Hacking Your Environment for Focus

Your environment is crucial for focus. Can you work and study while many people are around you? Can you focus when there is loud noise coming from outside? Probably not. Your environment has a direct impact on your ability to focus.

In this chapter, we will explore the art of hacking your surroundings to optimize your focus.

Impact of your environment

Picture your workspace. Is it a chaotic jumble of papers, cables, and empty cups? Or is it clean, organized where you can focus?

Which one is it? First or second?

I think most of us will say the first. So, what can you do about it?

When you wake up, take 5-10 minutes to clean your desk/workspace, keep things organized, and maybe open your window. Doing so will give you a head start, as your workspace will be clean and organized, and so will your mind.

But it's not just about the physical environment. Your digital space, with its notifications, emails, and endless browser tabs, can be an equally powerful distractor.

So, organize it as well. If you don't know how, here are a few tips:

• Close, stop, or hide things when you don't need them.
• Open and resume them when you need them.

By following these tips, you can create an environment that is conducive to focus and productivity.

Crafting a Clutter-Free Workspace

Let's start by decluttering your physical workspace. A messy desk or table can be a major distraction. For example, if you keep things like toys, books, or devices on your desk that you don't need when you're trying to focus, you're more likely to pick them up and start using them.

To avoid this, it's best to keep only the essentials on your desk: a bottle of water, a notebook and pen, and your laptop or PC. If there are things that you can't control, such as a messy workspace in an office or library, try to create a zone on your desk where you can focus. This could be as simple as clearing a small area and putting up a sign that says "Focus Zone."

Another helpful tip is to designate different areas for different tasks. For example, you could have a specific area for focused work, another area for brainstorming or creative thinking, and a third area for relaxation. If you have a study table, this could be your focus area. If you don't, try to find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably and focus on your work. For relaxation, you could go for a walk in the park or listen to music.

By creating different zones for different tasks, you can train your brain to associate each zone with a specific activity. This will help you to focus more easily and avoid distracted.

Managing your Digital Space

You get more distracted digitally than physically. Most of us own a Personal Computer, Smartphone, Smartwatch, and other gadgets. There is almost everything you can do with a computer and internet. You can run a business on it and on the other hand you can literally spend days watching some Series. I believe most of you have completed many TV series by watching continuously and you must have flexed to your friends that you completed in a whole night. Ring a bell?

We must embrace technology by using it properly. Watching Netflix is fine and watching YouTube is super cool. You can learn and be entertained. But the primary reason that you feel you are not focused enough might be the unplanned time spent on those platforms. Using devices so much that you get exhausted to even start your most important task. These kinds of addictions are too common so that nobody is immune. I've completed all the latest TV Series and watched at least 1,2 hours of YouTube content on a regular basis. Still, I can focus when I want to.

I do it by simply keeping a wall between personal time and work time. If you are studying right now it can be Personal time vs Study Time.

The most important thing there is the timing more than time itself.

So, time-block your personal time and watch whatever you want. For example, 10-11pm for YouTube. It's simple. Work when you're supposed to and enjoy when you've worked/studied enough.

To begin with digital decluttering, organize your files, emails, and digital documents into logical folders and places. Archive or delete old emails that no longer serve a purpose. Next time you need something, you'll know where to find it. Instead of wondering where you saved it and searching endlessly, try doing the hard thing of organizing things first. Believe me, you'll be more productive.

Next, deal with notifications. Turn on Do Not Disturb mode and chill. Simply enabling it will ensure that you don't get anything that will interrupt your flow. However, this also means that you may miss an important notification. To avoid this, you can adjust your notification settings.

Technologies must help us when we need it. Don't let them alter your way of life. Only enable notifications for important applications. Keep everything else silent/mute. We tend to keep notifications on because of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). You want to get notified when someone comments on your photo, someone likes your story, and popular videos today. Really, are those necessary to you? You can always open the app and see it yourself. So, keep them shut and own your time. Be in control.