I wanted to start a discussion about how everyone's doing with trying to focus on work, having periods of intense focus or sharing tools or ways that help with those things.
Something that helps me personally is listening to music. This is especially beneficial for me since I am working from home and hearing sounds from the house and my family can be a real focus-breaker.
So how do you "deal with distractions" and what helps you focus on work the most?
##### Post Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Digital Marketing Developer - Net upvotes: 3 ## Comments ### Comment 1 <p>Time Blocks and removing all distractions. </p><p>That ensures that I have the time, place and tools I need to get started. Starting hard things was always my weak spot.</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Marketing Effectiveness Consultant, Online Marketing Specialist for Businesses, Entrepreneur and Investor - Net upvotes: 2 ### Comment 2 <p>I am able to multi-task and handle many items at a time. If I really need to get intense, I work better without the overhead lights in my office on, utilzing the natural light from my window and will close the door to my office.</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Director of Pre-Construction - Net upvotes: 2 #### Reply 1 <p>I, too, hate working with any artificial light – even when it's dark outside!</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru ### Comment 3 <p>Good morning,</p><p>i work with passion that don't stress me and distract me from any other sound or people. i enjoy my work and i learn some technical things that help me make my work easy.but some point i keep in mind is time management for the day and priority task.</p><p>good discussion for WFH people :)</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: SR Process associate - Net upvotes: 2 ### Comment 4 <p>I know my answer may seem "distorted," but generally speaking, one thing that helps me a lot to stay focused is having a clear understanding of the goal. When I haven't defined a goal or path, whatever I'm doing, I don't do it effectively like when I actually have a clear goal to achieve. </p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: CTO - Growth Marketer full stack #MarTech | ⚡️ SaaS Advisor - Net upvotes: 2 #### Reply 1 <p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hi Luca,</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I read somewhere that once you are distracted, it takes around 20 minutes to get your concentration/focus back and get back 'into the groove' of your work.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Like you, I have so many distractions to contend with . To counteract this, I'm now starting to wake up earlier and start work then. I find that I can get so much more work done then, before any interruptions. I've also spoken to my family and asked them not to disturb me at certain times of the day. One other thing I've done is to ensure that I complete any non-work tasks in certain timeframes (e.g. when I drop my children off at school, I also complete the shopping, just after that. Once I have finished my shopping, I drive home and then start my work). </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I agree with you - it's important to have a clear path, a defined plan and 'deep focus' when you have a goal/target to achieve. Without these in place, the task is made more complicated and likely to succeed by the defined timescales.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Normally, when I need to focus on an important task, I make that my main area of concern and have a clearly defined strategy for it in terms of planning and workflows. By using an iterative process, where I am continually referring to my planned work schedule after completing tasks, I am able to get a better handle on the project. After each task is completed, I move onto the next one. This has always helped me in the past.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">For business as usual activities, I have the radio on - listening to talk radio or some light/easy listening music.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: CISM | CRISC | CEH Cyber Security Professional ### Comment 5 <p>I couldn't agree more with the music part. When I am doing something that requires a specific type of focus (like proof reading something), I will do it in silence. But 90%+ of the time, I have music playing. There's something about me and white noise – I struggled to fall asleep my whole life until I started using a fan for the hum.</p><p>A couple of other things I do:</p><p>–Put my phone in another room so I am not even tempted to look at it and get distracted.</p><p>–Break up the task into increments and write them down. It can make a really big responsibility seem more manageable when it's transformed into a few smaller items. Plus, I get an endorphin release from crossing something off a list.</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru - Net upvotes: 1 #### Reply 1 <p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Hi Brett,</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">I totally concur with all of those points. However, I do have my phone with me, but I have the sound off, and I will check it every 90 minutes to ensure I haven't missed an important call or message. Sometimes those missed calls could be potential emergencies, which could potentially take precedence over what you are working on, depending on the situational severity.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">I find there are some things like the home deliveries (Amazon, postman etc.) are impossible to ignore, especially as missed deliveries can create a bigger distraction and inconvenience.</span></p><p><br></p><p> </p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: CISM | CRISC | CEH Cyber Security Professional #### Reply 2 <p>Oh yeah, I definitely agree about being available for emergencies.</p><p>I have an Apple Watch, which will alert me for any phone calls, and iMessage is on my computer, so I would see any texts that were important, too. </p><p><br></p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru ### Comment 6 <p>I am using some apps(Platform) such as ticktick.com. </p><p>Ticktick.com has several tools like:</p><ol><li>Task manager.</li><li>Pomofocus</li><li>Eisenhower matrix</li><li> Habit builders</li></ol><p>These tools helps me to stay organize and eventually helps me to stay focus. </p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Freight Broker ## Related discussions - [How well does Trello scale into a larger team?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/1-how-well-does-trello-scale-into-a-larger-team) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 6 - [Can we please add a new section](https://www.g2.com/discussions/2-can-we-please-add-a-new-section) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 0 - [Quantifiable benefits from implementing your CRM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quantifiable-benefits-from-implementing-your-crm) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 4