How to work effectively in a time full of distractions?

Can you concentrate? Work on a project without (self)disruption?

How often do you stray from work to activities that distract you unnecessarily? The amount of technology around us creates ideal conditions for lack of concentration these days.

Someone calls, beeps an SMS, a message arrives via chat, notifications from social networks, every now and then an e-mail or even a quick note in the calendar on the mobile phone. Then check the internet banking, the daughter’s lunch at school or the location of the child who is currently there and should have left school at this time. It’s only a minute.

And at the home office? I run the washing machine, unload the dishwasher, while sorting the laundry I think about the grocery shopping list, I need to go to the pharmacy to pick up medicine for my grandfather and it’s time to think about Christmas presents.

Honestly, who found themselves in at least one example given? Having self-discipline is challenging and takes practice and determination. It takes time to find a way that suits your personality.

For example, I have my mobile phone in silent mode. I concentrate best early in the morning or late at night, when everything is quiet (everyone at home is already asleep and there is no colleague at work yet). And accordingly, I plan activities for which I need maximum concentration and time. I try to handle phone calls, podcasts or English lessons while driving. I learned to plan my time so that I can be efficient in my personal and professional life. The whole family temporarily writes shopping lists, the notes in the calendar work like a second memory for me. 😊

Did you know that 20 minutes is the time we are said to need to return to a state of concentration if we allow ourselves to be interrupted or distracted?

Lack of concentration can destroy our ability to work and learn effectively. We make stupid mistakes, we are slower due to the interruption of the flow of thoughts, we repeat some activities more than once and then rush because we have a lack of time to complete the task.

People who can concentrate achieve better results in learning and at work, which directly affects their overall satisfaction in life.

And how are you? Do you just let yourself be interrupted? How do you function and what helps you focus? Do you have your go-to recipe for this?

Author: Anna Beňadiková, Operations Manager in EDU Trainings