How to be Hyper Focused at Work

How to be Hyper Focused at work

Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed, distracted, and struggling to check items off your to-do list?

If so, it might be time to try a new approach – one focused on the power of “hyper focus.”

Hyper focus is the ability to concentrate intensely on a single task for an extended period of time, tuning out external distractions and entering a state of heightened productivity.

Research shows that on average, we check work-related software 566 times per day – a staggering number that highlights just how much our attention is being pulled in different directions.

In the latest episode of the Jobs for Women podcast, host Zoe Haydn Jones dove deep into the topic of hyper focus and shared her personal struggles with multitasking and feeling spread thin.

But Zoe has discovered some game-changing strategies that have helped her regain control of her time and skyrocket her productivity. 

“I can find myself at my desk doing something, and then I get a ping, I get a notification, I look at my phone, or something happens, and then I start doing the other thing,” Zoe explained. 

Zoe went on to share three proven steps you can take to become a hyper focus superstar:

1. Set 1-3 Priority Tasks Each Day

According to Zoe, the first step is to identify your most important, non-negotiable tasks for the day. “What is it in your working day that you could say, ‘Right, in and around all the other bullshit little to-dos, what is my non-negotiable that I have to do?'” [0:09:21 – 0:09:35] Zoe recommends capping your priority tasks at 1-3 per day, so you can laser-focus on getting them done without getting sidetracked. This strategy can be particularly powerful, as studies show that people who work in 30-minute intervals are up to 45% more productive than those who work in longer stretches.

2. Eliminate Distractions

Once you’ve identified your priorities, it’s time to eliminate the digital distractions that can derail your focus. “I’d love you to check your inbox three times a day, two if you can. In the morning, you respond, you take actions from it, and then the afternoon, same again,” Zoe advised.

She also emphasised the importance of turning off notifications and getting your phone out of your workspace altogether. “If you think about it, all those touch points for technology, how disrupting is that to your day?”. Research has shown that it can take up to 23 minutes to regain focus after being interrupted by a notification.

3. Create a Focused Environment

Finally, Zoe stressed the value of creating a clutter-free, distraction-free work environment. “If you think about if your desk, like there’s loads of ornaments and lovely stuff you can have out and photographs, if you just get rid of all the noise and you just have your desk and your workspace, you have your really nice cup of tea, or whatever you’ve got, you’re going to help create this environment of focus.”

By implementing these three strategies, Zoe has been able to regain control of her productivity and achieve more in less time. And she believes the same can be true for you. “When we start to become hyper focused, we’re going to give ourselves the power,” Zoe said. “The power of intentional focus is that you start to identify sources of interruption.”

Ready to unlock your own productivity superpowers? Give the full podcast episode a listen and start implementing Zoe’s hyper focus secrets today.