11 Ways to Avoid Distractions and Stay Focused

Sometimes it seems that for as many hours there are in the day, there are three times as many interruptions that take you away from work that needs to get done. So what can you do to get a little more clarity and get rid of those distractions? Give some of these suggestions a try.

1. Turn off the background noise.

What you thought was "white noise" from the TV or radio could be a bigger distraction than you realize.

2. Have a calming mantra.

Post a sign or post-it near your workspace that says something along the lines of “quiet mind.” That will be your signal to take a deep breath and try to relax.

3. Clean up.

Make sure your office or desk is orderly, comfortable and well lit, so you are in the optimal space to be productive.

4. Take it one thing at a time.

If you feel yourself getting pulled in different directions, just stop and focus on one task until it’s completed.

5. Switch off your cell phone.

Or if you can’t turn off your ringer for whatever reason, shut off the tweet/text/e-mail alerts, especially if you know you jump every time you hear it.

6. Take a break.

Go through your to-do list and prioritize. Ask yourself, does this really need to get done today or can I do it tomorrow?

7. Use the Internet sparingly.

If you know you’ll only need it for a specific bit of research, get it out of the way and then unplug while you do the rest of your work. This will help you avoid the urge to go down a browsing rabbit hole.