Four Tips To Manage Distractions At Work

No matter what specialty you are in, being more efficient means that you get more done in less time. More efficient at work allows you to have extra time to do other things, or if you choose to, to see more patients. If you can fully focus on what you are doing, you will be more efficient. The challenge is dealing with distractions. Distractions prevent you from giving your full attention. Distractions negatively affect your efficiency. By managing or eliminating distractions, you will be more efficient.

The first source of distraction to look at is from within us. What is your mental state? If you are stressed, it is easy for your mind to drift off and think about other things while you are working on a task. If you do not have adequate sleep, it is hard for you to concentrate. It is important to be intentional to plan your day with decent hours of rest. It is easy to think that you have so much work to do that the only way to finish it is to sacrifice your sleep time. When we do not get seven or more hours of sleep, it is easier to get distracted. What are you thinking that is making you feel stressed? What can be done about it? Talk to someone and ask for help if you need it.

The second thing to do is to set a goal for the day. Keep it simple. As physicians, you may want to be ambitious and have many goals accomplished in a day. Having too many things to achieve may be a distraction. Set a main goal. Keep it simple. Link with it something to look forward to. For example, set a goal to have all your work done by 5:30 pm so that you get to spend more time with your family. Remind yourself of this goal throughout the day because it is very important to you. Having a goal in mind helps you dial down the volume of distractions.

What about distractions from other sources? The third tip to manage distractions is to minimize distractions from your surroundings. Turn off the notification sound on your phone and on your computer. When you hear a notification signal, it is natural for your brain to wander off and to be curious about it. By turning off the notifications, it is less likely for your brain to be distracted. Examine your work place. Is there anything you can do physically to minimize distractions? For example, is there a quiet room or corner you can do your patient documentation? Is your desk clear of clutter so you are not distracted by having trouble finding things? Another consideration is the workflow. As physicians, it is common to get multiple phone calls and text messages. Is there anything you can modify in the workflow such that you receive less calls and messages?

If you notice that no matter what you do that day you are having a hard time to concentrate, and that your mind is constantly thinking about many other things, or you feel stuck, take a break. Pause. It is time to press the “Reset Button” for both your mind and your body. Depending on the situation and how severely you are distracted, it may be a few minutes or longer. Step away from your work environment. Breathe in some fresh air. Stretch your body, exercise, eat a snack – anything but doing your work. Taking a break is letting your brain cells regroup, so that when you go back to working, it is easier to focus. You are less likely to be influenced by external distractions. You may gain a different perspective to approach things so that you are no longer stuck at a point.

A distraction takes you away from putting complete focus on what you are doing. It will slow you down and potentially affect your work negatively. To manage distractions at work, it is important to prepare yourself with a good night’s sleep. If you are feeling stressed and anxious, ask yourself what is causing you to feel that way and explore if you need help. Set a goal for the day and have something to look forward to at the end of the day. Minimize any external distractions such as turning off notifications, choosing a quiet place to work and minimize phone calls by streamlining at work. If you are really having a tough time focusing because your mind is easily distracted that day, take a break.