5 Steps to Regain Your Focus

There are times when work seems overwhelming and we feel like we can’t possibly manage all the tasks on our to-do list. It can be particularly easy to lose focus at times like these.

Here are five steps you can take to regain your focus at work and reduce your stress and anxiety, too.

Identify tasks. Be clear on the things you need to accomplish by writing them down. If you’re a pen and paper type of person write them down in a planner or on a sheet of paper that you post nearby. Otherwise, create a list to access from your laptop or phone. You’ll also want to identify due dates for each task to help you with the next step.

Prioritize and align with company goals. Evaluate your tasks and rank them according to due dates and importance. You will also want to consider how your tasks align with your company goals. It’s possible to get distracted by tasks that are not really a priority for your company. If you’re unsure about which tasks should take priority seek out help from your manager or supervisor.

Delegate when possible. If it’s possible to hand off some tasks to other people, do so. Look through your tasks and determine whether one or more might be better handled by someone else on your team or should be moved to another department.

Remove distractions. This should be part of your every day routine but turn off your social media notifications, avoid surfing the internet, turn off your phone, and turn your attention exclusively to the task at hand.

Avoid multitasking. Notice I just wrote “the task at hand”. Singular. Not plural. Trying to multitask not only slows you down but it distracts you and makes it more difficult to get something done.

And it’s important to start small. You don’t have to tackle the biggest, most difficult task on your to-do list first. Complete one task. A small one. Gain a quick victory to start your day and propel you onto the more important work.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 10 Tips to Manage Your Time

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below from Entrepreneur identifies 10 tips for managing you time better, including blocking access to social media during parts of your work day. Watch the video for more great tips:

High Five Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 11 Secrets of Irresistible People

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 11 Secrets of Irresistible People: "Whether interacting with their biggest client or a server taking their drink order, irresistible people are unfailingly polite and respectful."
• 4 Ways to Overcome Digital Distractions and Be More Productive at Work: "Being highly productive and achieving beyond the mediocre level can still be done — it just requires two companions: presence and commitment."
• 5 Ways to Make Enough Side Money to Eventually Quite Your Job: "Nearly everyone dreams of quitting his or her day job, whether it's tomorrow, next year or in the next decade. However, there is a wide chasm between 'dreams' and 'action'."
• 5 Habits of Creative Working Parents: "Yes, spending time with your kids is important, but so too is finding space in your life for the people who help energize you about your creative work."
• 6 Character Traits to Consider Before Becoming an Entrepreneur: "Jumping into entrepreneurship isn't something to take lightly, as there are many things to consider before you do. At some point, you have to stop the questioning and business planning to take the plunge."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 3 Ways to Be More Likeable at Work

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 3 Ways to Be More Likeable at Work: "Listening is like a superpower, and people who are likeable tend to intuitively understand this. They make time to listen to what others have to say."
• Why You Should Stop Going to Networking Events: "Networking events almost never lead to business. And I have been to hundreds of them. It was a way for me to think I was being productive, but it wasn’t. It was a distraction."
• How Serving Others Can Help Make You a Great Leader: "The more I help people, the more it comes back to me in some way—we get ahead by helping others get ahead. Don’t lose sight of that, ever."
• How to Manage Distractions: "While you probably can't disconnect for the entire day, as little as 20 to 30 minutes of focused time can take you much further than two hours spent on the same task filled with constant interruptions."
• 4 Tweaks to Rev Up a Stalled Job Search: "While you might view flexibility as a virtue, it may at the same time be self-defeating. Remember that employers hire people who answer their needs."

Too Distracted to Read This? Think Again.

The workplace is full of distractions: phones ringing, constant email and text alerts, and loud and talkative co-workers. Distractions abound and our attention is constantly shifting, making it hard to focus on the work at hand. It’s not always possible to eliminate distractions; however, you can take steps to significantly minimize them. Read on to discover tips that might work for you.

Turn Off Alerts
If you work at your computer or with a smartphone, alerts for email, instant messages, and texts can frequently sidetrack you from work tasks. Consider temporarily turning off alerts, especially when working on a task that requires your full concentration, like problem solving or creative thinking.

Process Messages during Scheduled Times
Schedule blocks of time for reading and responding to work emails or instant messages. If your job involves time-sensitive information, you may need to schedule message reviews several times throughout the day, but the structure will keep you more efficient.

Set Daily Work Goals and Tasks
Plan the goals you need to accomplish each work day and outline the associated tasks. You may not complete all your goals and tasks each day, causing some to shift to the next day, but a plan will help you stay on task and eliminate distraction.

Stay Organized
A cluttered workspace can be distracting and result in disorganization. Keep a tidy workspace, limited primarily to those supplies and tools you need to do your job. Organize your file system, including your electronic files. You’ll notice you can focus more on your work and be more productive along the way.

Speak to Disruptive Coworker(s)
As difficult as it may be to confront a co-worker who is disruptive, it will pay off in the long run. Be professional and respectful in your approach and simply explain what is causing the regular distractions. For example, is the co-worker too loud or does he/she want to chat too often? Chances are they aren’t aware of their actions but would be willing to make an effort to change.