Improve focus at work with a few simple tips
Rediscovering a passion for what you do can increase your focus at work simply because you care about what you’re doing. Often, gaining back that internal motivation is just what you and your employees need to increase concentration and job satisfaction. It isn’t easy to find meaning in your work once you’ve grown bored or “burned out,” but it isn’t impossible. Below are a few tips on how you can reboot your work drive to improve focus at work.
Identify hobbies you enjoy to balance your personal and professional life
It’s easy to get tired of work when it’s all you do. Pick one or two non-work-related things you like doing and incorporate them into your schedule to make sure you have enough time away from work. For example, you could choose to go to the gym three times a week after work and visit friends every Saturday. That way, when it’s time to get back to work on Monday you can walk into the office refreshed.
Stay away from emails the first and last hour of the day
It’s easy to wake up and immediately jump into work by checking your inbox. If you succumb to this urge and check your emails from when you wake up to when you go to sleep, you’re never unplugged from work. This can wear you down and keep you frazzled with an unending barrage of emails. Instead, use the first and last hour of your day for yourself. Take time to make yourself breakfast or do some yoga, and in the evenings let yourself read a book or spend time with family.
Keep a to-do list (in one place)
Writing a to-do list can help make your goals more tangible. You have a physical list to focus on each day, with actual tasks you can check off the list once you complete. It’s a great way to improve focus at work because it puts all your responsibilities in one place. However, make sure you keep your list in one place, or you might end up forgetting a few to-dos. For example, if you have a list of tasks in your phone, on your fridge and saved as a Word doc in your computer, it’s more likely some tasks will slip by. Having too many to-do lists also means each time you think of a new task, you have to write it down in each list.
Try a new environment
If you’re stuck in a rut, sometimes switching up your surroundings will help your focus and creativity. It’s easy for our surroundings to affect our work habits. A messy desk or noisy coworker can be distracting. If you want to refocus yourself and view your work with fresh eyes, try seeking out a new place. For example, if you work at an office ask your boss if you can take a virtual day one Friday a month to work at home or at a park.
How do you maintain your focus on work with all the distractions around you? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author: John Pick
