Anyone who has ever worked in an office setting knows that it can be hard to stay focused on the task at hand. Whether you’re trying to write a long-form business plan, a piece of software code, or simply run through your email inbox, there’s always something that seems to get in the way. Here are six tips to help you maintain your focus throughout the workday:
1. Listen to binaural beats. Binaural beats are sound waves played through headphones which can help induce specific brain states, including alertness and focus. There’s a lot of research out there about how they work and how effective they are—but one thing is for sure: binaural beats can help you get (and stay) in the zone so you can crank out your work more efficiently.
2. Take breaks. It might seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks from your work actually helps you get more done! Breaks give your mind time to process what you’ve been working on and recharge so that when you come back from the break, you’ll be refreshed and ready to keep going with new ideas. Plus, getting up and moving around for even a few minutes will increase blood flow to your brain which boosts productivity as well.
3. Hide your phone. Don’t worry: I promise this isn’t going to turn into one of those articles that tells you to ditch your phone completely. That’s not realistic for most people in today’s world. But if you’re like me and get distracted by notifications, then this is an easy way to keep yourself in the zone and focused on what you need to get done.
You may already know how to manage distractions and stay focused on your work. But if you aren’t succeeding at doing this every day, reexamine your current methods. You may find that they are not as helpful as you thought they were, or maybe you never had a clear system at all.
