Office distractions, such as ringing phones, chatty colleagues, or flickering lights, are a universal struggle, impacting productivity, focus, and efficiency. However, don’t despair, as reclaiming your concentration and maximising your workday is absolutely achievable!
At Order Office Furniture, we’ve got a whole array of budget office furniture on offer. And, in this blog, we’ll explore 7 proven strategies to combat those common office distractions, helping you to create a more focused and productive workspace.
Ready to finally get things done? Then settle down and keep reading…
What causes distractions in the office?
Before we dive into our solutions, it’s crucial to understand the root cause of office distractions. In a world of push notifications, shrinking office spaces, and instant messaging, we’re becoming more and more distracted at work.
According to TeamStage, 98% of the workforce says that they are interrupted at least 3 or 4 times a day. And, it can take 23 minutes and 15 seconds to fully recover focus after a distraction. That’s over an hour of unproductivity every day you’re spending in the office!
Constant distractions don’t just leave people feeling less productive, but also more stressed than ever and unable to concentrate on their tasks at hand. Some of the most common distractions in the office include:
Phones - Those small devices that are attached to our hands are the pivotal cause of distraction. Constant buzzes from notifications and the temptation to scroll through social media can lead to wasted time and decreased productivity.
People - Our colleagues are a natural part of any office environment, but they can also be a significant source of distraction. Loud talkers and chatty employees can break your workflow and train of thought, making it difficult to get back on track.
Office noise - More than just a minor annoyance, the background noise of the office can significantly impact our focus and productivity. Whether it’s conversations, music, or loud phone calls, exposure to excessive noise can make us feel irritated and frustrated.
Lighting - While it may seem like a minor detail, office lighting can impact your performance at work. Even if it’s too dim or too bright, inadequate lighting can strain your eyes and lead to headaches and discomfort.
Lack of motivation - This one is a bit more personal, but a lack of motivation can be the driver of distractions in the office. When you’re not motivated, it is tempting to put off tasks, especially the challenging or less interesting ones. A wandering mind might also make it hard to stay on track, especially if you’re daydreaming or thinking about personal worries.
7 easy ways to combat office distractions
Now that you know what’s distracting you, it’s time to find out how you can avoid them. It doesn’t have to take a lot, just small changes that you can implement into your daily routine straight away.
Without further ado, let’s have a look at our 7 simple ways to combat office distractions and see how you can win your time back…
1. Reduce office noise levels
If you are exposed to the constant chatter of colleagues from across the room or a never-ending playlist, don’t worry, as there is a solution to combat this. Noise is at the top of the list of office distractions, and can include anything such as loud phone calls, clicking pens and keyboards, and the swivel of office chairs.
One of the best solutions is to invest in a good pair of headphones. Whether you work in a communal office or work from home, a pair of headphones can signal that it is time to focus and lock in. It also means that you get complete control over the noise, whether you want to listen to music or a motivational podcast. We recommend going one step further and investing in noise-cancelling headphones if you work in a severely noisy environment. To many employees, they’re an office essential!
2. Activate ‘do not disturb’!
Dealing with a distracting phone is a common challenge, especially in the office. While your phone can make some aspects of your work life more convenient, the overload of notifications is the price that we pay. Sometimes we forget that we can quite literally turn our phones off, but in this case of emergencies, this probably isn’t a popular idea.
Instead, activate your phone's ‘do not disturb’ mode and disable distracting notifications. Some phones will tell your friends and family that it is in ‘work’ mode, and this will mean that your screen takes a break from lighting up with each notification, allowing you to focus on your tasks. You could also simply place your phone in a nearby drawer or on the opposite side of the room, making it harder to access and stopping you from picking it up every ten minutes out of habit.
3. Clear desktop clutter
Did you know that having a cluttered office desk can actually decrease productivity, increase workload, and lead to lots of wasted time? It can stop us from fully focusing on our important work tasks, and the look of an untidy desk can lead to stress and anxiety, contributing to a cluttered mind as well as a cluttered office environment!
