How to stop distractions and focus on the fact

Tips for those who want to immerse oneself in work, but always something interferes.

Scientists are sounding the alarm: we have forgotten how to concentrate. During the last decade, we are exposed to a continuous all-round attack, the purpose of which - to snatch a particle of our attention. To sit down and work quietly, no matter what without being distracted, it was almost an impossible task.

American scientist and writer Cal Newport introduced coined the term "deep work". In his opinionKnowledge Workers are Bad at Working (and Here's What to Do About It ...). , Deep work - an activity that requires absolute attention that causes us to do everything that we can do, and, in turn, develop our skills. The more we focus on the business, the higher the quality of our work.

Why are we constantly distracted

Full immersion in the work assumes concentration on complex tasks for extended periods of time.

But we have the Internet. And as soon as we are faced with a real challenge that needs to come to grips with, then one is tempted to switch to another tab and see if we missed anything interesting.

Despite the fact that the Internet, we have quite a long time, we have not developed an immunity to his distraction.

Social networks and applications use the same method as the slot machines - variability reinforcements. When we update the Twitter or Facebook or the hundredth time, check the mail, we do not know that we get an interesting novelty, a bunch of nonsense, or anything at all. But the unpredictability of the result leads us to refresh the page again and again. Gradually the habit, and there is addiction.

As fewer distractions

How not to get distracted at home and on the street

• Remove the phone from social networking applications. If necessary, they can be accessed through a mobile browser, but it is inconvenient, and therefore, you will do it less often.
• Do not use the phone in the toilet. It's funny, but it saves a lot of time.
• Put the phone away from your bed. If we went to sleep, then sleep, and do not check e-mail.
• Carry your phone in your pocket and in your bag or backpack. So it will be difficult to get it.

How not to be distracted at work

• If you use a Chrome browser, install Timewarp. In it, you can adjust the time counter for the selected sites and see how much time you spend on them.
• Switch your phone to "Do Not Disturb" mode, and remove it from the table.
• Open the window in full screen mode.
• Hide the browser bookmarks bar.
• Close your email client and open it only in specially allotted time on it.
• Listen to classical or contemporary instrumental music.

In addition, there are many useful extensions for Chrome, which can be useful to you. For example, Inbox When Ready hides your inbox, and you can write a letter that is focused on a new post. News Feed Eradicator Facebook hides the tape of news and instead shoved her motivating quote. Or ForestWhich grows a virtual tree, when you work, and ruthlessly kill him if you visit from the blacklist sites.

How to tune in to the thoughtful work

• In advance make a plan work. When the time comes to sit down and come to grips with the task, you will be much easier to not be distracted by following steps of the plan.
• Expressed interest in the task. Leave with his head in an interesting and important project easier and more enjoyable than the one that you care about.

During the work on this material has not been opened, no social network. As a result, work on the article took a third less than usual.