Ding, Buzz, Dot... the problem of distractions at work

The email ding and a pop-up that distracts you from that really important task.

The buzz of a new phone message that makes you jump as you're just winding down.

That red dot on your phone app that demands to be looked at.

Our digital lives are full of distractions, with email, apps and messenger alerts desperate for our attention. You can't load a new app onto your phone without it constantly wanting to tell you some exciting news about itself with a buzz and that ever-present red dot. Your email inbox is constantly creeping into your field of vision with those 'really' helpful Outlook pop-outs when a new message arrives, wanting to keep you staring at all its shiny new messages like a needy child.

And it is not just your own alerts crashing into your world, a while ago I was in a really intense meeting with a consulting client. We were at a critical point in the project and some serious decisions need to be made, so concentration was the order of the day. However, that was seriously difficult with my colleagues’ phone practically buzzing itself off the table with all the notifications that kept coming in. Now no one is that popular, unless maybe you are Ariana Grande, so why all the buzzing!

Now is the time to just say NO and stop the alert madness!

Have a really good think about how much information you really need to be told about in the moment.

• Do you need to know that a Kardashian has just posted on Instagram?

• Do you need to know that Amazon has a new deal of the day?

Turn off all the unnecessary app and messenger notifications, especially those dots. It will be such a calming experience, believe me.

And it goes further than just apps and messenger, email can be the biggest distraction and the most destructive tool to productivity. So do it, turn off the ding, turn off the pop-out. If you really want to know when a new email is there, let the little envelope remain. You can see that it is there, but continue on with your more important task; what you actually planned to be doing.

It may take some getting used to, but just think what else you can do with your time - look out of the window of the train, actually get that important task done with time to spare, chill out on the sofa and immerse your self in that film you have been desperate to see.

So do it, turn off the ding, buzz and dot and welcome in the new world of control of your time.