Personal Issues Causing a Distraction at Work? Try These 5 Strategies
Issues at home, problems in your personal life, and even world issues can often weigh heavy on your mind. It can be difficult to leave these at the door when you enter your office. Whether you are struggling with a national tragedy that is weighing heavy on your heart, or facing the loss of a loved one, you aren’t alone in managing the impact of these kinds of events. Going to work and staying focused during these trying times is challenging. This NYC Professional Office Organizer is sharing 5 office organizing strategies to help minimize the distractions and get your work done.
Avoid the triggers. A key part of staying focused is removing all triggers that cause distraction. If the political climate is disturbing you, then steer clear of the 24-hour news programs, Twitter and your favorite newspaper. Sometimes when dealing with a personal issue at home, you may need to allow for phone calls, but try and keep them to a minimum, and turn off all other notifications on your phone.
Continue to schedule your workday. It can be easy to go to work, go through the motions and not get a whole lot done. Having a schedule for your day, though not one with back-to-back meetings, will help direct your actions as well as your focus. Identify the key tasks which need to be done and prioritize them based on their due dates. Working in shorter blocks of time will keep you checking tasks off your to-do list.
Limit conversations. Topics like politics and world issues can be polarizing and are probably best kept out of the workplace altogether. It can be easy to be drawn into lengthy conversations and debates around the lunch table or coffee machine. If you do find yourself frequently engaged in emotionally charged arguments or debates with co-workers, it’s time to rein it in as these can distract you for the remainder of the day. The same applies to personal struggles as the more you discuss these issues at work, the less time you will be really focused getting stuff done.
Prioritize and delegate. It is very challenging to stay on point and get tasks completed when faced with a significant distraction. During these times, it’s especially important to keep an updated to-do list with clearly identified high priority tasks. You’ll know exactly what needs to be done each day and can schedule your day accordingly. These are the times when delegating is imperative. Ask for help and re-adjust your schedule as needed.
Take the time you need. If it comes down to it and you can’t compartmentalize and focus, then explore your options. Possibly working from home is a possibility. Find out about your company’s policies as you might need to take some time off to address your specific issues. Possibly, family or friends can provide much needed assistance. Taking the time to address a specific situation can facilitate finding a solution which will have you back in the office and ready to work.
The distractions caused by personal problems can quickly create professional problems. Applying these types of strategies will help you to stay organized so tasks still get completed while you’re addressing your personal issues. For more office organizing tips, reach out to this NYC Professional Office Organizer.