“The average American worker has fifty interruptions a day, of which seventy percent have nothing to do with work.”
So says the late, great William Edwards Deming – American statistician, professor, author, lecturer, consultant and all-round business brain.
Here’s another statistic that’ll grab your attention: Around 50% of American office workers say they work for just 15 minutes before getting distracted, while 53% feel that an hour or more is wasted every single day because of disruptions.
Are you easily distracted at work? Can’t stop browsing Facebook? Time for another gaze out the window? You’re not alone – in fact, it turns out that quite a few of us are plagued by distractions that keep us from reaching our productivity potential. From constant background chatter and phone calls to feeling tired or frustrated, there are plenty of reasons to stop you from getting on with the job.
So how do you deal with distractions at work?
Step one: Go virtual. At Alliance Virtual Offices, we can vouch for the disruption-busting benefits of a virtual office, and how flexible working methods like telecommuting and working from home can cut down on distractions, and boost productivity too. Think of making a presents in a different state or even needing an office close to home? Executive Office Suites offers Virtual Packages that offer the connivence to you and your business.
Think about it. When you use a virtual office, you’re not tied to a physical office. So instead of working in an open-plan office and listening to inane background chatter about last night’s TV or tomorrow’s game, you can fill the gap with actual work. You know, the type that impresses your boss or brings in revenue for your business.
Step two: Hire a virtual assistant. At Alliance Virtual we have a team of professional live receptionists who can take over your call handling duties. They’ll receive calls, take messages and pass them on – making your day easier, less cluttered and ultimately more productive. If you are looking to make a Raleigh North Carolina presents Executive Office Suites has all the amenities to assist you.
Step three: Identify your distractions
- If you get tired easily, go to bed earlier. And remember to take little breaks during the day.
- If you can’t stop looking in the fridge, eat a better breakfast, stock up on your five-a-day and consult a nutritionist.
- If it’s the Internet or emails that are bugging you, work offline for a while.
- If you’re feeling stressed, you could be taking on too much work, or overdoing the multi-tasking. Try to focus on specific tasks – and make sure you finish one thing at a sensible point before moving on to another.
- If you’re bored of a specific task, work to a specific time then reward yourself by moving on to something else.
On the subject of rewards, this can be a valuable part of the working day. Habit-changing author Charles Duhigg says that instead of struggling with distractions, you can actually make them part of your working day. If for instance, you can’t stop going on Facebook or you feel constantly distracted by Twitter, set yourself a target and then reward yourself with 5 minutes of social media time. Accommodate that need and build it into your schedule.
After all, rewards provide motivation – and a little motivation can reap huge rewards for your business.
Find out more about virtual offices and office space that Executive Office Suites has to offer! In the meantime, what other tips can you recommend for beating distractions at work?
Image source: Executive Office Suites
Written by Joanna Republished with permission by Alliance
