How to tune in to thoughtful work

• Make a work plan ahead of time. When the time comes to sit down and tackle the task, it will be much easier for you not to be distracted by following the points of the plan.
• Show interest in the task. It is easier and more enjoyable to dive headlong into an interesting and important project than into one that is indifferent to you.

During the work on this material, not a single social network was opened. As a result, the work on the article took one third less time than usual.