5 Major Distractions That Can Prevent You From Being Your Most Productive
One of the most common reasons people are not as productive as they would like to does not necessarily have anything to do with their lack of discipline or motivation. Rather, it is just because there are so many distractions.
Distractions can pop up anywhere and can be hard to avoid. They can make managing your time use difficult, which can result in you being less productive. Distractions can even be caused by something you unintentionally did, like dropping your phone and breaking it.
While everyone experiences distractors differently, there are some common ones people tend to struggle with. It’s important to be aware of what these distractions are so you can recognize them when they happen and find a way around them. Here are five major distractions that can prevent you from being your most productive.
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Social media
Social media is a major cause of distraction among many people. People are constantly checking Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc., to see if anyone got back to them. They wonder what they missed on Snapchat and Instagram since the last time they checked their feeds (and they know that was only 10 minutes ago).
Nowadays, there are even more distractions from social media, such as live streaming from sites like Twitch and YouTube. These sites tend to draw people’s attention for hours, which isn’t good when you’re trying to be productive.
When you find yourself going on your favorite social media website instead of doing what you need to do, try blocking it on your computer or phone for a certain amount of time. This will prevent you from going on the site and wasting time. You can allow yourself access during lunch or dinner if that works better for you.
Cell Phone Use
If social media is a major distraction, your cell phone is another big one. Nowadays, cell phones are filled with great features that can be very useful and entertaining. It can be hard to resist the temptation to look at your phone every few minutes when studying or working. You wonder if there is anything new since the last time you checked (which was only 3 seconds ago).
If you want to stop this, put your phone on silent or turn it off when you are trying to work. You can also use apps that block social media sites so that there is nothing for you to visit when you check your phone.
Eating
It can be hard to resist eating and doing your work at the same time. However, if you have a full stomach, you will feel sluggish and tired. This interrupts your work and makes it difficult for you to focus and remember the things you were working on.
Eating does not have to be a major distraction. It is only if you constantly eat while trying to do work that it becomes one. To stop yourself from doing this, set aside some time for eating and make sure you are actually hungry before you start eating. Make sure that you also recognize when your stomach is full so that you can take a break from eating and get back to work. Sometimes it can be hard to resist eating at home if there is food right in front of you. This is why it’s best to ensure you keep all food in cabinets and out of eyesight.
Alcohol and drugs
Alcohol and drugs can seem like a great way to relax when you’re feeling stressed out. However, when you drink alcohol or take drugs, your head gets cloudy, and it becomes harder to focus on what is going on around you. You can’t think clearly, and for this reason, it becomes more difficult to perform well in class or do your work.
This is a major distraction because you lose motivation to keep going on with what you were doing before when you get drunk or take drugs. To lessen this distraction, you can drink a lot of water so that your head stays clear and feel better. Alternatively, you could avoid taking drugs or drinking alcohol when you need to stay focused. Staying sober is an easy solution to stay productive.
Other people
It can be hard to ignore other people when they need your attention when you are trying to do work. You may even find yourself getting distracted by socializing when someone comes up and tries to start a conversation with you.
You might think that it is fine to talk for 5 minutes, but in reality, this adds up and becomes a major source of distraction. You might also find yourself trying to do two things at once, like studying and talking with the distracting person.
It can be difficult to ignore other people when they talk to you, especially if it is someone close to you, like a friend or family member. To avoid this problem, try finding a quiet place to do your work. This could be a library, your room, or even outside by yourself.
With so many distractions around us, it’s easy to lose focus on what’s important. However, there are ways to beat these distractions so you can be your most productive. By applying the solutions mentioned in this post to your daily life, you will find staying focused on important tasks much easier.
