The Importance of Staying Focused

It is important that you concentrate on the safe completion of your work. It’s very easy to become distracted. If you find yourself becoming distracted while working, it’s better that you stop your work and take a break until you feel that you can focus on the task at hand.

Contrary to what some may think, distractions in the workplace are very common. According to a 2018 survey, 70% of workers feel distracted while on the job, and 16% confessed to always being distracted.

The Consequences of Lacking Focus
According to recent studies, most workers only spend 25-35% of their time focused on their work. Once they lose focus, it can take an average of 23 minutes for workers to regain it and continue their work. Losing focus can lead to an instant decline in your quality of work.

In worst-case scenarios losing focus can lead to injury. If you’re not careful while operating heavy machinery, it can lead to property damage and harm to yourself and others around you. Stay focused, everyone! While you’re on the job, it’s not just your safety that’s at risk, but that of others as well. If you’re not careful, you could end up injuring yourself, as well as your coworkers.

Here are some helpful tips to ensure you stay focused on your work:

Be goal-oriented
Having both short- and long-term goals are essential for staying focused, as it allows you to envision the final product of your work, while also keeping you motivated on a day-to-day basis. Being goal-oriented will encourage you to be consistent and maintain the quality of your work at every step of the process, and will also ensure that the minor obstacles along the way don’t demotivate you or cause you to lose focus. If you can focus on the big picture, you’ll eventually reach your ultimate goal.

Plan ahead
It’s natural for one’s mind to wonder. Some are inclined to jump between the various steps in the construction process. It’s also a good idea to write down any personal “to-do’s”, so you can relax and focus on your work, instead of what you may possibly forget to do when you get home. This can lead to inconsistent quality of work, and cause workers to lose focus. To-do lists will provide a distinct road map, encouraging you to hone in on one step at a time, and focus on it until you finish it, before moving on to the next.

For managers and team leaders, maintaining a consistent work plan will keep everyone focused on their individual responsibilities. A long-term work plan doesn’t just keep workers focused, it also improves the quality of their work overtime.

It may seem harmless to let your mind wander away from the task at hand, but inattention and a lack of mindfulness of the task are contributing factors to incidents.

Network & Collaborate
No man is an island, and it’s important not to be a lone wolf in an industry such as ours. The bonds between fellow construction workers can go a long way in keeping you motivated and focused. Work together to support each other and share ideas to inspire one another when work gets stressful, or worse, boring. Your coworkers aren’t the only ones you should build bridges with. Having a positive client/worker relationship can make all the difference in worker motivation. Nobody wants to work with a problematic client; getting along with your client can encourage you to work harder to satisfy their needs and expectations.

Curb your use of technology
Modern technology such as smartphones can be your most incredible tool, with new and improved guides and instructions for every area of construction right at your fingers. Use this resource effectively, and it can significantly increase productivity. It can also be your worst distraction. It is up to you to practice self-control in deciding when to and not to use it.

Keep your workspace tidy and organized
A cluttered workspace can make retaining focused impossible. On the other hand, an organized one can significantly improve workflow, minimizing the time it takes to complete tasks and helping workers maintain focus in doing so.

Hopefully, these tips provided some insight into the importance of staying focused, and the steps you can take to improve your focus while on the job. If you found them useful, be sure to share them with others as well.