Most people are overwhelmed with distractions and interruptions at work. We spend our time and energy trying to concentrate, and lose our day to primarily unimportant tasks. This will be a constant battle in any office space, but here are some tips that can help increase your productivity and concentration.
Prioritize your day. Before checking e-mail or phone messages, start working on your more important tasks first. This ensures that your priority projects are accomplished while you are fresh and focused. Only check your voice mail or e-mail once or twice a day, and keep your own messages short and direct. Don’t let low priority tasks interrupt you constantly throughout the day.
Use white noise. Today’s sound masking technology is very precise and floods the background with “white” noise that focused on the spectrum of human speech. Office-wide sound masking can lower distractions by up to 51 percent by covering the excess conversations and noise in an open floor plan. You can also try a personal sound machine, if you don’t have control over the sound quality in the office.
Limit distractions and interruptions. The average worker is interrupted more than 70 times each day. And most people suffer almost equally from self-distraction. Try establishing a “no-interruption” time of about an hour to focus on important tasks. Start by turning off all your self-distractions, like your phone and e-mail. Spend this time in focused concentration. Turn on a white noise machine to cover office noise. And post a sign indicating that you currently cannot be interrupted, and a time when you will next be available. You can repeat this focused time throughout the day to make the most of your time.
Improve your posture. Most people do not realize how much energy is wasted with poor posture. Good posture can boost productivity and energy. Start with a good, ergonomic chair and adjust it to properly fit you. First, adjust the height of the seat so that your feet are flat on the floor. Next, move the backrest on your chair to fit the curve of your spine. You should also add portable lumbar support if your chair does not fully support your lower back. Finally, move your arm rests low enough or out of the way while typing to allow free arm movement.
Making changes to your daily habits can increase your productivity and efficiency. Make an effort to maintaining good posture while sitting with a good, ergonomic chair that is well-adjusted to support your body. Also, upgrade your office space with sound masking technology, or try using a white noise machine block out the distracting conversations and office noise that interrupt your concentration. Better focus and productivity at work help you feel better about your work and enjoy less stress at the end of the day.



The average worker loses about two hours of work each day due to interruptions and distractions. Especially in the open office, employees are exposed to dozens of conversations each day that may or may not have anything to do with their current task. So much energy is spent trying to tune out everything going on around them. They have also lost all privacy for their conversations, whether in person or on the phone, adding to their feelings of stress and being undervalued.


