How To Deal With Online Distractions

3 Mindful Tricks

Online distractions are a harsh reality. They silently sabotage productivity. Take emails, for instance. Employees worldwide are overwhelmed by inbox influx. And that’s not all! From social media to instant messaging apps, it’s getting hard to concentrate.

For anyone who spends long hours working online, there are ways to minimize browser distractions effectively. But is that enough? How many times did you end up doing nothing despite spending hours in front of your laptop? Maybe it’s a lack of impulse control. Maybe it’s a flaw in internet design. One can’t be sure.

Here are three definite tricks to keep you focused. Keep scrolling!

Tame Those Nasty Algorithms

Say you’ve spent a few days tracing the Israel-Hamas war on YouTube. Now, you have an unpleasant feed with war and destruction. Why? Because websites use algorithms to keep track of what you like and constantly line up similar content.

The aim is simple. It wants you to stay on the site for as long as possible by showing your interests. Of course, it makes sense for a website to maximize time on site. But for your brain, not so much.

Social media platforms replicate the algorithm and pull up similar results. In this case, videos related to war. It’s a vicious loop that you need to break. (Unless you’re a war enthusiast. Hope not!)

So, what do you do? You fine-tune the nasty algorithms.

• On YouTube, click the three dots below the video thumbnail. Then, select and click “Not Interested.” Other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have options like “Hide Post.”
• Continue doing it for similar videos that pop up on your feed. 
• Also, spend more time viewing other videos. It could be anything – music, movies, and animations, as well as professional and motivational videos. 

The algorithm catches up in a few days, and you start seeing less war-related content. Smile!

Give Human Feeds A Chance 

The trick we discussed above was all about training algorithms. However, at times, it can be exhausting. Simply because people these days have thin patience. They don’t see their feed changing; they get anxious. So, here’s an alternative. 
Limit the use of social media for useful things, like daily news or stock market updates. This means you are cautiously avoiding posts that don’t attract many shares or likes. Finding a news source or a publication where human editors control the show works best. 
If you love learning new skills, figure out how RSS works. Then, create a news feed minus the algorithm. It doesn’t have to be specific. The idea is to read more stories that typically don’t make it to social media to trigger shares. This, in turn, puts you in the driver’s seat to control online interactions and cut away distractions. 

Scheduling Breaks For Fresh Air 

Opening windows to let some cool breeze flow in sounds like a novel idea. But how does it help in cutting through distractions? By helping you process information better. 
That’s what a study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has to say. There’s a direct relationship between natural ventilation and an individual’s ability to make strategic decisions. It has been proved through multiple findings related to sick building syndrome. 
The credit goes to increased oxygen intake, which boosts cognitive function. It also uplifts mood and keeps boredom at bay. Getting fresh air outside or even sitting close to a window can make a difference in employee concentration. As a result, they feel less bored and won’t fall for online distractions. 

The Bottom Line

Online distractions are winning. Do you know why? Simply because they’ve been purposely engineered to give us what we like – instant gratification. These tricks will get you so far, but the need of the hour is to fall into a discipline. Selective social media usage, limiting screen time, and fresh bursts of air work like a charm. Stick to it, and soon enough, you’ll have formed a habit of beating distractions. Your time to be productive starts today!