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4 keys to an effective working environment

Itecor · April 24, 2020

Space, the second side of the magic triangle of concentration at work

The mind is an essential element because it allows you to stay effective longer and enjoy a better quality of work. To enable the mind to give its full capacity it must be accompanied by a conducive environment and thoughtful time management. Today we will focus on the environment, both physical and mental.

4 key elements of a conducive environment

The environment is the framework in which you will evolve. It is the vehicle that will allow you to perform at a higher level. If it is not adapted to your activity, it will make your work inefficient or even harmful. Working in a station hall will not have the same impact as working in a calm and quiet environment. Likewise, who has never experienced having to make an important report and being constantly bothered by incessant emails?

For me, there are 4 major factors to consider in order to give your best.

Optimize your workspace

The first thing to do is to create a cocoon. If you work in open space and are constantly disturbed by the comings and goings of your colleagues, create natural barriers. This can be as simple as a plant or turning its screen in the opposite direction. If you’re in an office or at home, make sure your gaze is directed naturally towards your workspace. Don’t have anything in indirect focus that will catch your attention, even unconsciously.

The second thing is to avoid visual stimuli. Tidy up your desk. A tidy desk, with a limited number of things, mainly related to your current work, allows you to stay focused for longer. Your desk should be a workspace, not a storage space.

Finding the right environment

The goal is to be able to focus on the task at hand. The environment should be a help, not a hindrance. One of the most pernicious obstacles is noise. Create a sound environment that suits you. This can be absolute silence, or background music that will erase outside noise. It can also mean putting headphones on your ears, even if it means not listening to music. This creates an intimate environment that will make you effective. There is also a lot of music available to help you concentrate.

The goal is to create an isolating environment that helps you concentrate. In addition, headphones can be a subtle way to make your colleagues understand that for the moment you don’t want to be disturbed.

Doing one thing at a time

Intuitively, we always want to do several things at once. To work on a project while answering emails and controlling social networks. The usual answer is that we have too much to do, too many priorities, too many urgencies. But the brain, like a computer for that matter, only processes one operation at a time. The brain moves from one task to another as quickly as possible. To do so, it must refocus each time on the new task, which is not optimal.

It is much more productive to define a task to be done and then devoting oneself to it. Limiting other sources of information and working on a single project. This requires a little planning and prioritization, but it will make you much more efficient. By working on only one thing, the brain will use its cache memory for this single task and thus give you access to a maximum of information on the given subject.

Break down your task into sub-tasks

Define the tasks to be performed clearly. Once this is done, define the sub-tasks that will allow you to complete the planned tasks. The clearer these definitions are, the better the brain will be able to focus on your goals. By staying on a vague list of tasks, you won’t know where to start and you risk getting distracted by rambling on to other ideas.

Take the time to define what you need to do and how you are going to do it. Then, use your list as a guide to get away from any form of distraction. In addition, by achieving small objectives leading to larger ones, you will motivate yourself throughout the day because you will have the impression that you are making real progress.

The environment in which you work is essential. It allows you to focus on your work. You have probably found that it is sometimes difficult to get started, but as soon as you are focused on a task, time stops and the day and your work progresses more smoothly. But as soon as you are taken out of your environment, the process of getting back to work is not always simple and the risk of branching off into other activities is great.

Taking the time to perfect your environment is a way to become more efficient throughout the day.

References:

https://www.efficaciteprofessionnelle.fr/2017/09/25/10-astuces-pour-doper-sa-concentration/

https://lentreprise.lexpress.fr/rh-management/efficacite-personnelle/cinq-conseils-pour-reussir-a-se-concentrer-au-travail_1863285.html

https://chaquejouretrebien.adrea.fr/article/conseils-meilleure-concentration-travail

https://www.efficaciteautravail.fr/2016/03/6-conseils-pratiques-rester-concentre-travail/

https://www.santemagazine.fr/sante/sante-au-travail/6-astuces-pour-ameliorer-la-concentration-334985

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