I’m not usually one for gimmicks but with so many distractions luring us away from the task in hand, I decided to pass on some quick tips on how to focus fast. Conveniently, they all start with the letter F…

1. Find somewhere quiet with no distractions. If your office is noisy, either find a quiet area/meeting room or put on headphones and listen to background music. You’ll find people are less inclined to disturb you too. Here’s a link to an article on the best music to listen to when working. But don’t get too distracted…
2. Food and drink: if you’re hungry, you’re more likely to focus on your rumbling stomach than the work in front of you. Conversely, if you’ve just eaten a three course lunch you’ll probably be headbutting your desk before long. Aim for something in between.
3. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, phone – log out/switch off all distractions and don’t even think about checking your emails before you start.
4. Five minutes planning is essential for productive working. Believe me, the back to school approach really does work and saves time in the long run.
5. Finally, forget about everything else apart from the task in hand and just do it!