I get distracted while working, how can I regain my focus? [duplicate]

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This question already has an answer here:

• 
  Are there any strategies you can use to remain focused when working in a open plan environment?
  
  9 answers
  
  

Background

I am working as a developer in a tech company. Every employee in our department has a vague and interlacing responsibility, meaning: an employee might be tasked to do something that he/she has no experience. Our development department does not have any plan, usually we perform tasks according to what manager wants at that moment.
We have a fairly large room for our department but we sit in an open floor plan.

Problem

I get distracted from work very often. Sources of distraction can be:

• Unknown urge for Internet browsing




• Manager intervening while I am on an ongoing task




• Customers calling for support/info




• Colleague asking for solution




• A sales rep. visiting about a project they have in mind

Usually, when one or more of above happen while I am in deep focus, I lose my focus and motivation. Even though I know exactly what to, I cannot perform anymore.

I understand our department performs on momentary verbal notice, so I began to put my headphones and dive into code. But this was not a solution and I still get interrupted. It takes unknown amount of time until I feel ready again to dive in code.

Question

1- How can I regain my focus?

2- Do I have an Attention deficit disorder? Should I visit a doctor?

UPDATE

There is an already discussed and answered question here but answers does not apply for my condition (Refer to Sources of distraction above)

management work-environment developer

share|improve this question

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

marked as duplicate by gnat, Joel Etherton, Jim G., Joe Strazzere, AndreiROM Jan 5 '16 at 21:54

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What's wrong with you is that you're human. No need to visit a doctor for this condition: give it 60 - 75 years and it'll take care of itself. +1 for vault-boy DP.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:03
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you are right, but I feel uncomfortable throwing away limited precious time I have in life.
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:07
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I was mostly joking, hence just writing it as a comment. You need to find a way of keeping some of those distractions at bay, such as reaching an agreement with a colleague over who answers the phone during certain hours. If your work allows you to work custom hours you could try coming in a little earlier and getting stuff done before other people get in the office. Alternatively maybe negotiate a day per week to work from home so that you can focus on code? Worth talking to your boss about.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  How well do you know your own usual motivations? After all, don't you have a reason why you get out of bed in the morning? Why you have this job instead of something else? There are numerous psychological theories around motivation but do you want to do the work to know what works for you?
  – JB King
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:12
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @AndreiROM I have tried some of your suggestions. My vague responsibility is to manage, develop and support a desktop application. This application is mostly legacy-spaghetti-code, so most of my colleagues avoid getting involved. My manager puts almost all of work on me. Hence I am almost the only one who can truly give support to costumer. I have discussed this with my manager but he does not seem to care :/
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:15
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

1

This question already has an answer here:

• 
  Are there any strategies you can use to remain focused when working in a open plan environment?
  
  9 answers
  
  

Background

I am working as a developer in a tech company. Every employee in our department has a vague and interlacing responsibility, meaning: an employee might be tasked to do something that he/she has no experience. Our development department does not have any plan, usually we perform tasks according to what manager wants at that moment.
We have a fairly large room for our department but we sit in an open floor plan.

Problem

I get distracted from work very often. Sources of distraction can be:

• Unknown urge for Internet browsing




• Manager intervening while I am on an ongoing task




• Customers calling for support/info




• Colleague asking for solution




• A sales rep. visiting about a project they have in mind

Usually, when one or more of above happen while I am in deep focus, I lose my focus and motivation. Even though I know exactly what to, I cannot perform anymore.

I understand our department performs on momentary verbal notice, so I began to put my headphones and dive into code. But this was not a solution and I still get interrupted. It takes unknown amount of time until I feel ready again to dive in code.

Question

1- How can I regain my focus?

2- Do I have an Attention deficit disorder? Should I visit a doctor?

UPDATE

There is an already discussed and answered question here but answers does not apply for my condition (Refer to Sources of distraction above)

management work-environment developer

share|improve this question

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

marked as duplicate by gnat, Joel Etherton, Jim G., Joe Strazzere, AndreiROM Jan 5 '16 at 21:54

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What's wrong with you is that you're human. No need to visit a doctor for this condition: give it 60 - 75 years and it'll take care of itself. +1 for vault-boy DP.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:03
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you are right, but I feel uncomfortable throwing away limited precious time I have in life.
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:07
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I was mostly joking, hence just writing it as a comment. You need to find a way of keeping some of those distractions at bay, such as reaching an agreement with a colleague over who answers the phone during certain hours. If your work allows you to work custom hours you could try coming in a little earlier and getting stuff done before other people get in the office. Alternatively maybe negotiate a day per week to work from home so that you can focus on code? Worth talking to your boss about.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  How well do you know your own usual motivations? After all, don't you have a reason why you get out of bed in the morning? Why you have this job instead of something else? There are numerous psychological theories around motivation but do you want to do the work to know what works for you?
  – JB King
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:12
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @AndreiROM I have tried some of your suggestions. My vague responsibility is to manage, develop and support a desktop application. This application is mostly legacy-spaghetti-code, so most of my colleagues avoid getting involved. My manager puts almost all of work on me. Hence I am almost the only one who can truly give support to costumer. I have discussed this with my manager but he does not seem to care :/
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:15
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

1

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

1

1

This question already has an answer here:

• 
  Are there any strategies you can use to remain focused when working in a open plan environment?
  
