How to Decrease Focus Zappers & Increase Work Productivity

It seems that 2017 is turning out to be a year of figuring out the right balance between work and life. In early February, I began to center my focus on the goals I've outlined for the year and I placed more attention on how to strategically accomplish them. I realized that work comes in two forms - the work you put into an activity, and the work you put into focusing on that activity.

Learning to focus can feel like a chore for me, because so much energy is required to shut out what is going on around me. With all of the unwarranted emails, phone calls, and random distractions that demand my attention, it can be difficult to channel my energy toward completing my work. However, once I'm in the zone while working on a project, my focus is unparalleled and nothing can interfere. To combat focus zappers, I use the following three actions to decrease distractions and increase my work productivity:

Create Your Focus Zone

Yes, there are an endless amount of things around us that can be distracting, pulling our focus away from where we’d like it to be. In order to hear your own voice and focus on what you’re looking to accomplish, it’s important to create some quiet time for yourself. I like to allow myself a few minutes to sit quietly before concentrating on a project. It is a short meditation that gives my mind time to prepare for the task at hand. During this time, I like to envision the goal of my project and the end result that I want to accomplish.  I encourage you to observe the optimal conditions for you to concentrate and find ways to create your own focus zone.

The Art of Saying No 

I've had to say "no" to more than a few outings already this year. Sometimes it can feel like I am missing out, but it's essential that I reserve time for reaching my goals. A major step that is helping me increase my productivity is prioritizing my goals. I arrange my time so that I am concentrating on achieving one specific goal at a time and I don’t deviate from that plan until I have accomplished what I set out to do. This has been difficult at times, especially when someone comes along with a fabulous distraction! However, it has been worth it when I decline. Saying 'no' is never easy, but you have to realize that it's vitally important to reach the goals you have set.

Embracing Failure

I've learned to embrace that failure is a byproduct of success. This mindset has enabled me to focus on what I want to accomplish and not beat myself up when I make a mistake.  Self-empathy is necessary when you need to pick yourself back up after failing. Be kind to yourself and know that your failures don’t define you, but how you react to them does.

After making these actions a part of my routine, I found my productivity dramatically increase and it was easier to flow into my focus zone by the end of February. I plan to make even more progress throughout the course of life. The work I put into pursuing my goals empowers me daily, as I understand it's not always the finish line that's important, but the lessons you learn along the way.