<\/strong><\/h2>\n
De-cluttering helps remove distractions. This should be considered in the physical and emotional sense. Let\u2019s start with the mind. Before going to bed I find journalling about the day helps empty my mind of all the nagging clutter. I list all the major events that happened that day, this is a bit like backing up files from your hard-drive before cleaning it. It also helps you remember things to act on the next day.<\/p>\n
De-clutter your work space. There has a been a lot said on this already so I won\u2019t go into much detail. You\u2019ll have more space to move and be less stressed. A messy work place is also really distracting, oh look there\u2019s that note I wrote about that wolf a month ago\u2026<\/p>\n
2 Block out distractions
<\/strong><\/h2>\nOpen plan offices are cool but can be really noisy and distracting. Even though my office in Madrid is pretty small it can get quite noisy. Yes, I know how noisy Spanish designers can be\u2026<\/p>\n
One way of blocking unwanted p\u0335e\u0335o\u0335p\u0335l\u0335e\u0335 noise is putting on your headphones and selecting your favourite playlist. However, I find it hard to concentrate while listening to music, especially when writing. On\u00a0www.noisli.com<\/a>\u00a0you can create custom background noise. It surprisingly filters out any unwanted noise. If you really want to listen to music there are plenty of playlists on Spotify that have unobtrusive tracks. I find repetitive deep electronic music the best. It makes me feel like a design\u00a0robot from the year 2000<\/a>.<\/p>\nYou already know this but social media is a rabbit hole of distraction. Of course you just had to check that thing but now your looking at a video of that guy, the wolf and the Tory MP, how did it get to this? (I mean you looking at the video, not the Tory MP and wolf, we kinda already know what they do in their spare time.)<\/p>\n
I use the Chrome extension\u00a0Stay Focused<\/a>, to stop me laughing all day at dodgy politicians.<\/p>\n![\"1_CJcyVxf74kFdTq5qH-rGhg\"](\"http:\/\/bridgestudio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1_CJcyVxf74kFdTq5qH-rGhg.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Organise
<\/strong><\/h2>\nIt\u2019s easy to get distracted when you have no plan. I use a combination of Trello, Pomello and Google Calendar.<\/p>\n
I organise Trello in the following columns. On Hold, This week, Today, Sent for feedback, Approved, Invoice sent, and Paid. I then time block the projects for this week in my Google Calendar. It helps to leave some buffer time as not everything goes to plan. Pomello is a timer that syncs with Trello. It gives you 25 minutes blocks to work on projects then 5 minutes rest. I feel a lot more productive when I know I should be working on something and not wasting my clients time on social media.<\/p>\n
It also helps to block in time to read mails as this can really break your working rhythm. I try to keep my inbox down to only mails that need to be acted upon. The rest get filed away.<\/p>\n
![\"1_Xn1cB4ESzVhXDMv-tQQ71A\"](\"http:\/\/bridgestudio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1_Xn1cB4ESzVhXDMv-tQQ71A.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Calmness helps creativity<\/strong><\/h2>\nWe all know how meditation helps you focus. For me it\u2019s helped me be more conscious of my thoughts and their origins. Meditating everyday will help you focus on your task by quieting your chattering brain.<\/p>\n
![\"1_-dMpKM0KhAzByAJ3QHp0-w\"](\"http:\/\/bridgestudio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1_-dMpKM0KhAzByAJ3QHp0-w.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\u201cCompared to non-meditators, meditators had more stability in their ventral posteromedial cortex (vPMC). The vPMC, a region linked to spontaneous thoughts and mind-wandering, lies on the underside of the brain, in the middle of your head.\u201d\u00a0Psychology Today<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n5. Exercise improves creative focus<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you\u2019re sat down all day you\u2019ll probably need to compensate by having a good workout routine. Exercise can help impulse control by triggering endorphins, which improve the prioritising functions of the brain and in the long term it can help starve off brain ageing and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
6. Creative Environment
<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf these tips above don\u2019t seem to be working try working in a different location. I find my productivity is boosted by spending a few hours working in a cafe or different part of the office.<\/p>\n
7. The Drugs
<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe short term advantages of drinking coffee can be considerable but in the long term you\u2019re just robbing yourself of future energy. Look at it as a kind of nitro boost in a computer game that uses up your fuel faster than normal. Alternatively, tea can give you a more subtle boost without the crash associated with drinking coffee.<\/p>\n
