We say it time and time again.
If you want to get your work done and avoid distractions…
Shut your door.
Turn off your notifications.
Close your email.
But what if those aren’t the distractions that are killing your focus? What if the distractions in your life are coming from the people in your life?
If you have a colleague who just LOVES to come up to your desk and tap you on the shoulder…
… or if you’re sick of getting “urgent” emails from your boss or client who expects you to drop everything at a moment’s notice…
…or if you feel like you can’t draw boundaries at work – this guide is for you.
We’re going to teach you how to avoid distractions, stay focused, and cross out everything on your to-do list. Read on!
💡Quick overview:
- A single workplace distraction can cost us 25 minutes of productivity.
- The most common distractions are colleagues, phone notifications, emails, chat apps, and meetings.
- Strategies like focusing on priorities, training colleagues to respect your time, and limiting access to technology can help you avoid distractions.
The most common workplace distractions
Yesterday, I was in the middle of a focused work session at a coworking space when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“Hey, Demir! What’s up, man…hey, I have a quick question for you!…”
I looked up and calmly said, “Hey man, no, actually, I’m in the middle of something, but can you come back in 20 minutes?”
The truth is, I could have answered his question right then and there.
But that would set a dangerous precedent for my office culture: that it’s okay to interrupt people any time you want! And I’d never be able to avoid distractions again.
If you’re anything like Carey and me, you seethe at the number of workplace distractions you face daily.
It’s annoying…
…not to mention, it’s destroying your productivity!
Gloria Mark, a top researcher from the University of California, studied the effects of office distractions. She says each distraction can cost up to 25 minutes in lost productivity.
And the number one distraction among employees?
Research shows 71% of employees say their colleagues are their biggest distraction.
But they’re not the only distractions!
The same study found that other common workplace distractions include phone notifications (62%), email (32%), chat apps like Slack (27%), and meetings (17%).
Other less obvious distractions include:
- Social media
- Children and pets
- Stress and anxiety
- Brain overload
- Mental or physical exhaustion
- Loud environment
- Overwhelm
So, here’s the problem.
How do you avoid the distractions that don’t stem from your colleagues?
And even harder, how can you politely tell your clients, boss, or colleagues to “shove off” when they have zero consideration for your time or overwhelm you?
Figuring out how to avoid distractions can be hard, but it’s important you do – I’ll tell you why next.
The importance of eliminating distractions
The average employee gets interrupted as much as 60 times a day, and it’s costing them.
Think about it. You already know it takes almost half an hour to recover from a distraction.
But it’s not just breaking your concentration. It’s impacting your productivity as a whole and causing other problems like:
But if you can find a way to actively avoid distractions, you’re practically guaranteed success – regardless of whether you’re working at home, while traveling, or in an office.
Not sure where to start? Keep reading for the best ways to avoid distractions and get stuff done.
Steps to avoid distractions and stay focused
It’s not impossible to avoid distractions, but it can be tricky to master.
Here, I’m sharing my ten favorite tricks and tips to avoid distractions no matter where I work, including:
- Focusing on priorities
- Working behind a closed door
- Training coworkers
- Establishing time for interruptions
- Implement a communication policy
1. Focus on your priorities
I know how easy it is to get distracted and pulled off-track by things your boss or coworkers need from you.
That’s why it’s so important to outline your priorities ahead of time.
I find it easiest to avoid distractions and focus on my priorities when I write a to-do list or use a task manager.
But for a to-do list to work, it has to be actionable.
I recommend starting each task with a verb.
See the difference?
The tasks on the left aren’t helpful because they’re not actionable.
But tasks on the right are extremely clear and, therefore, actionable.
⚡Action item: Write a to-do list that includes a verb with every task. I show you exactly how to do it in our Lifehack Planner.
2. Go work behind a closed office door
Finding a quiet, distraction-free space with a closed door and actually closing it will make all the difference.
I talk more about this idea in this video:
Closing the door can also help you avoid distractions when you’re working from home.
If you don’t have a dedicated office, find something with a door, whether it’s a walk-in closet or laundry room.
Then, just like you would in the office, tell your family when you’re available.
One way to make this even more impactful is to create office hours.
Want more tips for being productive while working from home? Check out this guide I put together.
⚡Action item: Identify three spaces you could use specifically for work.
3. Train your coworkers to stop distracting you
Remember what I said about coworkers and family members being distractions?
