Staying productive at work can be a real challenge with so many distractions and interruptions. From constant email and Microsoft Teams notifications to endless meetings, efficiency can easily suffer.
Rasmus Holst, Chief Executive Officer of employee development platform Zensai reveals the cost-free way to tackle the biggest productivity killers in the workplace, help you focus, and create an effective work atmosphere to get things done.
Wear headphones to block out chatty co-workers
Chatty co-workers and office politics can seriously kill productivity at work. Whether it’s gossip or just navigating social dynamics, these distractions make it hard to stay focused.
To tackle this, try setting some boundaries in a friendly way. Let your colleagues know when you need to focus by wearing headphones or moving to a quieter space.
Having designated areas or times for socializing can also help, so people can catch up without interrupting important work time. Promoting a culture where people respect each other’s focus time and encourage straightforward communication can help eliminate office drama.
With hybrid and remote working being popular, a great way to focus from home is setting up deep work hours where you can shut off non-important communication on platforms such as Teams and email, except for urgent notifications, for a few hours to focus. Setting “away from desk” notifications can help your colleagues know when they can expect a response from you, reducing the number of follow-up nudges to make sure you’ve seen their note.
Respond to emails in bulk time slots
Emails and direct messages can be huge distractions at work, with constant notifications interrupting your flow and making it hard to stay focused.
To manage this, try setting specific times to check and respond to messages in bulk instead of jumping on every notification immediately. Turning off non-essential notifications can also help keep you on track, allowing you to handle communication more efficiently without constant interruptions.
Switch off non-essential notifications during work hours
Social media and smartphones are huge distractions in the workplace, often pulling attention away from work tasks with constant notifications and the lure of endless scrolling.
To combat this, switch off non-essential notifications during work hours. For example, on an iPhone, you can click on ‘Focus’ and then set up ‘Work Focus’ in your settings that allow you to silence notifications from selected people and apps.
Additionally, using apps that block social media access or track screen time can help you stay focused. While outright phone bans can feel patronizing at work, encouraging the use of phones during breaks can help minimize distractions during work hours.
Rasmus Holst, Chief Executive Officer of Zensai adds, “Understanding what productivity killers might be affecting you and learning how to combat them is crucial for maintaining efficiency and achieving your goals. Whether it’s constant email pings, chatty co-workers, or an uncomfortable workspace, knowing what’s slowing you down helps you take steps to improve things.
“Tackling these issues can help you stay focused, get more done, and feel less stressed. Plus, it makes your job a lot more enjoyable and dealing with these productivity killers can boost both your work and personal life.”
