Photo Credit: Sean MacEntee (Creative Commons)

In a world where smart phones give us access to email and the internet whenever we want it; where apps and web sites are launched regularly with the promise of getting us organized; where there are seminars and conferences about how to be more productive, it seems we’re still struggling to get stuff done.

The reason? Distractions.

No sooner do you sit down with the intention of tackling your to-do list, then a Tweet reply comes through. Then an email. Followed by a text message, phone call, Facebook message, another email, a chatty co-worker or family member, another email, another text, lunch break, and then the cycle starts all over again.

Our increased connectivity has killed our productivity.

As someone who works primarily from home, I have had my fair share of distractions. The following tips are things I have done to eliminate distractions and increase my productivity:

1. Turn off Push notifications.
Most applications on your smart phone are able to send notifications to your home screen. You can be alerted whenever someone posts on your Facebook wall, whenever you receive an @reply Tweet, when your Words with Friends opponent makes a move, when a new email comes through and countless other updates have been made. These notifications vie for your time, attention, and will distract you from what you’re doing and usually are not urgent enough to pull you away from your work. Turn off Push notifications on all your applications and reclaim your time.

2. Turn off the device.
Turning off Push notifications might not be enough. Text messages, phone calls, even the temptation to pick up your phone and check your email or Twitter account aren’t solved through Push notifications. Whenever I sit down to get work done, I turn off my phone. No distractions and no temptations.

3. Sign out of social media.
While I will be the first to advocate the benefits of social media, as most of my work has come through Facebook and Twitter connections, let’s be honest, social media can be a huge distraction, especially when you keep it open to a tab in your browser. Those constant parenthetical

4. Close your email.
Reading and responding to email is a time killer, especially when you are notified of each new email that comes through. Close your email program and designate a few times during the day when you will open, read and respond to all your emails.

5. Keep a To-Do list.
A To-Do list is a great tool to help you stay on track and remember everything you need to accomplish. There are some great Task apps out there, such as Wunderlist or even Evernote, that work on your computer, Smart Phone and tablet. Or you can use a more traditional method. I keep a small Moleskin notebook with me wherever I go with my To-Do list. Each night I update my list for the next day, so when I have down time, or can’t remember who I needed to email, I can refer back to my list. I also love the action of physically crossing something off my list.

6. Designate work and break times.
No one enjoys working eight straight hours without some down time. Consider blocking your day off into zones: work time and break time. For every hour or two hours you work, allow yourself a 15-30 minute break to check social media, catch a TV show, go for a walk or just zone out. It will increase your focus when you hit the To-Do list again.

These tips will help you eliminate distractions, increase your focus and get more done in your day. Try them out for a month. You will see a difference in your level of productivity.