You’ve taught them it’s okay to distract you.
Dropping what you’re doing whenever someone interrupts you to ask for help or a favor communicates that it’s a welcome distraction.
You have to get comfortable saying no.
Even saying something like, “I’m in the middle of something and will be done in 20 minutes,” will help.
⚡Action item: Come up with three ways to tell people you can’t help at that moment.
4. Establish a block time for interruptions
Or, instead of saying no, you could say yes – within limits.
What I mean by this is that you can tell someone you have a specific amount of time to help them with their question.
It’s called timeboxing. It’s a great way to make clear that a minute means precisely that – a minute.
For example, if someone asks, “Do you have a few minutes?” you could say, “I have exactly six minutes. Can this be handled in that timeframe?”
It puts it on them to help you avoid distractions by telling the truth that it can be handled, or no, it can’t.
⚡Action item: Mark all of your in-between time on your calendar so that you can easily tell when you can help.
5. Create a communication policy
An easy way to avoid distractions is to make sure that people understand when and how to communicate with you.
Carey and I created a policy called Cut, Bleeding, Dying.
Here’s how it works.
Cut is for everyday pain points, and clients can expect a 48-hour response time.
Bleeding is more urgent and calls for a response within 12 to 24 hours.
Dying is reserved for emergencies that require immediate action. In this instance, we can be reached by phone.
For most people, “dying” is the standard communication policy.
But by adding tiers, we could breathe and avoid distractions a bit more easily.
⚡Action item: Create a one-page communication plan that works for you.
6. Limit your access to technology
Digital distraction is a real threat, especially when we’ve got unlimited access to laptops, smartwatches, and tablets.
And don’t get me started on our phones – which we check an average of 144 times daily!
So, how do you avoid distractions when they’re everywhere?
Start by committing to using your technology in intervals.
For example, you might set your timer, work for a specific amount of time, and then check for a few minutes.
The Pomodoro Technique is great for this.
You could also remove the technology that’s distracting out of eyesight.
If you have to have it on you, hide the most distracting apps or set up screen time limits (here are tutorials for Apple and Android).
Then, turn off notifications on the rest of your devices, including emails and push notifications.
Or, if you work on your computer, a blocker like the Freedom App or Stayfocusd can help you avoid distractions.
⚡Action item: Silence your phone and put it in another room for one hour while you work.
7. Take breaks
I used to think I had to be chained to my desk to be productive, but that’s not true.
Taking breaks is good for you! Research shows they enhance your well-being, increase work performance, and improve productivity.
I recommend taking a 10-minute break at the end of every hour to move around, stretch your legs, or get some fresh air.
This is another method to avoid distractions that the Pomodoro Technique can help with.
But smartwatches, kitchen timers, apps like Be Focused, and even Chrome extensions like Mindful Break are also useful.
⚡Action item: Schedule two breaks into tomorrow’s workday.
8. Check emails at set times
How often do you start your day with a “quick” check of your inbox?
🛑Stop!
I know it feels productive, but it’s not.
Why?
Because you end up focusing on what others need – and it takes over your entire day.
So, create a set time to check your emails and put a limit on it.
⚡Action item: Set aside 20 minutes each day to check your emails, and schedule a recurring calendar appointment to make it a consistent habit.
9. Use noise-canceling headphones
Your work environment is probably louder than you realize, whether at home or in the office.
Think about all the conversations, phone calls, coffee machines, and tech notifications happening around you.
That constant hum can cause fatigue, stress, and distractions – all of which impact productivity and make it impossible to avoid distractions.
To avoid distractions, you have to avoid noise.
Investing in a great pair of noise-canceling headphones is the best way to do it.
And when they’re just not cutting it, do what I do – use earplugs, too.
⚡Action item: Order noise-canceling headphones.
10. Take care of yourself
Above all, don’t forget to practice self-care when trying to avoid distractions!
That means:
- Getting up from your desk and getting some fresh air
- Drinking enough water
- Exercising
- Eating healthy foods
- Sleeping enough
This kind of self-care is what will help you prevent burnout.
⚡Action item: Integrate one method of self-care into your workday.
What’s next?
There you have it!
A step-by-step guide that will help you avoid distractions and focus on your work to be your most productive and successful self.
Here’s an extra way to avoid distractions: meticulously planning your week.
We’ll teach you how to do it in our free Winning the Week Worksheet.
