en

Contact Us

Truly global and proudly local, we've been serving Australia for over 25 years with offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

Get in touch
Jobs

Our industry specialists will listen to your aspirations and share your story with Australia’s most prestigious organisations. Together, let’s write the next chapter of your career.

See all jobs

Exclusive recruitment partners

Explore the opportunities from a range of organisations that exclusively partner with Robert Walters for their hiring needs.

Learn more
Services

Australia's leading employers trust us to deliver fast, efficient hiring solutions that are tailored to their exact requirements. Browse our range of bespoke services and resources.

Read more
About Robert Walters Australia

G'day! For us, recruitment is more than just a job. We understand that behind every opportunity is the chance to make a difference in people's lives.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters Australia

Learn more
Contact Us

Truly global and proudly local, we've been serving Australia for over 25 years with offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

Get in touch

5 ways to avoid distractions during your workday

Staying focused in a busy work environment can be difficult, with ringing phones, an overflowing inbox of emails – not to mention the lure of a quick text or checking social media. So if you find yourself getting easily distracted by colleagues, conversations, your desk environment or email alerts, check out our top five tips to help minimise these distractions and stay focused.

1. Break large tasks down

Large tasks can sometimes appear overwhelming which can then lead to welcome interruptions and reduced productivity. Splitting projects into smaller tasks that require less time can make the end goal feel more achievable. Smaller tasks are generally easier to tackle – ensuring you’re more likely to stay on track to getting the larger task completed.

2. Block online distractions

Find yourself checking social media or your favourite blogs? Consider investing in a distraction-free apps that are now available, such as Anti-Social or Stay Focused which can block you from specified sites for allocated periods of time. Also turn off notifications so they aren’t pushed through and as easily visible to your devices.

Whilst small distractions may seem harmless (what is two minutes out of work day?) frequent interruptions can reduce your productivity and impact the quality of your work

3. Work with productive colleagues 

It seems obvious but if surround yourself with the most productive people in the workplace it's highly likely you will also be more productive. If you sit next to or work alongside someone who works diligently, it will inspire you to do the same and reduce the chance of being unnecessarily interrupted.

4. Set boundaries with colleagues that distract you

If you find yourself working alongside someone who gets distracted easily, set some boundaries with them so they are conscious of when you need to concentrate on a task that you need to work on. You can politely tell someone you need to work on a specific task without hurting their feelings. Just advise them of your timeframe in response to their question or what the request might be. 

5. Make time to take a break

Regular breaks are important to give your brain a rest and recharge your batteries. Include social time in your diary each day where you re-energise and motivate yourself for the next task on your list. Consider going to the gym, taking a walk in the local park or spending some time in the sunshine for some vitamin D.

Share this article

Useful links

Sign up for job alerts
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View all

Unlocking the Full Potential of Annual Leave: Robert Walters Reveals How to Maximise Your Time Off

As a leading global recruitment consultancy, Robert Walters understands the importance of work-life balance and the value of time off. With the aim of helping professionals make the most out of their annual leave allowance, Robert Walters have used their wealth of knowledge to share valuable insight

Read More

How to recover when thrown by an interview question

You’re in an interview and you get asked a question that you’re not quite sure how to answer. How do you recover? We’ve listed some common scenarios with solutions which might help the next time you might find yourself in this situation: 1. You get asked about a difficult time in your career or a ga

Read More

How having a passion outside of work can support your professional success

If you have a passion outside of the workplace, it can help to influence your career search and support you to be successful in your new team too. Here are three reasons why having a passion is important and how you can use it to help you achieve professional success: 1. Creates culture Company cult

Read More

I'm Robert Walters Are you?

Come join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.