Lately I have found myself distracted at work and spending too much time web surfing instead of concentrating on more productive work. In fact, it’s getting to the point that I know I have to cut back. But my computer is where I both work and play. How do I help myself focus?
I have to do lots of online research and that gives me an excuse, but I’m pretty sure Kevin isn’t paying me to look up tips for building a medieval trebuchet. (Annoying neighbors. Not the point of this article.)
Here are some tips to help people like me stay on task when we know we should be working.
- Set specific (and realistic) goals for the day. Start your day with a clearly defined list of tasks and projects you need to complete or work on. The more specific and time-sensitive the list, the more you will be able to keep focused. My web surfing addiction usually kicks in several hours into the day, so by knowing exactly what needs to be done and when, I can get the urgent and most of the important things done before I start to drift down the rabbit hole.
- Use one device at a time. If your work demands you be at your desk, at the computer, put your phone or other devices somewhere you can avoid their siren call. If you’re like me, you can always use the announcements on your phone to let you know there’s something that needs immediate attention, and I feel less guilty about my “other research.” Truth is, if you stay on one device, you can generally keep on one task at a time easier.
- Schedule breaks and personal surfing time. Despite our best efforts, we can actually focus on the same task or high-level work for a relatively short period of time. An hour or ninety minutes at most before we need a break. One of the silly ways our brains work is if we know we’ll have time to do the things that distract us, we can hold off until that time arrives. If we don’t plan for it to happen at all, it nags at us until we give in, usually while we should be doing something else. Just like work, where you divide time between the urgent and the important, I do the same with personal activities. Doctors and government offices open at nine, which is two hours into my workday. I will take a break and deal with pressing calls so they are off my mind, then go back to work.
- Stay organized. This one I struggle with. My desk is a mess. Besides the obvious work materials, to my right are a lot of books, notes, and other things that remind me of all the stuff I could be doing instead of what I’m paid for. Because I also write novels and have to write, market and promote those, they call to me all day long. By physically removing those distractions during work hours, it’s easier for me to focus on what is literally in front of me. After work, I pull out the other things I need to do that day for other parts of my life.
- Use productivity tools. There is a growing cottage industry in apps and browser extensions to help us when we can’t help ourselves. These range from the mildly nagging to full-force-need-a-password-for-Facebook levels of security and enforcement for when willpower alone isn’t enough.
- Practice mindful and remember how habits are changed. Changing habits requires awareness (when am I about to do something I shouldn’t be) and reinforcement. That means you need to reward yourself, or at least acknowledge when you’ve done the right thing. The brain rewards behavior that makes it happy. Make doing the right thing a goal and you’ll get that little “ping” of endorphins you’re getting from checking Facebook or Tiktok.
Remember, working remotely requires you to meet your obligations to your employer as well as keep your sanity. The flexibility to manage your schedule also carries the responsibility to get your work done.
0 comments