1. HOW TO HANDLE DISTRACTIONS IN
THE WORKPLACE
Tips, suggestions, and inspiration from GennGlobal

3. INTRODUCTION
 There are plenty of sources of distraction in the
workplace. However, not all distractions are as
obvious as things like noisy coworkers and the
sounds of the outside world.
 Next, we will discuss what these common
distractions are and how you can overcome them.

5. EMAIL AND PHONE CALLS
 The chief danger of email, smartphone, and your
work phone to your productivity is the urge to
constantly check these mediums for messages.
 The time you will waste checking for messages or
responding to them is substantial when measured
throughout the course of a day.
 To deal with this type of distraction, set aside time
each day to respond to emails, phone calls, and
text messages.
 Obviously, at times you’ll need to remain vigilant about
responding to important messages—use your best
judgment in these scenarios.

7. MEETINGS
 Meetings can be distracting because they get you
out of your “work groove” by diverting your focus to
other tasks.
 Admittedly, meetings are an essential part of most
jobs, but they can be especially distracting when
haphazardly placed throughout your schedule,
causing multiple interruptions during the day.
 This distraction can be handled in the same way as
with calls and emails: organise your schedule so
that meetings aren’t a problem.
 When possible, schedule meetings back-to-back in
blocks rather than at various times throughout the day.

8. ENVIRONMENT
 The environment you work in can be distracting in
and of itself.
 Lighting, heating, and noise level are just three
examples of things that can cause a daily
distraction at work.
 Regulate everything you can control to create an
environment that is optimized for productivity.
 For further information about how to create a
distraction-free workspace, check out a previous
blog post about fostering a productive work
environment.

10. YOURSELF
 You can be the worst offender when it comes to
productivity and distractions.
 It is easy to become bored and take a break from
your work, choosing instead to hop over to
Facebook, your favorite podcast, or a website you
often frequent.
 It’s important to be mindful of the things that distract
you, and find ways to remain focused that work for
you.
 One helpful method is using a productivity-
increasing app. For example, you might try a
Pomodoro timer.