7 simple ways to overcome distractions

Distraction is the process of diverting one's attention away from a given task or activity. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including external stimuli, mental fatigue, boredom, procrastination, and even physical discomfort. In general, distraction can interfere with your ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand, thus reducing your productivity.

Distraction can be necessary and beneficial in certain situations, such as when a person needs to take a break from a stressful task or activity. However, excessive or prolonged distraction can result in serious problems for you, such as reduced productivity, decreased concentration, and even physical or mental health issues. It can also lead to negative emotions, such as frustration, discontentment, and stress.

To prevent distractions from affecting one's life, it is important to find ways to minimize them. This can include taking breaks from tasks and activities, setting realistic goals, and practising mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Below are some tips that can help you fight against distractions.

To avoid distractions, you need to start by creating a workspace that is free from distractions. Use a separate room or area of your home that is away from the television, computer, and other sources of distraction. This will help you to focus more on the work at hand, thereby increasing your productivity. Make sure that your friends and family will not be able to start up a conversation with you when you're working, and your workspace should also be free from noise such as music and street noises.

Setting aside a specific time and dedicating yourself to work at that time will help you go a long way in anything you're doing. If you're planning to write a book, and you feel that you also have other things on your mind, the best thing is to set aside the time for your writing. Dedicate specific hours of the day to complete your work, 1- 2 hours every day will take you a long way, and you will be surprised by how much you've achieved. This will help to ensure that you are focusing on your task and not getting distracted.

Always be committed to your work, and do not give in to unnecessary distractions.  Let your family, friends, and colleagues know that you need to focus on your work and can’t be disturbed during certain times. By doing this, you'll get to create more time for yourself and work more productively.

Social media such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other types of social media platforms are sometimes distractions, especially when you have no urgent information or news to check on them. You can learn how to manage the hours you spend on these social media platforms by turning off notifications when you're working. Disable notifications on your phone, computer, and other devices that may distract you and prevent you from focusing on your work.

As the saying goes, all work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Short breaks are necessary after long hours of working. Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help to clear your head and give you more time to refocus. 

Quit trying to accomplish many tasks at the same time. Prioritise your goals, choose the most important one first and accomplish it. After that, you can then move on to the next tasks. Trying to do more than one thing at a time can only lead to chaos and mistakes. You will just end up messing everything up. This will hinder you from getting more productive, and you may not be able to learn and add new tasks. Multitasking can be a major source of distraction. Focus on one task at a time to complete it more efficiently.

Set clear goals for yourself each day and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This can help to keep you motivated and on track.