Monday has arrived and in most cases we are still in weekend mode. As soon as we arrive at the office we are faced with the Monday morning office catch ups, which can take up to 30 minutes of our working day. Let’s not forget the Monday morning coffee craving, which is a trip to the local café. At this point you add another 15 minutes of distractions to your day and it’s not even 10 am.

Throughout the day we are surrounded by constant work place distractions. It’s important to note that once we get distracted we tend to loose focus and momentum. This disrupts our thought process, which can leave our creative peak dishevelled and finding our way back to tasks can take away from our productivity time.

To help stay more focused in the office here are some changes to implement to your day and surroundings.

Write a list of things you need to do for the day.

Writing a list will help you prioritise what needs to be completed for the day. Make sure you complete your hardest task first; this will then leave the easier jobs as your reward for the rest of the day.

Turn your mobile phone off.

If your phones not on then you’re not going to be constantly bombed with messages from your personal life. Switch your phone back on when you are on your break. It’s understandable that some business calls do come through your mobile; in this circumstance it may be best to look at buying a separate work phone.

Make your workstation a place where you feel comfortable.

This involves keeping your table tidy and make sure to get a comfortable chair. If you don’t feel comfortable you are going to be constantly focusing on this.

Keep inspired

Place pictures around you that inspire you to succeed. This will keep you motivated to reach your goals.

Put on your headphones

Some of us work in environments that are open space. Phone conversations and conversations between colleagues can get very distracting. Listen to music to help keep out unwanted noise and also to keep you motivated.

Keep hydrated

Make sure to keep yourself hydrated. We often allow ourselves to become dehydrated, which decreases brain functionality. Make sure to keep a bottle of water at your desk as a constant reminder.

Organise your phone usage

Your phone is used for important work conversations. Don’t use your phone for conversations that can easily be saved for lunchtime. Make sure that reception knows that inbound calls are to be screened. If it’s an important call, take it. If it’s not urgent, make an allocated time in your day to call people back.

Stay away from social networking sites

This is the main culprit for distraction. We live in a digital world and our main source of contact is through online platforms. Make sure to keep your social network usage at a limited amount.