  9 answers
  
  

Background

I am working as a developer in a tech company. Every employee in our department has a vague and interlacing responsibility, meaning: an employee might be tasked to do something that he/she has no experience. Our development department does not have any plan, usually we perform tasks according to what manager wants at that moment.
We have a fairly large room for our department but we sit in an open floor plan.

Problem

I get distracted from work very often. Sources of distraction can be:

• Unknown urge for Internet browsing




• Manager intervening while I am on an ongoing task




• Customers calling for support/info




• Colleague asking for solution




• A sales rep. visiting about a project they have in mind

Usually, when one or more of above happen while I am in deep focus, I lose my focus and motivation. Even though I know exactly what to, I cannot perform anymore.

I understand our department performs on momentary verbal notice, so I began to put my headphones and dive into code. But this was not a solution and I still get interrupted. It takes unknown amount of time until I feel ready again to dive in code.

Question

1- How can I regain my focus?

2- Do I have an Attention deficit disorder? Should I visit a doctor?

UPDATE

There is an already discussed and answered question here but answers does not apply for my condition (Refer to Sources of distraction above)

management work-environment developer

share|improve this question

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

This question already has an answer here:

• 
  Are there any strategies you can use to remain focused when working in a open plan environment?
  
  9 answers
  
  

Background

I am working as a developer in a tech company. Every employee in our department has a vague and interlacing responsibility, meaning: an employee might be tasked to do something that he/she has no experience. Our development department does not have any plan, usually we perform tasks according to what manager wants at that moment.
We have a fairly large room for our department but we sit in an open floor plan.

Problem

I get distracted from work very often. Sources of distraction can be:

• Unknown urge for Internet browsing




• Manager intervening while I am on an ongoing task




• Customers calling for support/info




• Colleague asking for solution




• A sales rep. visiting about a project they have in mind

Usually, when one or more of above happen while I am in deep focus, I lose my focus and motivation. Even though I know exactly what to, I cannot perform anymore.

I understand our department performs on momentary verbal notice, so I began to put my headphones and dive into code. But this was not a solution and I still get interrupted. It takes unknown amount of time until I feel ready again to dive in code.

Question

1- How can I regain my focus?

2- Do I have an Attention deficit disorder? Should I visit a doctor?

UPDATE

There is an already discussed and answered question here but answers does not apply for my condition (Refer to Sources of distraction above)

This question already has an answer here:

• 
  Are there any strategies you can use to remain focused when working in a open plan environment?
  
  9 answers
  
  

management work-environment developer

share|improve this question

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48

Community♦

1

1

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

asked Jan 5 '16 at 20:01

raidensan

30137

30137

marked as duplicate by gnat, Joel Etherton, Jim G., Joe Strazzere, AndreiROM Jan 5 '16 at 21:54

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

marked as duplicate by gnat, Joel Etherton, Jim G., Joe Strazzere, AndreiROM Jan 5 '16 at 21:54

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What's wrong with you is that you're human. No need to visit a doctor for this condition: give it 60 - 75 years and it'll take care of itself. +1 for vault-boy DP.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:03
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you are right, but I feel uncomfortable throwing away limited precious time I have in life.
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:07
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I was mostly joking, hence just writing it as a comment. You need to find a way of keeping some of those distractions at bay, such as reaching an agreement with a colleague over who answers the phone during certain hours. If your work allows you to work custom hours you could try coming in a little earlier and getting stuff done before other people get in the office. Alternatively maybe negotiate a day per week to work from home so that you can focus on code? Worth talking to your boss about.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  How well do you know your own usual motivations? After all, don't you have a reason why you get out of bed in the morning? Why you have this job instead of something else? There are numerous psychological theories around motivation but do you want to do the work to know what works for you?
  – JB King
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:12
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @AndreiROM I have tried some of your suggestions. My vague responsibility is to manage, develop and support a desktop application. This application is mostly legacy-spaghetti-code, so most of my colleagues avoid getting involved. My manager puts almost all of work on me. Hence I am almost the only one who can truly give support to costumer. I have discussed this with my manager but he does not seem to care :/
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:15
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What's wrong with you is that you're human. No need to visit a doctor for this condition: give it 60 - 75 years and it'll take care of itself. +1 for vault-boy DP.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:03
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you are right, but I feel uncomfortable throwing away limited precious time I have in life.
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:07
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I was mostly joking, hence just writing it as a comment. You need to find a way of keeping some of those distractions at bay, such as reaching an agreement with a colleague over who answers the phone during certain hours. If your work allows you to work custom hours you could try coming in a little earlier and getting stuff done before other people get in the office. Alternatively maybe negotiate a day per week to work from home so that you can focus on code? Worth talking to your boss about.
  – AndreiROM
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  How well do you know your own usual motivations? After all, don't you have a reason why you get out of bed in the morning? Why you have this job instead of something else? There are numerous psychological theories around motivation but do you want to do the work to know what works for you?
  – JB King
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:12
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @AndreiROM I have tried some of your suggestions. My vague responsibility is to manage, develop and support a desktop application. This application is mostly legacy-spaghetti-code, so most of my colleagues avoid getting involved. My manager puts almost all of work on me. Hence I am almost the only one who can truly give support to costumer. I have discussed this with my manager but he does not seem to care :/
  – raidensan
  Jan 5 '16 at 20:15
  
