How to Focus Better in this Age of Distraction

Have you noticed how difficult increasing focus has become in the last decade … a decade that has become known as the age of distraction. From just the digital world alone the number of distractions has increased at an astronomical rate. So how to focus better has become a major challenge for us all.

Even a small amount of distraction can have a significant impact to your productivity and particularly your creativity. So what are some ways to focus better that we recommend to our clients?

Here are 6 recommendations we use to help in facing this important issue:

Establish quiet time

While not all of us are morning people, we believe it is important to start the day on your most important and often most difficult task. Close the door, don’t turn on the computer, and devote your time and energy to thinking. Make this your most important habit.

Organize your work space

Your ability to focus your thinking is directly related to your ability to eliminating your visual distractions. This means eliminating all the clutter on your desk and office. It also means facing away from your windows. Both types of visual distractions can be major derailments to your train of thought and concentration.

Learn more: Leadership Collaboration Skills: Everyone Focuses on Developing These

Limit your digital usage

For best results, totally eliminate all digital inputs that break your concentration. Turn off your cell phone and hold your calls. Only do face to face meetings as required. Turn off your computers. No digital disruptions of any kind.

Manage e-mail

Establish strict rules for e-mail and stick to them. We recommend 30 minutes for email 3 times daily. Set those e-mail blocks during your break times in between your 90 minute concentration bursts. No alerts allowed.

Create habits

These techniques will only be effective if they become sound habits. Rituals. They take discipline on your part and won’t happen on their own.

Manage tasks

Know what your priority tasks are and dedicate your time to these tasks in 90 minute bursts. Make sure you understand what makes a task complete. Multitasking is not nearly as effective as task dedication until completion.

Remember … you cannot learn new ways without first letting go of the old. And, like anything else you are learning, there is no substitute for practical experience.

Mike Schoultz is a digital marketing and customer service expert. With 48 years of business experience, he consults on and writes about topics to help improve the performance of small business. You can find him and his writing on G+, Facebook, Twitter, Digital Spark Marketing, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.