Have ever searched ‘how to focus on work’ in google? You’ve purposed to finish the work that’s been piling up on your desk, then suddenly you get a call. Something more pressing has come up and you need to attend to it.  One hour later, it hits you that you’re running out of time and you get back to your desk in a huff. All the momentum, you’d build is no more and you can’t even remember where you left off.

Does this sound like you? Then you have a problem with managing your work.

 Tips for Focusing on Your Work

1. Set Clear Goals

Do not set an arbitrary number of working hours per day. Instead, make a list of your priorities for the week. This allows you to ignore any other distractions that come your way during the week. Review the list every morning and decide which tasks you’re going to focus on that day.

2. Take Breaks

Working continuously for hours can cause fatigue and increase the lure of distractions. You should take a break every 60 – 90 minutes to reset your focus and allow your mind to unwind. Take a few minutes to walk, eat a snack or simply listen to music.

3. Turn Off the World

Wondering how to focus on work better? Why not steer clear of all distractions when you’re supposed to be working. You can isolate yourself by setting up a work environment where you don’t have all the things that distract you. For example, you can try working away from the office. Leave your co-workers, your cell phone and have no access to the internet. If need be, you can have a way for people to reach you in case of an emergency.

4. Know Your Triggers

If you want to learn how to focus, you need to learn how you get distracted. Pay attention to your thoughts, mood and body. When do you often get distracted? Is it when you’re tired? Is it when you’re bored? Learn what triggers the distraction so that you can forestall them before drifting off into a tailspin of hours lost.

5. Use Technology

There’s no shortage of productivity tools and software you can use to improve your focus. For example, you can use a tracker to monitor your behavior when you’re online. It gives granular details about your activities including the sites you have visited and how long you stayed. This information is valuable in helping you keep track of the activities that waste your time. There are also tons of daily planners that can help schedule your work. Make sure to pout these tools to good use, but don’t let them turn into distractions themselves.

6. Make Sure You’re Comfortable

Nothing is more distracting that an uncomfortable working area. His is especially so for work done while seated. Get a really good desk or worktable that is spacious enough to fit all the material you need while working. You should also get a chair that provides great support for your back to allow you to site for hours without feeling strained.

7. Always Have Your To-Do List with You

It is advisable to have a to-do list with you at all times. You can place it besides your PC or at a conspicuous place where you can see it as you work. This helps keep your mind focused on what you need to achieve and minimizes the gaps of time spent thinking about what to do next. Cross out tasks as you complete them to give you a sense of accomplishment. This is how to focus on work.

8. Get Organized

Clutter is distracting and can make you feel demotivated to a point where you can’t get anything done. Instead of having piles of files scattered all over your desk, you should get a shelf or a desk drawer where you can put the stuff you’re not using. You should also have an area designated for food and drinks, your bag and other personal items. Create a conducive environment for productivity. This is how to focus on your work.

9. You Need Water

You need to drink water throughout the day. Not only does it keep you feeling refreshed, it keeps you hydrated and less hungry. For this reason, you should have water within arm’s reach of your working area. This way, you won’t have to keep interrupting your work every time you need a cup of water.

10. Deal with Family and Friends

Your family and friends can be one of the most distracting things. They’re either always calling or coming to check up on you.  You should let them know about your strict working policies. However, you should schedule some time for them. This way, they will not disturb you when you need to get things done.

11. Use Headphones

If you work in an environment where you cannot isolate yourself, it becomes very hard to focus on what you need to do. There’s noise everywhere and all sorts of distracting activities going on. One trick that works like a charm is to put on headphones. While they won’t mute everything, they’ll ward off noise and sounds that get your mind wandering. This is how to focus on work.

12. Setting Deadlines

Having goals is one thing, achieving them within a reasonable timeframe is another. It is important for you to set clear deadlines for all the tasks you need to do. Otherwise you will end up jumping from one task to the other with no sense of accomplishment on any one of them. Setting deadline creates a sense of urgency that allows you to focus on what’s truly important.

13. Make Time for Distractions

Let’s face it, you’re not a robot, and distractions are not all bad. You need to make them work for you instead of trying to suppress them. For example, you can reward yourself with an hour of Facebook or calling your friends after you’ve completed a given task.  Distractions are okay as long as you’re in control.