Staying Focused at Work & Beating the 2 O’Clock Slump
Picture this: you have a big deadline coming up in the office when something suddenly comes up. Maybe your coworker stops by your desk for a quick chat, maybe you click a link that leads you down a rabbit hole. Next thing you know, an hour has gone by and you’ve completely forgotten where you left off.
It’s happened to the best of us.
While taking the occasional brain break throughout the day can actually lead to increased productivity, it’s important not to lose your momentum when you’re working on a project. And while you can’t exactly shut off the world when your deadline is fast approaching, you can adopt some habits that will help you stay focused at work.
Having trouble staying focused at work? That’s normal!
Here are our five tried and true tricks for staying focused at work.
Switch Your Phone to Do Not Disturb
I know, I know. But hear me out: not every phone call or text message is about your apartment being robbed or your child getting sick. Pulling yourself away from your technology can be hard, but it will do wonders for your productivity and focus. Switch your phone to Do Not Disturb (iPhone users, that’s the little moon icon!) and make a deal with yourself to only check it once an hour.
Plug In And Turn on the Tunes
Staying focused at work is hard when you have to deal with the buzz of office chatter, meetings and other people’s loud typing. We are way more productive when we can tune out the outside world. Put on your headphones and choose a playlist that inspires you and energizes you – then get back to work! We recommend this playlist to help you plug in and tune out.
Make a Daily To-Do List
Sometimes work can feel a little overwhelming. If you’re working on a massive project or juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s easy to lose track of what your next steps ought to be – and once that happens, staying focused at work is almost impossible. Start each morning off on the right foot by making yourself a daily to-do list. Giving yourself concrete goals for the day will help you process large tasks and establish a plan of action that will keep you focused at your nine-to-five.
Need to up your productivity? Check out our 3 steps to the most productive day you’ve ever had!
Bring on the Snacks
It’s important to have plenty of snacks on hand throughout the day, since a grumbling stomach makes it difficult to stay focused on the task at hand. Try to make these snacks as healthy and nutritious as possible – so maybe skip the pringles and diet coke, and sub in some roasted nuts or fresh fruit. With the right fuel, staying focused at work will get a whole lot easier! Here are 4 foods to help you focus from Eating Well.
Schedule in Healthy Breaks
Too many people forget to take a break. Especially if you’re staring at a computer all day, it’s crucial that you give yourself some time away from the screen. About once every two hours, step away from your desk for a five to ten minute break. Walk to the water cooler to fill up your water bottle, do a lap around the office and stop to chat with a coworker (as long as they look like they’re available). Your body will thank you and you’ll find that it’s much easier to stay focused on the task at hand.
Use these tips to stay focused at work and become more productive.
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