How to stay focused in a job that requires “multi-tasking”?

So, in occupations that need us to "multitask," how can we stay focused? The obvious solution, as learned in the Project Management Courses, is to eliminate as many other sources of distraction as possible.

1. Keep your desk clear

Start by clearing any superfluous clutter from your desk. This may be the easiest tip in this post, but it is crucial nonetheless. Do you save old birthday cards and unusual promotional items? Why are you doing this? Make sure you don't eliminate everything so your desk is lifeless, but that you have enough space to work without knocking things over and that you can quickly find items.

1. Turn off your smartphone

If you don't need your smartphone for work, the best thing you can do is turn it off and hide it from view. "Out of sight, out of mind," as the old adage goes; this way, you won't continually checking your phone to see if you've received a new message or an invitation to drinks in the evening.

1. Limit your websites

Do you find yourself monitoring the news or seeking for cat pictures on a frequent basis? You may believe that this is a brief 2-minute break, but when your work flow is disrupted, it takes much longer to get back on track. Install a blocking plugin on your browser, such as StayFocusd, if you know you're doing it. You'll soon break the habit and be able to stay in the 'zone' for extended periods of time.

1. Plan your day

As learned in the PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSES,if at all feasible, attempt to plan your workday. Decide what you'll need to do the next day in the morning or the evening before, blocking off chunks of time for each task. It's important to remember that this doesn't have to be rigid. This will allow you to concentrate on the task at hand, allowing you to complete it more quickly and to a higher standard.

1. Allocate time to check your emails

Do you find yourself pausing your work every time a new email arrives in your inbox so you can deal with it right away? Despite the fact that you know it isn't critical? Turn off your inbox's notifications so you don't get a pop-up every time you get an email. You can always set up a rule to only receive notifications when anything categorised as high priority or from a certain colleague/client comes.

1. Stay hydrated

This may seem unusual to include in a project management post, but it is critical to stay hydrated throughout the day. Making sure you drink enough water during the day will help you be more productive at work and perform better intellectually and physically. But how much water should you drink on a daily basis? From a combination of food and drink, the European Food Safety Authority advises a total intake of 2.5 litres for males and 2.0 litres for women.

1. Return to your to-do list

Cross anything off your list once you've finished it, and make sure to keep adding to it. It's a useful tool to have, and if you don't like what you're working on, you can simply shelve it and start over. We know you're trying to stop multitasking, but there's no point in spending time if you're not getting far with the present task. Put it down and go on to the next thing on your list; however, only defer the original task once.

Make sure your staff is aware of your decision to stop multitasking. Tell them when you'll be open for business, when you'll be taking calls, and when you'll be doing inbox reviews. Send it through r, of course, if it's essential.

Need more insights on the same? Enrol in a CAPM, PMP, or Business Analysis Certification course today!

Richard Pierce An expert in Pmi and Iiba Certifications.