Dave Cheong just posted a very good article: 18 Ways to Stay Focused at Work.
I found most of items on his list to match nicely my own way of organizing the working day, and so I would like to comment on some of them and urge you to read Dave’s article in full:
Write out a daily task list and plan your day.
I find having a plan for the day one of the most useful ways to make sure everything is under control. It doesn’t have to be a to-do list, just a list of high-level tasks or goals would do just fine – the idea here is to maintain your focus, and to stay conscious about how much you’ve done and still have to do for the day.
Do not check personal email in the morning.
I’ve agreed on 3 times of the day when I’ll check my personal email or read other blogs through my Google Reader account. The times are: 9:30, 11:30 and 15:30. Since I start my working day at 8am, I’ve got plenty of time to work through the most important issues for the day.
Set your IM status. If you use Instant Messenger, when you don’t want to be disturbed, make use of the status and set yourself as being away or busy. Your friends and colleagues will honour that. They can either send you an email or look you up later when you aren’t as busy.
For about 3 years now, I’m not using IM at work at all. There are rare cases when I need to discuss something with my family or friends, and I will log into my IM account for an hour or so, but I don’t use it regularly anymore. In fact, I rarely start my IM even at home. Most of my communications are now done via email or VOIP.
Fill up a water bottle.
I always have a tall glass with water on my desk. It’s very handy to have it within a reach of my arm, and I never have to stop working in the middle of some task just to go and drink water.
Bring your lunch and have it at your desk.
It’s a habit I got from my previous job – I always bring my lunch with me, and enjoy my lunch while reading a newspaper or some blog article printed out.
Clean up your desk.
An excellent advice! You will not believe how having a tidy desk will help you be more organized and productive! I never let anything irrelevant stay on my desks, and I enjoy having a minimum of things which could possibly distract me.
Change your mindset and make work fun.
It’s always nice to have a laugh. Sometimes me and my colleagues just stop for a quick chat to smile, laugh and swap some funny stories. The four of us in our adjacent cubicles are very sensitive to the work tension – so we all know simultaneously when it’s time for a quick break. Sometimes we go to the canteen to grab another cup of tea or coffee, and we go together simply because this way we can talk.
The article is definitely worth a look, so if you liked the ways of staying focused I’ve highlighted above, go on and read the full post here: 18 Ways to Stay Focused at Work.