Stayin focused

Here are my ideas for staying focused on your work and achieving better productivity.

1.  Keep your body healthy.  Get a good night's sleep each night so that you will be alert for work each day.  Most people require at least 7 hours a night to be at their optimal best, regardless of what they may believe.  Avoid snacking at your desk or, if you must snack, make it a healthy snack such as carrot sticks, broccoli, celery with peanut butter, etc., and not junk food like chips, candy, crackers, etc.  Remember....garbage in, garbage out.  Always have a good breakfast, preferrably with protein such as eggs or cheese, to help jumpstart your day and give you stamina.  Don't work through lunch but rather always break for lunch and, again, make sure you have a protein in it.

2. Keep your environment healthy.  I work much better with a clean desk.  Don't let your desk become the household catchall for the kids' school papers, permission slips, stray toys, stacks of bills, unopened mail, and catalogs....all of which draw your attention away from work and cause your productivity to suffer.  Make sure your desk and chair are ergonomic and that your reference material is in easy reach....and not piled up on your desk which only creates distraction.  Keep your desk visually appealing.

3.  Allow yourself some "play time."  Give yourself a 10-minute break in the morning and afternoon to do whatever....whether it be surfing the net, throwing on a load of clothes to wash, or whatever.  Set a timer for 10 minutes and do not allow yourself to go over that.

4.  Set mini production goals for yourself and challenge yourself to meet them.  Once you meet a goal, raise the bar a bit and go for it again.  Type uninterrupted for a hour and see just how much you can accomplish.

Most concentration problems can be resolved without the aid of medications, either prescription or herbal, and the side effects of a lot of these medications far outweigh the benefits.  Make this an absolute last choice and only consider it after truly trying to alter your work habits and work environment so that you are more rested, focused and less distracted and ONLY after seeing your physician.  Hope these suggestions help.

• Anything to help you focus? - Jen
  • Keep the bills out of sight--sm - mlstoo
  • Stayin focused - TXMT
    • Thanks... - Jen
      • Another suggestion - TXMT
  • stay off the internet - it is too distracting - at least off forums
  • I'm in the - same boat...help! nm

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When I am on my game I can do 250 to 300 lines per hour, but then after a couple of hours I start dropping to less than 150 lines per hour.  How do you stay focused?  I have tried working different shifts, split shifts, etc., but I just do not seem to be able to stay focused.  I have no small children at home, so that is not a problem.  I am in my own office space, but I just seem to start drifting after about an hour and then that is it.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.