WORK , INTERRUPTED
BY : NATASHA KONCZYNSKI , ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT JGS INSURANCE
Work , Interrupted :
Minimizing Distractions
“ One way to boost our will power and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us .”
— Daniel Goleman .
What if I told you employees spend an average of eleven minutes on a project before being distracted ? Every time we focus our attention , we are using a large amount of glucose and other metabolic resources . When distracted , it takes a person twenty-five minutes to return to the original task , by which time you have used up more glucose and your focusing abilities are even further diminished .
In addition to our minds working against us , we must deal with environmental distractions such as workplace socializing and readily available social media . A report by Gensler suggests that open-plan offices are a major cause of distraction , stating that “ workplace strategies that sacrifice individual focus in pursuit of collaboration will result in decreased effectiveness for both .” And although advantageous in some cases , social media can be detrimental to productivity regardless of your office layout . So it ’ s not surprising that distractions eat an average of 2.1 hours a day .
SO THEN HOW CAN WE FOCUS ?
Feed your mind . Eat foods that will increase your mental focus and give you the energy to stay productive for longer periods of time . Foods high in starch and lactose generate glucose when digested . Exercise or take a
walk before sitting down to do important or difficult work .
Get your work station organized . Too much stuff on your desk can be distracting . Put away objects you don ’ t need for your current task . Arrange the things on your desk according to when you will need them . This will save you time when looking for things you need and help minimize the time your mind wonders at your desk .
Schedule your day . Work on projects that require the greatest amount of effort when there are fewer distractions at work . Consider coming in an hour early before everyone else arrives . Just like the human body has an optimal time to wake and to sleep , your circadian rhythm can help you plan your daily activities in order to get the most out of your day . Pay attention to your circadian rhythm and use it to your advantage when planning your day and prioritizing your workload .
Make it manageable . Break down big or difficult tasks into smaller and easier steps to kick start your engagement and focus . Use completion targets to challenge yourself . See how much you can get done by a certain time . Set mini goals and rewards for completing focused work sessions throughout the day .
Guide your focus . The left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex inhibits distractions ; this acts as our brain ’ s “ braking system .” Being mindful of when you start to lose focus can help you “ apply the brakes .” If your mind is swimming with ideas or things to remember , try a mind sweep to get them on paper and free up your thinking space to focus on the important task at hand .
Turn it off . If you ’ re often tempted to check your phone or emails , turn it off , whether that ’ s your cell phone , your computer or simply the notifications that alert you to something new . Alternatively , try scheduling in social media or email checking time . Allow a few minutes in the morning and after lunch to go through your emails or social media accounts , but no more . Once you have satisfied this task , you will be mentally free for other activities .
While it ’ s impossible to avoid every distraction , we can reduce our exposure to things that pull our attention away from work . Knowing our weaknesses and implementing systems and devices to cut them off at the source is key . +
Natasha Konczynski joined the JGS family in 2016 to begin building her insurance career . As a young professional , she strives to learn and grow with each step of the way . Her goal is to provide transparency and peace of mind to all of our clients by utilizing proactive solutions .
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