Distractions: Keeping Us From Productivity

Time-Management Overview

Managing your time can go off the rails quickly with just a few distractions. So how do you manage your time effectively and stay focused? Time Management includes organizing how you separate your time between tasks. This may include organizing, planning, prioritizing, and other skills that will ultimately create a more well-rounded schedule. 

This article describes how to limit your distractions and help you become more productive with your time. I will discuss different techniques and help you feel more confident in building this particular life skill. 

Note that this article may include affiliate links, where I receive a very small portion of a purchase back for providing you with this helpful information. 

Limit Distractions

We have distractions around us all the time (TV, social media, phones, texts, calls, other work, emails, etc.) that it seems pointless to try and get away from them all. So here, I ask that you try to limit the distractions by designating a specific time where you will be media free.

Determine what might be a distraction to you and what you need to do in order to stay focused. This may even be to add something that will help you stay more focused and away from things like your social media, like a reward or music directly into your ears. 

Ultimately, once you have determined what your distractions are, you can then get rid of anything that is not needed for that task. Keep things in another room or out of reach or on Do Not Disturb to limit distractions in order to complete a task. If work emails are an issue, mute them for a designated time that you are working on a task. Most things can wait 25-30 minutes for you to respond. Distractions may also come from noises, so if you know that a lot of noise will distract you, find a space (or noise canceling headphones or music) that will help you stay focused.

POMODORO

The POMODORO technique allows you to focus on your task for a designated amount of time before taking a break. By remaining focused for just this time frame, you can be more efficient, effective, and make fewer mistakes because you are not moving from one task to another. 

The technique works by choosing a task (choose from your top priorities first to get them out of the way) and determining how long you think this task will take you. If you think that this task will take about 25 minutes, that is great! If you think it will take less or more than this, you may have to schedule other rounds of POMODORO or more tasks to fit into that 25 minute frame. Either way, have a plan going into your work mode. 

Set up your work space to limit distractions and then set a timer for 25 minutes. Here is a POMODORO specific timer if you would like to use it to help you with this technique. Then, work on your designated task for those 25 minutes, no distractions, no multitasking, just that one item. 

When the timer goes off, you can hopefully cross your task off the list and then take a 5-10 minute break. Ideally, you will want a 5 minute break before going back to another 25 minute work block; however, if your task was using a lot of brain power and problem solving, you may need a full 10 minutes to be able to move forward. You also want to make sure that you are not doing anything work related during this time. You can mediate or move your body in some positive way or get a snack, but avoid checking emails or sitting at your desk while you take your break. 

After your short break, choose another task and repeat the process. After 3 rounds of POMODORO, you should take a longer break (about 20-30 minutes) in order to avoid burnout.

Other Options: Maintaining Focus and Accountability

We’ve already talked about focusing on one thing at a time. Use the POMODORO technique or other time-management skills to prioritize and maintain focus on one task at a time. You will be more efficient and effective when you are not trying to multitask.

If working by yourself doesn’t work, you can always add in an accountability partner. Choose a system that can work for you and a person you think can hold you accountable so that you can move forward knowing you have to check-in with another person. There are two systems that I see most often: the check-in and the coworking space. In the “check-in” system, you tell an accountability partner what your realistic prioritized goal(s) are for the day and at the end of the day (or the end of your working time), you tell them what you have accomplished. The “coworking space” is similar except that you are both in the same space working on your own respective tasks. 

Wrap Up

Limiting distractions may seem daunting, but it can be done. With appropriate systems and support, we can learn how to make the most of our time and really learn the importance of time-management. 

If you want to learn more about time-management strategies, click here. The Life Skills Academy course includes various strategies for time-management, extension activities to practice, and printable guides to help build better habits. Use this course for yourself, the young adult in your life, or as an extra activity in your classroom!