How to boost your performance

Checking an email, taking a quick call, answering a chat, and then getting back to work....

Unfortunately, this is the reality for many - too many distractions at work.

However, one key to success is clearly concentration. If we can stay focused on a job for hours, we are automatically more productive. But too much distraction constantly surrounds us and makes it difficult for us to concentrate. This, however, is essential for thought processes, decision making, learning, reasoning, critical thinking and optimal problem solving. A lack of focus means being less effective in all of these areas, resulting in lower quality work, less efficiency, and much lower productivity. In addition, lack of focus can also lead to errors and is often much less cost effective. (Source: https://blog.runrun.it/en/how-to-improve-concentration/)

How can we improve our concentration and thus be more successful at work?

Concentration is the ability to pay attention to a specific task as well as the details involved in completing that task. Focus also has an impact on motivation, stress and emotions. Due to digital work, we are constantly exposed to incoming emails, notifications, news and alerts. It's difficult not to be distracted by these and not to be briefly interrupted.

To minimize these interruptions, we need to take some proactive steps so that we can actually use the productive time we have scheduled. If there is important work to be done that requires full concentration, it is helpful to turn off notifications, silence the phone, and close the door briefly in the office if necessary. Other distracting factors need to be analyzed carefully so that they can be actively eliminated or simply postponed.

Of course, you can minimize interruptions, but they cannot always be avoided completely, especially when an urgent problem arises. Then it depends on how quickly you can get back into the flow.

Avoid multi-tasking in general; our brains can't work optimally if they have to do several things at once. If you stay exclusively on one task, you can put all your energy into it. The best way to do this is with a to-do list that is consistently broken down. Regular physical activity, even just in the form of stretching, gets the circulation going again and brings new energy.

Improved focus will help you achieve your goals and boost your performance!