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…
- 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…
- 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.
- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, phone – log out/switch off all distractions and don’t even think about checking your emails before you start.
- 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.
- Finally, forget about everything else apart from the task in hand and just do it!
Sarah Kingsley 