Common Workplace Distractions – and How to handle them?

Employees are harmed by several workplace diversions. Technology helps your employee productivity in some areas but damages it in others. A wonderful place to start is by getting rid of distractions. So let’s get started. How can you prevent these workplace distractions from becoming a problem? In this article, we have summarized the common workplace distractions, how they affect productivity, and some simple strategies for increasing productivity.

#1:- Noisy Workplace Culture:

Workplaces are frequently noisy environments. Background noise will always exist. You might hear your coworkers speaking, phone ringing, roadside sounds, or construction taking place in the building next door. These things can all distract you and make you more stressed, which makes it difficult to work. Try playing ambient music to block out any humming in the background and help you focus. If you require extended intervals of silence, ask if you can work remotely or move to a conference room with a door or a quieter area in your building.

#2:- Emails:

Email may be very distracting. You receive a notification that you have received an email while working on an important project. These emails might make you feel busy all the time and frequently leave you with incomplete assignments at the end of the day.

• Make the decision to just check my email twice a day.
• When you’re ready to respond to emails, switch your PC or laptop to offline mode and let them pile up in your inbox.

#3:- Meetings:

Your workday will unavoidably include meetings. People lose time when they are dragged away from their work and made to sit in a meeting for an hour even though they are not required to be there. Make sure a meeting is necessary before setting one up. If a meeting is necessary, only invite the most important parties, set an agenda, and make it as brief as you can. Meetings should have a clear agenda and a well-defined purpose because time lost cannot be recovered.

#4:- Noisy Co-Workers:

Spending too much time gossiping or discussing is more than just a significant diversion. If someone starts a discussion with you and you’re busy, politely decline and let them know you’ll meet up with them later over lunch. And, as was already noted, when you don’t want to be disturbed, wearing headphones can also communicate messages without you uttering a word.

#5:- Smartphones:

Constantly checking your phone disrupts concentration and job flow. We are all aware that our cell phones cause interruptions and divert our focus from the activity or project we are working on. Emails, messages, and phone calls keep us busy all day long. We also use our phones to monitor our calendars and set reminders. That is why we are dependent. It’s difficult, but not impossible, to break your smartphone addiction.

• Putting your smartphone in aeroplane mode will help you avoid being tempted by it during the workday.
• Set to a volume that will allow you to hear a call or text if there is an emergency.
• Disable all notifications, especially social media notifications, that don’t need your immediate attention. If you have email set up on your phone, this also applies to it.
• Make some notifications mute and remove them from your lock screen if they are truly important.

#6:- Social Media:

There are a virtually infinite number of websites and apps that compete for our attention. There is a never-ending flow of information coming from our friends, coworkers, news sources, and businesses. Try to establish boundaries or time limits for when you will check social media, similar to how you do with your smartphone and email. When you need to devote concentrated, productive time to a particular work or project, make sure all notifications are turned off.

#7:- Multi-Tasking:

Multitasking increases error rates; we lose focus, energy, and productivity when we multitask. We’re all awful at multitasking since our brains aren’t designed for it. When we try to multitask, we are intentionally diverting our attention away from our most crucial duties. Choose your highest leverage activities first, and focus all of your energy on them. The use of task management tools like Asana is an excellent method to organize your work, set priorities, and monitor your progress.

#8:- Micromanagement:

Micromanagement is one of the largest workplace distractions. It not only reduces productivity but also has a bad impact on happiness at work and morale.

Distractions are unavoidable. Some of them are under your control, some are not. You can use a variety of tools and tactics to stay focused and avoid the ones you can control. Be cautious that any solutions you choose to implement do not negatively impact anybody else’s performance and are appropriate for your company. Discuss a solution with your HR Head if tools are unable to prevent a particular distraction.