I was chatting with a friend over lunch today about working from home and the challenge of dealing with distractions. They are a common enemy among writers, especially those with day jobs who pursue their writing during evenings and weekends. These are the times when family and friends are off work and are more likely to seek interaction of one sort or another, and to participate in activities which pull our attention away from our writing. The good news is that many distractions are easily deflected, or with a little planning, prevented.
Environmental
The more obvious distractions in this category come from noise:
- roadworks outside on the street
- kids playing in the next room
- a television next door
- someone drilling or hammering downstairs
- even someone laughing can prevent you thinking straight
Then we have more immediate culprits:
- an uncomfortable chair
- poor light
- working in a tight, cramped space
- an overpowering aroma, e.g. a scented candle, detergents, fresh paint, aftershave or perfume from someone close by
- clutter and untidiness; it can very difficult to concentrate when the space around you is too busy
I think environmental distractions are the easiest of all to resolve. External noise can be dampened by closing a window, by playing background music or white noise, using headphones or maybe even using earplugs. Visual movement through a window can be countered by pulling a blind or curtains, or by turning your desk around a little. Make a chair more comfortable by adding a cushion. Add extra light to a dark spot by borrowing a lamp from another room, or by moving your desk. Excess light on a sunny day might require partly closing a blind or curtain.
Even a cluttered desk or workspace can easily be cleared beforehand – just move everything out of sight, into a cupboard or to another room, or simply drape a blanket over it. You can tidy it properly later on.
Give yourself the best chance of being relaxed and productive. Take a minute or two before you start writing and make any adjustments necessary.
Physical
Physical distractions may be harder to identify. We experience and are affected by them, but unlike the loud drilling noise from downstairs, we are often not aware what is actually causing the discomfort. We shift in our chair and rub our hand over our face without realising the chair is too hard or that we are sleepy.
Watch out for the following symptoms and be prepared with a suitable remedy:
- too hot or cold
- hungry or thirsty
- tired and sleepy
- stiff neck or shoulders
- headache or stomach upset
- need a visit to the toilet
All these are distractions that niggle away at us and usually worsen as time passes unless we do something to alleviate them. Try and identify these before you start. Close your eyes and do a quick body scan, see if any of the above are present.
Fatigue is the most difficult to combat, as the best remedy is sleep. However, often a few minutes of fresh air or a few light stretches can give you twenty minutes of focus before you need another break. Hydration can also help tiredness; I find a hot drink great for reviving my senses.
Technological
You know these culprits very well. They’re the quick fixes we crave, yet can rarely just have one or two. No, it’s not your favourite chocolates; I’m referring to social media and internet.
First off, take a deep breath and name them:
- the in-your-face ones: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger
- the innocent ones: text messages, email, Skype, phone calls, calendar reminders
- the devious ones: internet surfing, sports results, shopping and research
These are all useful services but not when you’re trying to get a job done! They are easy to turn on and off, yet seem to have a dark magic that pulls us in, promising to just take a minute of our time. But once we yield to their siren’s song, the exit disappears, and our hitherto focus abandons us.
A strong hand is required for these guys, 100% resolve with no room for discussion; remember we are here to work:
- commit to the task for a specific length of time, or until the job is done
- remove all these devious goblins from your work area or turn them off, completely
- maximise the screen size of whatever application you’re using, so it hides any tempting shortcuts on your computer desktop
- close any other apps on your computer or tablet
- if notifications continue to appear, turn off the internet on your device or use airplane mode
The world will not end during this relatively short space of time. We regularly disconnect ourselves from the outside world without a second thought and truth be told, find we relax when we have a ‘justified’ reason to be out-of-touch, e.g. when having a shower, a massage, during a religious service or at the cinema.
One your task is completed, you can let the toys out to play as a reward for a job well done. If that’s too much of a challenge, do sprints. Commit to ignoring everything for just 25 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break as a reward. Then repeat the process. Use the break wisely and watch the time – any longer than 5 or 10 minutes, and your mind will wander, making it harder to re-engage when you return.
People
Children, wives, partners, neighbours and pets – we love them all dearly and enjoy spending time with them, but constant interruption eats into your progress, and instead of taking pleasure from your writing and your friends’ company, you may end up angry at them and yourself.
So make it easy; set boundaries. Decide when you are writing and let everyone in the house know this, and for how long you will be busy. Make sure the kids are catered for, at least for a 25 minute sprint. Arrange for someone else to answer the phone or the door if you’re expecting a call or a delivery. Have an answer ready in case you are interrupted e.g. “Sorry, I’m working right now. I’ll be free at 3 pm.”
Once you don’t have to worry about anyone else, you can pretend you’re in a different world, an alternate reality, protected by an invisible forcefield. This is your time to focus entirely on one task – writing.
Alternate Workspaces
Sometimes it’s impossible to control your usual workspace. If this happens, consider moving to a different location. A change of scenery can also spark creativity.
Libraries, by their very nature, provide an excellent environment for productivity. The absence of many of the aforementioned distractions (noise, movement, smells, clutter) and the presence of people deep in thought, can be an instant trigger. You’re unlikely even to consider slacking off from your scheduled tasks to doodle or check your phone, conscious that you are among other focused and productive people and that in some unspoken way, you are committed to contributing to the success of the group – you won’t be the one to let the side down.
Cafes are another option. I prefer smaller establishments, as they tend to have less turnover of customers and therefore the noise levels are lower. A gentle hum of voices and coffee cups is often the perfect accompaniment for a writing session. If I get stuck for ideas, I can sit back and tune into the activity and the faces around me for inspiration.
Happy Writing,
Harry
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