Distractions can be the kiss of death to our productivity and creativity. But, if you can manage your disturbances, you can improve your attention and do more “deep work,” a term coined by Professor Cal Newport, which he describes as the act of focusing without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. When you are in this state of high productivity and performance, some of your best work may be done. He posits that most people can do about four hours of deep work a day. The good news is that the time does not have to be continuous, instead, it can be broken up into shorter segments.
So, how can we minimize these time-suckers and focus on what matters?
1. Have a better understanding of where your time goes so you can identify the culprits and take action. In the Effective Executive, Peter Drucker explains how most people think they know how they dedicate their moments but are startled when they learn that they are usually way off.
2. Avoid checking your email first thing in the morning because you empower others with the right to design your day. What happens is that when you take a peek, you feel compelled to get through all your emails and respond, but there is no rule that says we get extra life points achieving Inbox Zero. Instead, designate a block of your time to check email so you can batch the work.
It’s also important to avoid scanning your email while in your work zone because even one quick glance at your messages could leave you with an unsettling feeling of something requiring your attention.
3. Do not answer calls or allow yourself to be available during your work block, even if it is a seemingly five-minute distraction. It is not about the brevity of minutes pulling you away from your work, it is more about the cost associated with task shifting and trying to get back into your optimal work state. One hour of uninterrupted time is worth three hours of interrupted time.
All Work and No Play – For That, We Have Machines
It is highly recommended to give your brain a break after continuous quality work so go ahead and reward yourself with a generous shot of dopamine by doing something you deem entertaining for at least 20 minutes. Depending on your environment, you may choose to engage in “shallow work,” that could be web surfing with music in the background, organizing your calendar, cleaning, cooking or just about any task that is non-cognitively demanding.
Ultimately, if we can find ways to limit our distractions and devote more time to important work, we gradually place our greatest potential within reach. Warren Buffet was asked to define in one word, “what makes you successful?” His response, focus.
Q: What’s your favorite strategy to avoid distractions? Comment and share below.
Thought for today: “One way to boost our willpower and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us.”-Daniel Goleman, Author.
The path of least distractions is always the one worth taking