  

  
  
  
  

2

2

What's wrong with you is that you're human. No need to visit a doctor for this condition: give it 60 - 75 years and it'll take care of itself. +1 for vault-boy DP.
– AndreiROM
Jan 5 '16 at 20:03

What's wrong with you is that you're human. No need to visit a doctor for this condition: give it 60 - 75 years and it'll take care of itself. +1 for vault-boy DP.
– AndreiROM
Jan 5 '16 at 20:03

Perhaps you are right, but I feel uncomfortable throwing away limited precious time I have in life.
– raidensan
Jan 5 '16 at 20:07

Perhaps you are right, but I feel uncomfortable throwing away limited precious time I have in life.
– raidensan
Jan 5 '16 at 20:07

2

2

I was mostly joking, hence just writing it as a comment. You need to find a way of keeping some of those distractions at bay, such as reaching an agreement with a colleague over who answers the phone during certain hours. If your work allows you to work custom hours you could try coming in a little earlier and getting stuff done before other people get in the office. Alternatively maybe negotiate a day per week to work from home so that you can focus on code? Worth talking to your boss about.
– AndreiROM
Jan 5 '16 at 20:09

I was mostly joking, hence just writing it as a comment. You need to find a way of keeping some of those distractions at bay, such as reaching an agreement with a colleague over who answers the phone during certain hours. If your work allows you to work custom hours you could try coming in a little earlier and getting stuff done before other people get in the office. Alternatively maybe negotiate a day per week to work from home so that you can focus on code? Worth talking to your boss about.
– AndreiROM
Jan 5 '16 at 20:09

How well do you know your own usual motivations? After all, don't you have a reason why you get out of bed in the morning? Why you have this job instead of something else? There are numerous psychological theories around motivation but do you want to do the work to know what works for you?
– JB King
Jan 5 '16 at 20:12

How well do you know your own usual motivations? After all, don't you have a reason why you get out of bed in the morning? Why you have this job instead of something else? There are numerous psychological theories around motivation but do you want to do the work to know what works for you?
– JB King
Jan 5 '16 at 20:12

@AndreiROM I have tried some of your suggestions. My vague responsibility is to manage, develop and support a desktop application. This application is mostly legacy-spaghetti-code, so most of my colleagues avoid getting involved. My manager puts almost all of work on me. Hence I am almost the only one who can truly give support to costumer. I have discussed this with my manager but he does not seem to care :/
– raidensan
Jan 5 '16 at 20:15

@AndreiROM I have tried some of your suggestions. My vague responsibility is to manage, develop and support a desktop application. This application is mostly legacy-spaghetti-code, so most of my colleagues avoid getting involved. My manager puts almost all of work on me. Hence I am almost the only one who can truly give support to costumer. I have discussed this with my manager but he does not seem to care :/
– raidensan
Jan 5 '16 at 20:15

 | 
show 5 more comments

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
4
down vote

You may have some success with the pomodoro technique. I was skeptic at first, but after trying it I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with its simplicity and efficiency in helping keep focus.

It won't keep other people from interfering with your work though.

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
  – Kos
  Jan 6 '16 at 10:27
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
4
down vote

You may have some success with the pomodoro technique. I was skeptic at first, but after trying it I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with its simplicity and efficiency in helping keep focus.

It won't keep other people from interfering with your work though.

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
  – Kos
  Jan 6 '16 at 10:27
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

up vote
4
down vote

You may have some success with the pomodoro technique. I was skeptic at first, but after trying it I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with its simplicity and efficiency in helping keep focus.

It won't keep other people from interfering with your work though.

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
  – Kos
  Jan 6 '16 at 10:27
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

up vote
4
down vote

up vote
4
down vote

You may have some success with the pomodoro technique. I was skeptic at first, but after trying it I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with its simplicity and efficiency in helping keep focus.

It won't keep other people from interfering with your work though.

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

You may have some success with the pomodoro technique. I was skeptic at first, but after trying it I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with its simplicity and efficiency in helping keep focus.

It won't keep other people from interfering with your work though.

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

answered Jan 5 '16 at 20:17

user1220

4,80622644

4,80622644

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
  – Kos
  Jan 6 '16 at 10:27
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
  – Kos
  Jan 6 '16 at 10:27
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

+1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
– Kos
Jan 6 '16 at 10:27

+1 But it can keep people out too! You can always say "I'll be free in 15 minutes, can we talk then?" If you were in a meeting, they would certainly understand and wait, and a 'work slot' can have the same priority as a meeting.
– Kos
Jan 6 '16 at 10:27

suggest improvements |