Distractions at Home and How to Avoid Them

Alexandra Ortiz

Photo by Ivan Samkov

Televisions, phones, video games, music. Forms of entertainment can seem like a dime a dozen to some, and they can be helpful in providing us with a short break from our daily schedules. However, it is necessary to not let them work against you if you are prone to becoming distracted, and enforce limits on when and where you use them in order to become more focused while working at home. That is to say, you can have too much of a good thing. Don’t fret - you haven’t missed the boat if you haven’t been implementing these tips yet this academic year. It’s time to bite the bullet, and go over some essential tips on how you can minimize distractions. 

Your phone can distract you in more ways than one. A phone can offer games, texting with your friends, social media, web surfing, a way to take pictures, and more. Turning off your phone may not seem like rocket science, but there are other ways to make your phone less of a distraction. Getting rid of your social media can be useful, as you will be able to more easily focus on your work without feeling compelled to chat with your friends or update others on the new show you watched. This also provides you with the benefit of being able to fall asleep more easily, because the blue light from your screen can inhibit your body’s ability to produce melatonin, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Getting more sleep can lead you to becoming more focused and energized throughout the day. Your mindset may become more positive as well, as you are able to focus on and have time for more productive activities such as exercising, studying, and of course sleeping. A solution for those who simply cannot resist social media? Put your phone on the do-not-disturb setting, or simply turn off notifications for social media apps in your phone’s settings. 

So far so good! What are other common distractions? Music can serve as a distraction as well, depending on the type that you are listening to. When listening to music with lyrics, you may find that trying to remember the words on your screen or on a page is being made more difficult. What about unwanted sounds coming from outside? Fans and air conditioners, which will help combat the summer weather that awaits us, can help drown out noise. Thick curtains can help to mitigate the amount of noise that you hear as well. For apartment dwellers, blocking out noise coming from your next door neighbors can be as simple as moving furniture against or away from walls. For example, moving a bookcase or dresser against shared walls or moving your workspace away from them.

There are numerous tips for mitigating distractions, but it’s up to you to implement them. Break a leg!