This is the third post in my series of New Year Resolutions for Telecommuters. Earlier I wrote about Being a Mindful Telecommuter. This post talks about single-tasking.
Multitasking is exhausting, so this year, resolve to focus on a single task with these tips:
Step Away: During a call, if you are not sharing your computer screen or viewing someone’s presentation, physically step away from your computer. Find another chair to sit on or walk around. Stay focused on the call. If you need to close your eyes to understand the content, do it—no one can see you!
Do Not Disturb: If you got the cool “do not disturb” sign as a Christmas gift, now would be a perfect time to start using it. Use a visible indicator that you need to focus, and inform the family that you are working.
Chat Settings: If you are required to log into a chat service to communicate with your colleague, you can use that same app to show that you need to focus on a task. Use the “do not disturb” setting in your chat app.
Notifications: Turn off notifications that are distracting while you work, like e-mail notifications. This one is a major distraction because we want to respond promptly, but every time you look away from your task, it will take you 15 minutes to get back to where you left off. Instead, set times to check your emails only a few times a day.
If you want to keep exploring ideas, this article on Forbes has additional tips for single-tasking. If you have other suggestions, please share with [email protected].