Remove Distractions, Improve Productivity

Recently, my work environment has changed rather dramatically. I use to work from my home office, all alone (except for my two mild-mannered cats). Now, for the last month or so, I've been working in our Atlanta office, sharing a small windowless space with two of my co-workers, surrounded by bustling offices filled with other busy OA employees. Needless to say, I'm facing a few more distractions than I was previously. Whereas before, I was only interrupted by the occasional demand for affection from one of the fur balls, now if someone so much as sneezes, my concentration goes shooting out the window and a 10 minute conversation is sure to follow. I've taken to working at home in the evenings just to get my work done.

Distractions are a fact of life, especially at the office. I'm not sure if I encounter more than the "average" office professional, but I can't remember ever having such a difficult time staying focused at work. Perhaps I just like my co-workers now more than I ever have before. Whatever the reason, I need to take some serious action to remove distractions and improve my productivity - now. Here are a few ways that are working for me; maybe you can benefit from them as well.

Put Up a Wall

Ok, so I can't remove my co-workers (and I wouldn't want to!). But my boss did have a brilliant idea to put up a dividing wall by my desk. It's similar to having a cubicle but I'm not surrounded on all sides. It's just enough to block my line of vision so I'm not catching my co-workers' movements in my peripheral vision every five minutes.

Close your Email

Hey, email addiction is a way of life. I have a Blackberry (and they don't call it a "Crackberry" for nothin'). But when I'm working on a deadline or really pressed to complete a specific task, I've found that simply closing Outlook is my only solution. Otherwise, the temptation is just too great. Even if I turn off the audio reminder, I can still see when a new message has arrived (the envelope icon appears in the toolbar at the bottom of my screen). Curiosity gets the best of me and before you know it, I'm off task. It's best to just shut down everything except the one application you need.

Kill the Internet

Closing down everything includes the internet. I have a horrible habit of jumping onto the internet whenever there is a minor pause in my day. Yes, I work for an internet company. But that doesn't mean I should spend my entire day browsing the web. I have also made the catastrophic mistake of setting up my homepage with iGoogle, which allows me to pull in RSS feeds from all of my favorite websites and blogs. So, essentially, the second I open the internet, I'm smacked with about fifty new temptations begging for my attention. Even if I open my browser with clear, productive intentions, I am immediately distracted.

Turn Off the Phone

Sometimes, this isn't a very realistic thing to do in the workplace. But when time is tight and you have to avoid disruption at any cost, go ahead and set your phone to go straight to voicemail. In most companies, this is perfectly acceptable to do once in a while (as long as it isn't abused). Many companies allow you to forward your phone calls to another desk. If you have a partner who is willing to cover for you for a few hours, work out a system where you can get some uninterrupted time and then later help them out by taking their calls for a few hours. I have to turn my phone off all the time when I write, whether at home or at work. Just hearing it ring can throw me off when I'm "in the zone."

Close the Door

If you are lucky enough to have a door, use it! Don't be afraid of closing up shop for a little while in order to get something important completed. It's usually a nice idea to let others know that you're working on a specific project, especially if you work in an office where doors are normally open. This prevents the interruptions that can sometimes happen with people dropping by to make sure you're "okay."
If you have a cubicle (or, like me, just a single wall of one) post a "Please Do Not Disturb" sign prominently for others to see. It's perfectly okay to have periods of time set aside where you don't want to be interrupted. Be sure that you respect others if they ask for the same thing and they will surely respect you in the same way.

Turn Off the Noise

In college, I used to try to read and watch TV at the same time. It wasn't a very successful attempt at multi-tasking. I'm also not the type of person who can concentrate well when music is on, unless I'm doing some kind of repetitive task that doesn't take much thought. Do what you can to turn off the noise around you. If you're surrounded by noise that is out of your control (like that from co-workers) and you desperately need a little quiet, consider purchasing a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. I've recently started putting on regular headphones connected to my computer, with the sound turned off. It has a strange psychological effect that helps me tune out noise (and others don't like to interrupt me when I'm wearing them). If all else fails, request a day during the week to work from home (assuming home is a quiet, peaceful space).

Working in a busy office with energetic co-workers is both a blessing and a curse. It's great for collaboration and creative brainstorming. It's also fun. But it can be painfully distracting. Take it from me: a little effort to remove distractions can have an amazing impact on improving productivity.