How To Manage Distractions And Improve Productivity?

In HR operations, there’s nothing quite so tedious as tracking attendance. It’s a mundane task especially if you’re reviewing records of hundreds of employees. As you’ve engaged in this task before, you’ve probably realized that your brain suddenly shuts down and begins to engage in reflections that are unrelated to work or attendance for that matter. To put it plainly, the human brain doesn’t like to feel bored. This results in unfocused work, loss of productivity and lots of human error which can cost the company thousands if not millions of dollars.

If you find that you’re always distracted while focusing on a task, consider the following tips on how to manage distractions:

1. Recognize the Distraction

To be able to pinpoint the culprit, you need to be aware of the cause. Keep a notepad handy to jot down each time you feel distracted. Recognize the thoughts and ideas that enter into your mind each time you are distracted. You will likely come up with a few items that like to pull you out of focus.

Once you’ve written down the source(s) of distraction, take an active step to address them later.

2. Breakdown your Day

To avoid feeling overwhelmed or burdened with tasks, break down your day. Plan out your office time, i.e. what you plan to accomplish during a specific time frame. This will help you feel more productive and get things accomplished. Check items off as you complete them. You’ll be surprised how much this will motivate you to stay focused. A breakdown of your work hours serves as a guide or road map. It prevents you from getting lost.

3. Limit Co-worker Distractions

Co-workers are everywhere, carrying juicy gossip that you’re itching to hear. This gossip can be conveyed by a co-worker walking over to your cubicle, text messaging or even instant messaging. While these are amusing, they’re also highly distracting. To avoid this issue, set up boundaries. Make it clear that you don’t want to be distracted during a specific period of time. Hide your phone or keep it on vibrate so that you don’t miss any emergency calls from home. Sometimes posting a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your cubicle is very effective.

4. Use Distractions as a Reward

If you’re a social media junkie, we recommend setting aside a few minutes after every couple of hours of completed work to respond to your social media messages. Use this time as a reward for completing your work. Do not start your office time by checking social media messages.

5. Reserve Breaks and Lunch Time for Distractions

Reserve your break and lunch time for office gossip, social media messaging and other non-office related tasks. This will ensure you’re on the path to improving productivity levels.

6. Use a Helpful Software Program

Tracking attendance is tiresome. To ensure it is done smoothly and accurately, we recommend working with a reliable HR attendance software program.

For more tips on how to improve workplace productivity or to learn about our HR attendance software, please contact TimeLabs.