Dealing with Distractions
Distractions cost an average of 23 minutes to recover from. Create a distraction-free environment, use physical barriers, and train your attention like a muscle.
checklistHow to Do It
- 1Audit your top 5 distractions (phone, noise, people, tabs, email)
- 2Create physical barriers: close your door, use headphones
- 3Use app blockers for social media during focus time
- 4Keep a distraction log to redirect wandering thoughts
- 5Communicate your focus schedule to colleagues
- 6Practice returning to your task within 10 seconds of distraction
groupBest For
- checkOpen office workers
- checkPeople who work from home
- checkAnyone who checks their phone compulsively
Try Dealing with Distractions with FocusBell
Start a focus session right now — free, no account needed.
Start Timer — FreeRelated Techniques
Pomodoro Technique
Work in focused 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks. After four intervals, take a longer 15-minute break. The most popular time management method worldwide.
25 min work + 5 min break
52-17 Method
Work for 52 minutes, then take a 17-minute break. Based on research from DeskTime that found this ratio among the most productive workers.
52 min work + 17 min break
Deep Work
Cal Newport's concept of focused, uninterrupted work on cognitively demanding tasks. Eliminate distractions and train your ability to concentrate deeply.
1-4 hours of uninterrupted focus
Single-Tasking
The opposite of multitasking. Focus on one task at a time with your full attention. Research shows multitasking reduces productivity by up to 40%.
Variable — one task at a time
Monotasking
A disciplined approach to doing exactly one thing at a time. Unlike simple single-tasking, monotasking involves deliberately cultivating the habit of full immersion in each activity.
Variable — full immersion per task
MIT Method (Most Important Tasks)
Identify your three Most Important Tasks each day and complete them before anything else. If you only finish these three things, your day was productive.
15 min planning + focused execution