Whether it’s the constant office distractions, days jam packed full of meetings, or that you finally have to get that extra boring task completed, we all struggle to stay focused in the workplace. And don’t even get me started on the blessing and curse of smart phones and social media. It is estimated that the average worker is interrupted or distracted about every 11 minutes and it takes over 20 minutes to fully return focus to the task at hand. That is a serious amount of time when you’re racing to hit deadlines and meet all of your goals. As great as just eliminating these distractions would be, that’s obviously not possible. Here are a few simple and effective things I do to overcome these distractions and stay focused all day:
Grab a Coffee
Some caffeine in the form a cup of coffee, or tea if that’s your thing, is a great way to get yourself going as it promotes increased brain activity. The specific areas affected are those involved in attention and concentration. Luckily here at gap intelligence we have an office full of coffee aficionados so there is never a shortage. There is constantly a new pot brewing, pour overs in the works, fun new cold brews to try, or you can just about always find someone willing to make a Starbucks run across the courtyard with you.
Take Breaks and Go For a Walk
Despite what you would think, taking short breaks can really help you refocus and keep your productivity going throughout the day. These breaks can help refresh and rest your brain. Nowadays when we’re constantly seeing ominous news headlines talking about how your desk job can be a killer and that sitting is the “new smoking”, why not turn your short break into a stroll outside. With our office based here in Liberty Station and the ability to just cross the parking lot to walk along the water, you’re bound to run into at least one gapper out and about enjoying a sunny San Diego afternoon.
Find What You Do Inspiring
This is probably the most important one as there are few things worse than spending 40 hours a week every week for years doing something that you hate. In that situation it’s no wonder that workers are constantly getting distracted by anything and everything. Ownership and Passion are two of our core values that really help us get inspired by our work. When you make something you can call your own, you are way more likely to stay focused. All of us at gap intelligence completely own our job role within our category or department. Not going to lie, there are definitely some days where it’s not all sunshine and rainbows and we have to get through some fairly tedious tasks as with all workplaces, but this ownership results in our passion in achieving and maintaining the GFD (Great Freakin' Data) our clients depend on.
Staying focused at work is something many people struggle with. Distractions are a fact of life and not going away anytime soon but there are many ways to minimize their effect and keep your focus and productivity high during your work day.
Do you have what it takes to be a gapper? Head over the careers section at gapintelligence.com to learn more about open positions. Find more info the bottom of our about page.
