Distractions, Distractions, Distractions: How to Deal with Them

Author: Waqas Rafiq

Distractions seem to be everywhere these days. When you walk into the office in the morning, there’s an endless stream of notifications and news headlines flying across your computer screen, all competing for your attention and pulling you away from your work tasks at hand. During your lunch break, you’re bombarded with social media posts and Snapchat videos on your phone, all tempting you to leave your desk and enjoy the sunshine outside. And when you finally reach the end of the day, there’s an entire stack of books and shows that are begging to be binge-watched on Netflix.

Isolating your distractions

We’ve all been there: we’re trying to focus on a task, but we can’t seem to get anything done because we’re constantly being distracted. It’s frustrating, and it can feel like we’re never going to get anything done. But don’t worry, there are ways to deal with distractions. Here are some of the most common distractions and how you can deal with them.

Changing the way you check social media

We all know that social media can be a huge time suck. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through your feed, it might be time to change the way you check social media. One way to do this is to set a timer for yourself. Decide how long you want to spend on social media, and when the timer goes off, log off. This will help you stay focused and avoid wasting time. Another way to deal with social media distractions is to limit the amount of time you spend on it each day. One hour per day might be enough for you to stay connected without getting sucked in. Finally, try checking social media only at certain times of day, like first thing in the morning or right before bed.

Changing the way you play games

One way to avoid getting too distracted while playing video games is to change the way you play them. For example, instead of sitting on the couch for hours and mindlessly playing, try setting a timer for yourself and taking breaks in between. You can also try playing in short bursts or only during certain times of the day. If you find that you’re still getting too distracted, there are other things you can do, like turning off your phone or computer or even finding a new game to play.

Using a digital babysitter to keep yourself productive

We’ve all been there. You’re trying to get work done, but there are so many distractions. Maybe your kids are running around screaming, or you can’t stop thinking about that new episode of your favorite show. Whatever the case may be, it can be tough to stay focused. But don’t worry, there are ways to deal with distractions and get things done.

Finding new hobbies or finding more productive ways of doing old hobbies

Everyone has things that they enjoy doing in their free time, but sometimes those things can become distractions. If you find yourself spending more time than you’d like on your phone or watching TV, try to find a way to make it more productive. For example, instead of scrolling through social media mindlessly, try using an app like Pocket or Instapaper to save articles to read later. Or if you’re watching TV, try using a DVR so that you can fast-forward through the commercials. By making your hobbies more productive, you can help eliminate distractions and focus on what’s important.