![\"1_3WcEMrX4rJCG1bkjYd14rA\"](\"http:\/\/bridgestudio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/1_3WcEMrX4rJCG1bkjYd14rA.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf none of the above are working it\u2019s probably Friday afternoon, in which case you should consider swapping the mouse for a pint of some kind of intoxicating liquid, if not the hand of someone close.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n1. De-clutter
<\/strong>Journal at night
Keep a clean working space<\/p>\n2. Block out distractions
<\/strong>Noisli<\/a>
Spotify\u200a\u2014\u200aconcentration playlists
Stay Focused<\/a><\/p>\n3. Organise your day
<\/strong>Trello<\/a>
Time block with\u00a0Goolge Calendar<\/a>
Pomello<\/a><\/p>\n4. Calmness & De-stress
<\/strong>Meditate<\/p>\n5. Exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n6. Change your environment
<\/strong>Work in a different room or go to a cafe<\/p>\n7. The drugs
<\/strong>Use coffee sparingly and try tea<\/p>\nWould you like more focus in your organisation? Take a look at how we could help you with our workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n
You already know this but social media is a rabbit hole of distraction. Of course you just had to check that thing but now your looking at a video of that guy, the wolf and the Tory MP, how did it get to this? (I mean you looking at the video, not the Tory MP and wolf, we kinda already know what they do in their spare time.)<\/p>\n
I use the Chrome extension\u00a0Stay Focused<\/a>, to stop me laughing all day at dodgy politicians.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to get distracted when you have no plan. I use a combination of Trello, Pomello and Google Calendar.<\/p>\n I organise Trello in the following columns. On Hold, This week, Today, Sent for feedback, Approved, Invoice sent, and Paid. I then time block the projects for this week in my Google Calendar. It helps to leave some buffer time as not everything goes to plan. Pomello is a timer that syncs with Trello. It gives you 25 minutes blocks to work on projects then 5 minutes rest. I feel a lot more productive when I know I should be working on something and not wasting my clients time on social media.<\/p>\n It also helps to block in time to read mails as this can really break your working rhythm. I try to keep my inbox down to only mails that need to be acted upon. The rest get filed away.<\/p>\n We all know how meditation helps you focus. For me it\u2019s helped me be more conscious of my thoughts and their origins. Meditating everyday will help you focus on your task by quieting your chattering brain.<\/p>\n \u201cCompared to non-meditators, meditators had more stability in their ventral posteromedial cortex (vPMC). The vPMC, a region linked to spontaneous thoughts and mind-wandering, lies on the underside of the brain, in the middle of your head.\u201d\u00a0Psychology Today<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If you\u2019re sat down all day you\u2019ll probably need to compensate by having a good workout routine. Exercise can help impulse control by triggering endorphins, which improve the prioritising functions of the brain and in the long term it can help starve off brain ageing and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n If these tips above don\u2019t seem to be working try working in a different location. I find my productivity is boosted by spending a few hours working in a cafe or different part of the office.<\/p>\n The short term advantages of drinking coffee can be considerable but in the long term you\u2019re just robbing yourself of future energy. Look at it as a kind of nitro boost in a computer game that uses up your fuel faster than normal. Alternatively, tea can give you a more subtle boost without the crash associated with drinking coffee.<\/p>\n If none of the above are working it\u2019s probably Friday afternoon, in which case you should consider swapping the mouse for a pint of some kind of intoxicating liquid, if not the hand of someone close.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. De-clutter 2. Block out distractions 3. Organise your day 4. Calmness & De-stress 5. Exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n 6. Change your environment 7. The drugs Would you like more focus in your organisation? Take a look at how we could help you with our workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n3. Organise
<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\n4. Calmness helps creativity<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
5. Exercise improves creative focus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
6. Creative Environment
<\/strong><\/h2>\n7. The Drugs
<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/strong>Journal at night
Keep a clean working space<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Noisli<\/a>
Spotify\u200a\u2014\u200aconcentration playlists
Stay Focused<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/strong>Trello<\/a>
Time block with\u00a0Goolge Calendar<\/a>
Pomello<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/strong>Meditate<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Work in a different room or go to a cafe<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Use coffee sparingly and try tea<\/p>\n