When you think back to your most productive day, you will realize that the environment in which you were in contributed to that level of productiveness you were able to exhibit, in simple terms your environment matters, and this include not only your external environment, (which is our physical environment) but also your eternal environment, and often time the external environment isn’t too difficult to navigate to get yourself in the most productive state, however there are still key thing you can implement to create the most out of your physical environment to improve your productive output. Hence, people mostly struggle in controlling their internal environment, which includes thoughts, emotions, and moods. Often, these distracting thoughts and moods are a significant hindrance to productivity. In this blog, I will talk about a simple technique that you can incorporate into your environment, both internal and external, to boost your productivity. This blog is not only focused on taming distraction but also in creating a proper ambience for learning and productivity, because when we create the right environment your mind will be automatically switched on your productive task, less effort will be directed toward controlling your environmental distraction both internal and external, and you will more focused, concentrated and more lockin in the task at hand.
External Environment
Quiet Place
What makes up our external environment is very straightforward: your desk, pen, papers, people, etc., your external environment is your immediate physical environment, things you can SEE, TOUCH, or SMELL, your key senses. Now, in creating the proper environment for learning and productivity, many people simply try to find themselves a calm and quiet place with little to no human interaction where they can focus on what they are doing. Yes, this place plays a major role in one’s productivity. However, what if you work in an office where you have to share work space, or where everyone has a singular office just different in table arrangement, what if you are a student going to a packed library or a packed classroom filled with other students, what if your room, hostel or house there are other people there, you don’t have your own perfect privacy. Although if you have your own personal study at home or at your workplace, that is a plus for you. But the reality is often time we can’t get or access this sort of environment.
Make your environment visually pleasing.
So hence what I do is design my environment to fit my immediate senses, making it pleasing visually, and oftentimes, you will see a lot of people implement this technique and call it owning their own space. I know, as I stated, creating a visually pleasing environment, your mind is probably going toward the expenses involved; however, that’s quite the contrary.
In creating your ambience for productivity, we need to address three main aspects. SIGHT, TOUCH, SMELL, How I personal implemented university years and currently my personal life, was by using a phone stand which I got for like 2500/4000 naira and a pleasing wallpaper for my phone scrolling hours through Pinterest (Ahh good time), I would place my phone on the desk change the wallpaper to one that encourages my productivity, and automatically my mind knows it focus time, despite the environment I find myself in. I also got a signature perfume I like spraying during my focus hours (however, this method was not so successful because anyone who saw the perfume on my desk ended up spraying it). Lastly, keep your workspace and your environment clean. Studies have shown that a clean desk environment helps boost productivity up to 15 percent.
Now, how can you create this ambience for learning if you are on a budget, though if you aren’t on a budget, knock yourself out and get whatever you want to beautify for workplace. For me, I have a simple Phone stand, which I got for 4000 naira approximately 3 dollars, and laptop stand, which I got for 12,000 naira approximately 9 dollars, and a two in one desk lamp which also function as a pen holder which I got for 9000naira approximately 6 dollars, and my not to recent purchase of a 30-minute hour glass timer to beautify my workplace and time myself, which I got for 15,000 naira approximately 11 dollars. These are all the minor purchases I have made over the years to beautify my workplace. I’m thinking about getting a small desk flower next, in due time.
Addressing people
Now, let’s address human interaction during our productivity time. One key thing is that unless you lock yourself in somewhere that no one is going to bother you, you are bound to get distracted by people coming to meet you, either to gist or to ask you a question. One key thing you should do is WORK WITH TIME, don’t give the person the cold shoulder, don’t act like you are too busy for the person, but instead give them a time in which you can address them. Example: “Hold on, my study session will end in 5 min,” or can we meet later by 6 pm? Always remember to address them with time, because people matter in life, and also to give them certainty that you have time for them. Pretty simple, right? But most people neglect this. Every human being unconsciously works with time; we have been programmed that way.
Phone/tablet
Some people often say having their phone next to them distracts them from their work; well, that’s actually good for them because they know their strength and their weaknesses. I know a lot of people who advise others to put their phone in another location when working, and also put the phone on Do Not Disturb while working. I personally design my phone to suit my productivity needs and switch my phone to a particular wallpaper that suits the workflow and Instead of DND, devices are modern now and come with what is called focus mode, and you can tweak it to your taste. I personally allow some number to reach out to me while the phone is in focus mode. Just while I was typing this blog, I got a call from my sister informing me that my little brother was sick and I should go and pick him up from school. Instead of checking your social every few minutes, just know that if it’s important, they will call you.
Internal Environment
Distraction book
The internal environment consists of our mind. Our thought is always the most distracting factor in our productivity journey, which can sometimes hamper our focus. One key thing I took from the book Hyper Focus by Chris Bailey is what he calls the distraction book, a small book in which you capture all your thoughts as they hover in your mind, allowing you to focus more on the task at hand. How I personally implement this is anytime a thought comes to mind during my focus session, I write it down in my small book, and a lot a time I will address it. Example: “Brainstorm content creation idea by 4 pm”, “check up on Michael by 7 pm”, if someone gets you upset, “Forgive and address the issue when next you see the person “. Don’t Harbor thought in your mind be it good or bad always put your thought on paper and the time you will address it. This allows your mind to focus on the task at hand.
Realizing that all situations in the same
Realizing all situation at this same, have you ever told yourself that you will be more focused on what you are doing if you weren’t going through this particular thing in life, yes that true, but the reality is that there is always something that is going to occupy your mind, either the mistake of yesterday, the worries of today and the anxiety of the future. Your thought is always going to occupy your mind because we are human, we think, and we overthink, so just in terms of it, even though the situation gets better, your mind is still going to wander.
Having a mantra/ beginning routine
When you begin a task, do something to indicate to your mind that it’s time for it to focus, like a short mantra of motivational quote, or any saying or beginning routine. The focus mode for me is like an off and on switch, and I personally start my productive session with a short prayer and remind myself that I am the excellent spirit of Christ, then my brain automatically switches to focus mode. Hence, begin all your sessions with a constant task.
Closing Remark
The truth of the matter is that you cannot eliminate distraction; you can only tame distraction. Distraction comes, be it from people or your own intrusive thoughts, and is all part of life. People are Important in your social life, and your thoughts are important to your well-being. Practice these few tips to create the right ambience for your productive task and boost your focus, and remember, till next time, be Positive, be Patient, and be Productive.
