No matter what kind of company you work for, chances are you hear a lot about productivity. When you’re productive, you’re not just valuable to your business, but you can feel more accomplished. You know work productivity’s important, and your bosses know it, but how do you attain it?
Whether you work from home or the office, the modern workplace is full of distractions. If you want to improve your work productivity, you’ll want to eliminate these. Here are twelve of the biggest distractions in the workplace and how you can avoid them.
1. Excessive Noise
A 2016 study found that higher noise levels lead to more errors and longer times to complete a task. As a result, creating a quieter workplace will help you stay more productive. If you work in an office setting, consider asking noisy coworkers if they could be quieter or talking to your boss about reducing noise.
If you listen to music while working, keep it at a low level. When you can’t control the noise of your workplace, headphones might help counteract its effects.
2. Sleep Deprivation
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that you won’t work well if you’re tired. Staying up late to complete projects could be counterproductive. Similarly, waking up too early may not help you as much as you’d think.
Organize your days to allow for at least seven hours of sleep a night. Sticking to a consistent schedule will help you fall asleep faster and improve productivity. Avoiding screens for a half-hour before sleeping can also help.
3. Long Hours
At first, working longer hours may seem like it would improve your productivity. It turns out, though, that those who work the longest are the least productive, according to several studies.
Thankfully, this workplace distraction comes with an easy fix. Don’t take your work home with you or stay longer if you don’t have to.
4. Unnecessary Meetings
When you have to stop what you’re doing to attend a meeting, it can disrupt your workflow. As a result, unnecessary meetings are one of the leading distractions in the workplace.
If you’re not in a management position, your options to fix this issue may be limited. Still, try talking to your boss about reorganizing how your team conducts meetings. If they aren’t urgent, they could take the form of emails instead.
5. Smartphones
Some workplace distractions on this list may surprise you, but this isn’t one of them. Interruptions from smartphones can increase the risk of error by 13% and keep you from completing things on time.
Silencing your phone can help remove the distractions it causes. You may even consider putting it in a drawer, out of reach, while you work. When you do use your phone, set a timer to remind you to get back to work.
6. Social Media
Social media comes hand-in-hand with smartphones but deserves its own spot on the list. After all, you can look at these sites on a computer, too.
The best way to eliminate this distraction is to install a webpage blocker on your browser. You can even find some services that will block sites during a set time.
7. Disorganization
If your workspace is unorganized, it’ll take longer to find what you need. This distraction is even more prevalent if you work from home, where you’re more likely to be less organized.
Thankfully, the solution to this issue is as straightforward as it gets. Clean your workspace. File things away and tidy up at the end of every workday.
8. Communication Issues
Studies have shown that when organizations can communicate effectively, they see higher productivity levels. If you don’t know what your coworkers or managers expect of you, it can hinder your work.
Collaboration software can help keep everyone on the same page. Asking for clarification instead of trying to figure something out on your own can also help. Remember that communication goes both ways, so try to be clear in everything you say.
9. Over-Scheduling
Saying “yes” to everything may seem like you’re doing more, but it hurts your work productivity. If you schedule too much at once, you’ll likely end up multitasking and stressing.
When you schedule your days, leave some free time, and keep it open. Know your limits and stick to them. If you have a set limit for the number of things you schedule for one day, it’ll be easier to avoid overbooking yourself.
10. Poor Work-Life Balance
It’s essential to keep your work and life separate. When the two bleed together, you may not have time to relax, and you may not have energy when you should work.
As soon as you leave work, stop doing work things. Don’t email or try to get ahead on tomorrow’s tasks when you’re supposed to be relaxing. If you work from home, this can be hard, but designating one room as your office can help.
11. Not Taking Vacations
It may seem too good to be true, but vacation is good for you. Several studies show that forgoing vacation increases burnout and stress, which harm productivity.
Now, this doesn’t mean you should take a vacation every other week. Taking some time off now and then can help you stay energized and focused, though.
12. Doing Too Much
Finally, one of the most pervasive distractions in the workplace is trying to do everything yourself. As much as 59% of surveyed workers don’t ask for help at work, but maybe you should.
If you try to handle too much at once, you won’t produce quality work in much. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to say no to optional work. If you’re in a managerial position, do what you can and delegate the rest.
Eliminate Workplace Distractions Wherever You Are
Distractions in the workplace are everywhere, whether your work from home or a more traditional space. No matter where you work, though, you can take steps to eliminate productivity killers. Watch for these twelve and follow this guide, and you can stay as productive as possible.
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
