Techniques to improve concentration at work

Do you find it hard to concentrate on a project? Here we show you 4 concentration techniques at work that will help you increase your productivity.

One of the major issues brought about by social media, the internet, and even previously television is that we get distracted extremely easily. It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to focus on what we have at hand, we scroll through Instagram barely aware of what we are seeing, and brands are finding it harder to capture our attention.

This, of course, affects not only the business world, where competition is getting tougher, but also in more mundane areas like our daily productivity. There are those who are lucky enough to isolate themselves and concentrate so much that they lose track of time, but the norm is that the average person does not know how to keep their attention fixed on one task.

The first thing we are going to do is debunk a myth: attention is not eternal, as some try to sell. In fact, it is quite limited.

There are studies that claim that the maximum uninterrupted attention span you can achieve is about an hour and a half. After that, your brain needs to distract itself from what you are doing. You have probably noticed this a thousand times during your school years, and in the work environment, it becomes even more pronounced.

What can you do about it? Many things, here we will give you 4 concentration techniques so you can increase your productivity at work. Make sure to note them down!

Get an object that you can manipulate unconsciously

A rubber ball, a pen, anything you can fidget with while you are engrossed in a meeting or training will make it much easier for you to concentrate on what you are being told. It has the same effect if you take notes.

Why does this happen? Because your brain accumulates tension and as time passes, it needs to "vent" in another environment passively. If you give your brain that distraction, whether by writing or fiddling with any object, you will see that the tension decreases and you can concentrate better on what you are being told.

Always start with the most complicated tasks

You have surely heard about the difference between important and urgent. Important tasks are those that must be performed due to the impact of their effects, their relevance, and the long-term interest they may bring. Urgent tasks are those that arise when there is a crisis, the deadline is near, or there are poorly resolved rushes due to not having completed the important tasks when required.

Often, important tasks are always the ones that demand the most energy from us, which is why it is advisable to always start the day by tackling the task that seems most difficult to you. You will be fresher to deal with it and can then dedicate yourself to other tasks that require less effort.

Break large projects into smaller parts

We have all felt overwhelmed when faced with a large-scale project where we don’t even know where to start.

The usual response in these cases is to find that tasks start being assigned quickly, the organisation is chaotic, and you probably end up with a list of to dos that you cannot manage.

In response to this, there is a very simple solution: take that project, a piece of paper, and a pencil. Then, write down the immediate next action you need to take regarding this project. Once completed, describe the next one, and the next, and so on. You will see that by doing this, your motivation will increase and you will face that project with greater drive.

Use the Pomodoro technique

In another post, we already discussed the benefits of using the Pomodoro technique during work. Basically, it involves dividing your time into structured intervals of 25 minutes and 10 minutes. For 25 minutes, you will be fully dedicated to the task at hand. After that, you will take a 10-minute break.

You will repeat this process up to four times, commonly referred to as "doing pomodoros". Once you complete the fourth 25-minute block, it is advisable to take a longer break, of about 30 minutes to clear your mind and relax until you have to tackle the next task.

Have these concentration techniques for work been helpful to you? We are sure that once you try them, you will start being more productive during your workday. Don’t forget that in addition to having these techniques, it is important to invest in quality furniture to protect your health if you spend many hours sitting.

At Officechair365, we are experts in office chairs, gaming chairs, and ergonomic chairs, time will fly by on these chairs without you noticing.

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