Lately, I’ve been trying to find ways to stay productive and eliminate as many distractions as possible. I’ve recently changed a few things about the way I work to see what works and what doesn’t. Some of the following may not be a secret to most people, but I want to share some of the things I’m doing to stay productive and hopefully you’ll find something that you can apply to your workflow.
1. Use Only One Display
In the past, I’ve relied on a dual-monitor setup, which included the 15-inch screen of my MacBook Pro and a 23-inch Cinema Display. Recently, I’ve switched to using only the 23-inch display. So far, I’m liking the single display. I feel that it helps me to focus and concentrate better because I don’t have a second display in my peripheral vision. Sometimes I miss having the second display but I’ve made it a point to force myself to do without. If I discover that I’m less productive with one display, I’ll go back to using two.
2. Use Applications to Help Maintain Focus
There are plenty of applications out there that aim to make you more productive. I haven’t tried most of them, but there is one particular application that I’ve been using and I love it. It’s called Isolator and basically, it helps you concentrate by covering up your desktop and all other application windows. I have it configured to cover up everything with a black screen. It’s really useful when I’m on my 23-inch display and I’m designing in Photoshop or coding in TextMate.
3. Listen to Music
There are times when I just want to tune out the noise around me, so I’ll put my headphones in and listen to some music. Music definitely helps to eliminate a lot of distractions throughout my day. Typically, I listen to music most of the day, but sometimes, music can be a distraction for me. I remember a time a few weeks ago when I had a tight deadline for a project. I was so focused on that project that I neglected to put my headphones in because it would’ve been too distracting for me. The music I listen to depends a lot on my mood at the time and sometimes no music at all is what I need to concentrate.
4. Take Breaks
Taking frequent breaks is something I need to do more of, but breaks are very helpful in order for me to clear my mind. Sometimes when I’m having a design or coding problem, walking away for a little bit helps me to think and refocus. Many times, I’m able to figure out the problem quicker if I’m away from my desk. I’ve been meaning to try out this application called BreakTime, which simply reminds you to take a break. It seems like it could come in handy for me.
5. Disable Unnecessary Notifications
While I love using Growl, sometimes an overload of notifications can be too distracting for me. There are times when I want to be notified of certain events, such as new emails or incoming instant messages. However, I don’t need to know every time a song changes in iTunes or when Firefox has an update available. I simply disable the unnecessary notifications in order to reduce the amount of distractions. Oh, and speaking of emails and instant messages, in the rare occasion when I really need to focus, I’ll close my email and turn my IM off to completely eliminate those interruptions.
6. Keep a Clean Workspace and Computer
Another important, and perhaps overlooked, aspect in staying productive and reducing distractions is to keep a clean and tidy workspace. I try not to have anything on my desk that I don’t need. Some people may think this is odd or boring, but I prefer to have as little on my desk as possible. I truly believe that less is more, so by taking a minimalist approach to my workspace, I’m able to work easily and freely without all kinds of junk in my way. My computer is also configured to help me work smarter and faster. Tweeking my system preferences, as well as keyboard shortcuts for applications like Photoshop are important, but simply keeping all of my work files organized helps me immensely.
7. Don’t Multitask
I’ve never really been great at multitasking and I always thought that that was a bad thing. But lately, I’m realizing that it may not be so bad after all. In fact, I think my lack of multitasking ability works in my advantage because I can be more productive if I’m only focusing on a single task. By giving the task at hand my full attention, I’m able to get it done much faster than if I was trying to do two or three things at the same time. This brillant article has really inspired me.
The things that I have mentioned are really helping me stay focused throughout the workday, but I’m always interested in how others are staying productive and reducing distractions. If you have any methods that you’d like to share, please do so in the comments.
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