Emails, phone calls, meetings, and environments can all be sources of distraction in the workplace. To manage email and phone call distractions, set aside specific times each day to respond instead of constantly checking. For meetings, organize your schedule so they are back-to-back in blocks instead of scattered throughout the day. You can also control your environment's lighting, heating, and noise levels to optimize it for productivity. Finally, be aware of what personally distracts you, such as social media or websites, and use tools like a Pomodoro timer to stay focused.

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.