If you’ve been working at home, you know how easy it is to get distracted. There you are just breezing along, working productively, and all of a sudden …
SQUIRREL!
Well, probably not a real squirrel. But let’s face it — you’ve got the whole internet at your fingertips, and there’s no boss breathing down your neck to keep you on task. Even the best of us can allow ourselves to get distracted under those circumstances, and a pair of noise-canceling headphones isn’t enough.
What can you do?
“If you need to buckle down and minimize distractions, you need a digital workspace that’s conducive to focus,” wrote Popular Science contributor Whitson Gordon in a 2020 article.
He has a few suggestions for you:
Start fresh with a new browser profile.
Create a new profile in your browser of choice, so you won’t have Facebook, YouTube or any other of your favorite bookmarks to tempt you away from your work. Some people have gone so far as to use an entirely different computer for work, but maybe you don’t need that.
Go totally full screen.
“If you’re constantly switching between writing and email even if it’s work-related email — you’ll experience diminished cognitive performance,” Gordon wrote. “So, when you need to plow through something, you need to block everything else out.”
Tune in to focus-enhancing music.
According to Gordon, research suggests that instrumental music, somewhat fast-paced, is ideal for enhancing your productivity.
Block distracting sites from tempting you away.
For even greater accountability, tools such as StayFocusd and Freedom can block websites that you find enticing.
It’s OK to take breaks.
“Taking regular breaks can aid in productivity when done properly, not to mention prevent eye strain and other tension in your body,” Gordon wrote. “The key is scheduling those breaks ahead of time, rather than continually giving in to distractions whenever you feel the slightest tug.”
