In today’s world, the internet has become a significant part of our lives. We are all faced with the dilemma of information overload and constant interruptions (notifications) that come from devices we use daily; from our computers, smartphones and smartwatches.
A surprising 2017 statistic found that millennials check their phone approximately 150 times per day. Another study shows that the average office workers focus gets interrupted every 3 minutes.
These distractions quickly add up. Checking every may not seem costly at first. But the distractions build up in small increments. Over time the lost time, focus and productivity are really substantial.
In this digital generation that we are currently living in, anyone that wants to grow personally, be more productive and make an impact must intentionally create more focus in their day.
To be more productive, we have to be more focused. We cannot stumble into being focused, particularly with the notifications and messages all around us. Rather, being focused takes deliberate decisions; “Focus has to be intentional, not accidental”.
Here are 10 ways we can be more focused and productive in this digital generation:
- Keep a list of everything you need to do.
The brain functions best when it has enough clear space to think, not when it reminds you to fix your plumbing, pay your utility or follow up with someone. Create a list on paper or on your phone where every task is highlighted. Add to your lists when new things come up, review them and make out time to execute them.
- Group tasks together
When you cook a meal, you likely do everything at once. This enables you to maximize your focus on tasks that share some commonality. For example, you can process all of your emails at once at specific times in your day instead of checking your inbox for new emails frequently.
- Build your schedule around your best thinking periods.
Productivity experts suggest getting your biggest tasks done first thing in the morning, please do if that is your best thinking time. If mornings are not for you, then try and schedule your tasks around when your mind is best positioned to handle any given task. For me, it is late in the night.
Solomon Dawudu is an outcome-focused marketing specialist; committed to continuous learning and improvement. He currently leads Marketing Research at Take Out Media a cutting-edge Marketing Agency based in Abuja. Follow Solomon on Instagram @s_dawudu
