How to snap out of it/ concetrate on work?
December 10, 2013 1:58 PM Subscribe
What are practical tips for keeping my mind on tasks at hand rather than other things?
I don't do a good job of concentrating at work. When I have a lot on my mind, or when things beside work affect me a lot, I make more mistakes at work. They are careless mistakes. I can't keep making mistakes like that.
How can I stay more focused at work? Are there any refrains, or things you do to remind yourself to get back to work?
I don't do a good job of concentrating at work. When I have a lot on my mind, or when things beside work affect me a lot, I make more mistakes at work. They are careless mistakes. I can't keep making mistakes like that.
How can I stay more focused at work? Are there any refrains, or things you do to remind yourself to get back to work?
Along the lines of Pomodoro, I've had luck working in short bursts on unfocused days. It helps also to close down as many distractions as possible during that time, so I may put my phone on silent, close my email, turn off various notifications, etc. I'll check for messages and such between work periods.
On days I think I'm more likely to make mistakes, I go back and double check a little later before sending it off or otherwise considering it done.
If you do physical work, you might practice mindfulness of the task at hand. Again, this (the mindfulness) is something you could do in short bursts, but with practice, you will find it easier to extend the periods of mindfulness.
posted by moira at 2:35 PM on December 10, 2013
On days I think I'm more likely to make mistakes, I go back and double check a little later before sending it off or otherwise considering it done.
If you do physical work, you might practice mindfulness of the task at hand. Again, this (the mindfulness) is something you could do in short bursts, but with practice, you will find it easier to extend the periods of mindfulness.
posted by moira at 2:35 PM on December 10, 2013
Anti-anxiety meds.
When I forget to take them, it shows up in my daily productivity.
They're Lifesavers, only in shitty flavors.
posted by IAmBroom at 3:07 PM on December 10, 2013 [3 favorites]
When I forget to take them, it shows up in my daily productivity.
They're Lifesavers, only in shitty flavors.
posted by IAmBroom at 3:07 PM on December 10, 2013 [3 favorites]
Keep a sheet of paper on your desk and make a mark every time you are distracted. Lots of marks = good awareness. Few marks = good concentration.
posted by michaelh at 4:11 PM on December 10, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by michaelh at 4:11 PM on December 10, 2013 [5 favorites]
On the Study Hacks blog, Cal Newport has written about how to develop what he calls "hard focus".
Also, basic Zen meditation might be useful. It's not about trying to empty the mind, it's about paying attention to the way your mind flits from thought to thought, noticing when your focus has shifted from the breath, and then (gently and without scolding yourself about it) bringing your focus back to the breath. Repeat as necessary until the timer goes off. Don't start with more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time, though, or the frustration may get you to quit almost immediately. It's challenging, speaking from experience, and worth it.
posted by Lexica at 7:27 PM on December 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Also, basic Zen meditation might be useful. It's not about trying to empty the mind, it's about paying attention to the way your mind flits from thought to thought, noticing when your focus has shifted from the breath, and then (gently and without scolding yourself about it) bringing your focus back to the breath. Repeat as necessary until the timer goes off. Don't start with more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time, though, or the frustration may get you to quit almost immediately. It's challenging, speaking from experience, and worth it.
posted by Lexica at 7:27 PM on December 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
One thing that has helped me is keeping a steno pad next to my computer. For jotting down distracting thoughts when they pop into my head. This allows me to acknowledge and let it go.
Diet helps too. When I consume too much coffee and sugar, I get jittery to the point where I can't focus at all.
posted by pakoothefakoo at 9:02 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Diet helps too. When I consume too much coffee and sugar, I get jittery to the point where I can't focus at all.
posted by pakoothefakoo at 9:02 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Does your job let you listen to something of your choice? It's counterintuitive, but a little bit of distraction might help--on days when I find myself really getting lost in worrying about extraneous things or distracted by non-work shinies, I throw on a podcast or audiobook (something more structured than music, but 'light' enough that I don't have to actively focus on it or rewind if I tune out for a moment--Welcome to Night Vale is really good for this, and the Mefi podcast, and YA audiobooks), and the mild distraction actually helps, because the part of my brain that keeps trying to sneak off is being kept busy.
posted by kagredon at 3:45 AM on December 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kagredon at 3:45 AM on December 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was in much the same shape. You might look at some online resources about ADD to see if anything matches up. It did for me. Life is better now.
posted by rudd135 at 5:49 PM on December 11, 2013
posted by rudd135 at 5:49 PM on December 11, 2013
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posted by backwards guitar at 2:17 PM on December 10, 2013