Working Distractions

Is it just me or is anyone else finding it hard to concentrate anymore, especially when it comes to work?  I am more easily distracted than I once was and it’s annoying.   What’s worse is that I seem to be busier than ever yet accomplishing the same, or even less.   I refuse to believe that this has anything to do with age; everyone knows I’m 29 and holding.

I’ve tried all sorts of techniques to help me stay focused: diverting my eyes from the computer, getting up from the desk for a walk or stretch, making a to-do list, scheduling work on my calendar with sound notifications, etc.  I’ve even asked Hubby to gently remind me to stay on course if he sees me sidetracked when I’m working at home.

So how are these tactics working?  Not very well.

• Diversions –Used to be that I could simply close my eyes or look away from the computer screen for a minute and I would regain focus.  I still use this technique; it’s just that I become re-focused on my smart phone with such things as solitaire, checking other email accounts or looking at  Facebook  to read riveting news updates like “having bologna for lunch today”. This of course leads to numerous comments on my part as well as providing my own riveting update. Talk about a time-suck. Thirty minutes later and I need to be diverted from this diversion.

• Stretching – Sitting is a necessary evil. Gotta do it at work, since my desk is too low to use my computer while standing.  Yet sitting makes me tired (go figure) so I try to get up and stretch or at least walk around periodically.  Didn’t seem like an issue until I decided to get my blood flowing with some in-office yoga. My “downward dog” seemed like a good idea at the time, until I looked up to find a colleague pushing my door open to ask a question.  Awkward.

• Lists – “Make a list and stick with it”, everyone said.  “It’s so easy”.  Okay, I’ve got a list.  Actually, I keep making lists. They are everywhere – on my desk, in my purse, next to my bed, on the refrigerator, on post-it notes. You name it; I have it on a list.  And the list just keeps growing with all sorts of ideas, plans and work. Oh, wait – you mean at some point I’m actually supposed to follow these lists and check something off?  Silly me.

• Calendars – I schedule my work as though it were a meeting. The calendar “pings” an alert to keep me on track.  It’s just that I’m so far off the track that I ignore the pings.  Hey, I think this may actually be a distraction instead.  All I’m doing is making lists.

• Hubby – My dear, sweet Hubby. He took this assignment very seriously, standing over me, tapping his watch, telling me to focus on the task at hand.  Turns out it was Hubby who gained focus.  Sleeping on the couch does that to a person.  Poor Hubby.

Anyone have better suggestions?