Input = Output

Input + Intention = Output

Input + Distraction = Output

Procrastinate procrastinating!

Depending on the occupation, the recommendations might vary.

Wireless Mobile Devices (WMD) play a major role in procrastinating office-related work.

We recommend utilizing the tools discussed elsewhere on this website in office setting as well.

Specifically, at work we recommend:

  1. Avoid using WMD as the clock. Did you get that wristwatch yet?
  2. Make WMD hard to reach by putting it away in a drawer or bag (maybe lock the drawer) for 30 minutes to begin with and gradually increasing the duration. Remember to ‘weaken the response’ in the habit-loop
  3. Set personal goal to not check the WMD until a given task has been completed. Address the mind trash.
  4. Say No to social media at work (unless you work for/through social media).
  5. As a team, define which messages need regular/urgent and instant/emergent responses so that a streamlined process of responding can be created, without hurting any feelings in case of a 30 second delay in answering.
  6. As a team, set expectations for response time to remove the perceived obligation of replying instantly.
  7. Discuss if certain inter-office communications can be off-loaded from texting and switched to a quick team huddle (e.g., 5-10 minutes in the middle or end of the day).

The goal is to minimize distraction and maximize focus.

What are the biggest digital distractions at your workplace? What have you done to tackle them?

The Eternal Emails!

Nothing seems to make work more distracting than the constant deluge of emails, the anticipation of receiving new emails and the urge to reply to emails right away.

So, unless your job itself is to send and receive emails, read on.

To tackle the emails, we recommend:

  1. Unsubscribe from promotional and junk emails that you never take action on. They add clutter to your inbox and brain.
  2. Create a separate email account for all online shopping/browsing where all spam can collect and stay out of the way.
  3. As a team, set expectations for response time to off-load the stress of replying instantly.
  4. Remember to set an out-of-office reply when applicable.
  5. Designate times of the day to check emails (e.g.: middle of the day and end of the day). Keep the email window closed at all other times.
  6. Address the mind trash.

Find these helpful?