Start off by clearing your surface and removing any unnecessary items. Only keep the things you need such as your computer, keyboard, mouse, and perhaps a notepad and pen. Assess each item and ask yourself if it is useful when it comes to your job - if the answer is ‘no’, then put it somewhere else or get rid of it. We recommend investing in under-desk cable management to hide any unattractive and messy cables.
For more easy desk ideas, have a read of our blog: How to Organise Your Small Office Desk.
4. Upgrade your seating
It might sound surprising, but having the right office chair can significantly reduce distractions and boost your focus in the office. An ergonomic office chair can promote good posture which in turn improves blood flow and reduces fatigue. When you are comfortable and supported, you’re less likely to fidget, shift around, or feel the need to get up and move, minimising your exposure to distractions!
We recommend investing in a chair that has adjustable features such as a headrest, armrests, and tilts. And, once it's in a comfortable position, it reduces the need to constantly adjust your position, which can be distracting. Ultimately, a stable and sturdy chair minimises movement and wobble, allowing you to focus on your work without feeling unsteady or unbalanced.
Learn more about ergonomics by reading our blog: Examples of Ergonomics in The Workplace.
5. Take regular breaks
Although you might not think it, taking regular breaks can actually minimise the amount of distractions that you’re exposed to throughout the day. It might seem counterintuitive, but taking small and regular breaks helps to combat mental fatigue and means that you can concentrate better when you settle down to focus. It can also prevent you from feeling burnt out by setting yourself a realistic and sustainable pace.
Stepping away from a task or a problem can often lead to new insights and solutions, helping you approach your work with renewed creativity and a fresh perspective, making you feel more accomplished and productive. The importance of regular breaks at work shouldn’t go unnoticed and should be encouraged (in moderation, of course!)
We recommend varying your breaks - you can do this by getting up and moving around, stepping outside for some fresh air, doing some light stretches, or engaging in a relaxing activity like meditating.
6. Create a focused work environment
Leading on from this, a great way to become less distracted is by creating a solid and focused work environment. With a few strategies, it’s easy to buckle down and concentrate on your most important tasks. Start each day by identifying your most important task, then schedule specific blocks of time for focused work. During these blocks, minimise interruptions as much as possible. We also recommend limiting multitasking, as this can actually reduce focus and productivity.
The temperature of your office, believe it or not, can also lead to distractions if you’re not feeling comfortable. If you feel too hot or too cold, this can take your focus away from tasks and make you feel aware of the uncomfortable temperature. Ensure that you’re wearing enough layers and keep your heating at a safe temperature that everyone is happy with.
For more productivity tips, have a read of our blog: How to Feng Shui Your Office For Balance and Productivity.
7. Get rid of ineffective meetings
Meetings that lack clear agendas, objectives, or participant engagement can waste valuable time and energy and be more distracting than useful. Therefore, implementing clear agendas and goals for your executive meetings will ensure that they are productive and focused, allowing participants to maximise their contributions and drive meaningful outcomes.
Encourage those who organise the meetings to send an email with a brief overview beforehand - this can let employees prepare effectively and contribute meaningfully to conversations and discussions. You could also put a time limit on all meetings - anything over an hour should be carried over into another day so that important tasks can still be completed. Setting these boundaries will ensure that you have a productive day and won’t waste time in an ineffective way.
Other useful tips
Still not satisfied? You don’t have to implement strict regimes or switch up your whole working day to feel more productive. Here’s a quick bullet point list of some other tips and tricks that you can implement into your working day.
- Try to listen to white noise or instrumental music
- Make a to-do list and tackle the biggest task first
- Personalise your computer desk with motivational quotes
- Let your colleagues know when you need to focus
- Use visual queues - put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign if you really need to!
- Track how you spend your day
- Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise
Create the office of your dreams with Order Office Furniture
Hopefully, this blog has given you some good solutions to minimise how distracted you get in the office. With a bit of willpower and some easy tips and tricks, you can get your head down and maximise your productivity, without those pesky office distractions!
Remember, Order Office Furniture is the place to go for all your office needs. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch - a member of our team will be more than happy to get back to you. Alternatively, come and see our office furniture in person by visiting our showroom in Huddersfield. You can also give us a quick call on 01484 420 088.
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