I usually focus on noise, and specifically conversational distractions, when I talk about office distractions. Today, however, I thought I’d share some other common office distractions and issues in addition to noise. As a matter of fact, I believe we are often our own biggest distraction. So, here are some tips to accompany common office issues.
Lack of organization.
When we can’t find papers, emails, or other important work-related documents, we not only lose valuable time on the hunt for said lost items, we also ooze unprofessionalism.
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Make sure there's a method to your madness.
Organize your desk
. I think Friday afternoons, 4-5 pm, are ideal for this. Most people have lost focus by then, but still have to be “on the clock.” Why not pass that last hour cleaning up your desk and getting things ready for the next week? It may be that you need to set aside more time the first time you organize as you do a more major overhaul. However, if you keep up with it on a weekly basis, staying clutter-free should be quite manageable. - Similarly, organize your email. Make folders, such as Project “____”, personal, need to respond, important information, updated information, committee, etc. It’s up to you what the specific folder will be, but by filing emails in a thoughtful way, you stay organized and know what you need to respond to and/or keep and what you can discard.
- File your papers. Keep some trays or a file box nearby for things you need to reference frequently, copy, fax, scan, or file more permanently. Once you have done what you need to with each document, you can file it more permanently.
- Set aside specific time to respond to email and other correspondence. This may be once a day or several times a day. Just having a set time helps to relieve feelings of being overwhelmed.
Office Noise
Yes, you knew I would get around to it eventually. Distractions, namely conversational ones, cost us tons of time every day at work. Just like you added structure to your daily routine, you also have to purpose to deal with office noise.
- It may be that you can hunker down to work and your co-workers get the picture that you mean business.
- However, if you have a chatty co-worker, it may be time to (wo)man up and say something. You’ll have to decide what you need to say and how you’ll do it, but do it tactfully. No need to burn any bridges or be rude.
- Try white noise, like this free white noise generator. If you can’t beat ‘em, tune ‘em out. Plus, you can enjoy nature sounds while you work. Just thinking about being outdoors might motivate you to work more productively anyway.
Regardless of your method, just make sure it makes sense to you and helps you stay on top of important work and within reach of anything you might need.
