You’ve moved past the dreaded empty page with a blinking cursor in your word processor and begun writing, so why can’t you concentrate? Technology has made it easy to write from anywhere, but there are so many distractions! You might be unable to concentrate or focus at work because you’re distracted by coworkers or multitasking. You might be unable to focus when writing in a coffee shop–even with your noise-canceling headphones on! Or your friends might be blowing up your phone with a group chat, changing your focus each time the screen flashes. So where do you go from here?
There are several steps you can take to improve focus while writing. Slice can help with your writing concentration and guide you to distraction-free writing.
Why Can’t I Focus On Writing?
Are you getting enough sleep? Are you trying to do too much at once? Focus is impacted by several things, ranging from lack of sleep to stress to multitasking. But there’s more to it than that. You might find it difficult to concentrate if your desk is cluttered or if you check your phone frequently. What are the significant causes of your distraction?
Where Are You Working?
The space in which you’re working has a massive impact on your ability to concentrate. Working in an office environment, especially an open office space, can be disruptive. Working from home might afford you the ability to be with your family and pets, but having them around could take your attention away from your work. Here are some questions to consider when deciding whether to work somewhere:
- Is there a lot of noise?
Distracting noises, such as TVs or other people talking, interrupt your concentration. Even listening to music can disrupt your focus. - Is there a lot of movement?
If people or animals move around you, their activity may stop you from keeping your eyes on your screen. - Is it easy to focus on something else?
Are you prone to people-watching or admiring your sleeping cat? Is your favorite TV show playing in the background? No matter the cause, focusing on something other than your writing can make it difficult to dive back in.
Who Are You Working With?
Along with where you are working, it’s important to consider who is around. Do your coworkers lean over and tell you about their weekends if you’re working at the office? Getting caught up in the bustle of the office, from meetings to emails, can break your focus. Do you work with someone else at home? Kids or roommates might need your attention and take you away from the computer for several minutes at a time. Who you’re around matters!
What Do You Have Around You?
Having constant notifications, whether on your phone or in a team chat, can distract you from your work in significant ways. Most importantly, it takes your focus away from your writing and places it on responding to others. A cluttered desk can also be a distraction! Imagine you have a massive stack of papers, knick-knacks, or a generally messy desk. Attempting to work while having those things in your field of view can take your attention away from what matters. It’s easy to focus on what needs fixing rather than what needs doing.
How Do You Focus On Writing and Not Get Distracted?
So we’ve explored some causes of losing focus, but how can you manage distractions? Here are five techniques to help:
- Use technology to your advantage.
Taking advantage of technology means more than using programs for distraction-free writing. It also means turning off or silencing your phone and other devices. Most cellphones have a “focus” setting that allows you to select which notifications are important and to turn off things like social media. Slice gives you the ability to block out distractions by allowing you to collect everything related to a project in one workspace! - Remove yourself from distracting situations.
It’s important to note which situations are distracting to you. If being around many people in a busy setting distracts you, then a public space might not be the best option for you. - Break your time up.
Once you get in the groove, you might not want to stop. But if you’re struggling with distractions, you can give yourself a break and start fresh after a few minutes. There are several ways to practice this, but the Pomodoro Technique is a great option for some. - Don’t try to multitask.
Multitasking might sound like a great idea, but it takes away your attention from an individual task. Attempting to do it all at once makes it more difficult. According to Fast Company, you can lose up to 40% of your productivity shifting between tasks. Slice helps you focus on the only tasks that matter to writers–thinking, researching, and writing! - Use writing techniques.
From outlining to free-writing, there are several approaches to structuring your content. Using a framework will help you to focus on what should be on the page and to leave out unnecessary details.
What’s the Best Writing App?
While there are many options, Slice allows you to write distraction-free by providing several features to keep you in the zone. You’re able to slice your writing assignment into smaller sections so you can explore more manageable ideas. Everything you need will be in one place, including your sources. That means you can write and research side-by-side. Slice has a Chrome extension that enables you to collect research without any back-and-forth from the browser to a word processor. It even allows you to manage a project for your team. Slice keeps your attention on writing and minimizes distractions.
Slice: Writing Without the Chaos
We understand how frustrating it can be to lose concentration while writing. Slice helps you focus on your writing and gives you the confidence you need to write distraction-free. Leave chaotic content creation behind and visit our website to try Slice.
