Contributed by Missy Nolan, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru
Each day, you show up bright and early in your best “I take my job seriously” outfit, ready to work.
Okay, maybe you’re usually 5 minutes late, but it only counts when that tattletale from Sales catches you. She really needs to get a life already. Sheesh.
After you get settled in with some gourmet coffee and a pastry or three, you’re ready to work. Until the distractions begin. How are you supposed to get anything done around here?
Sound familiar?
If so, you can probably relate to one – or all – of the top 10 work distractions below.
10. Your Boss
30 minutes after receiving an assignment: “Hey, do you have those reports ready yet?”
5 minutes later: “How are those reports coming along?”
10 minutes later: “Any questions about those reports?”
Most bosses mean well, they really do. However, asking if you’re done yet – every 5 minutes – will not make you finish a project any faster.
9. Annoying Coworkers
We already know that tattletale in Sales drives you nuts, but what about the gossip from Marketing? Does she EVER stop jabbering about everybody else’s business? You love gossip just as much as the next person – but not when your boss needs his reports finished like, 30 minutes ago.
And then there’s the weirdo from Tech Support who keeps eyeballing you. It’s kind of hard to concentrate when you’re being mentally undressed by some freak all morning. Wearing a fake engagement ring didn’t work, so what else are you supposed to do?
8. Your Kids
You’ve warned your kids – several times – that they should only call you during an emergency. For some reason, an “emergency” occurs at least twice an hour and usually involves a lost or broken toy, an obnoxious sibling, or special dinner requests.
Note to self: tell your kids about the boy who cried wolf when you get home tonight.
7. The Internet
Yay, your ex put up new photos on Facebook! Oh look, a quiz about which career is best for you…oh. It’s not the one you currently have. Oops.
And YouTube videos about anything and everything? Yes, please.
6. Drama Outside
Can’t that officer turn those sirens down a little? Doesn’t he know people are trying to work? And couldn’t that building across the street catch on fire at a different time – like after 5pm? Oh, and maybe that crazy girl from the other office could pick a better time to go off on her boyfriend in the parking lot.
5. Personal Problems
Is my boyfriend going to break up with me? Is my wife cheating on me? Is my landlord really going to evict me if I don’t pay my rent by 5pm tomorrow? How am I ever going to be able to afford a new transmission for my car? How do I tell my mom that I don’t want her to come stay with me for 2 weeks?
Personal problems really interfere with your work. It’s hard to be productive when you’re too busy obsessing over your life to get anything done.
4. Random Smells
Ugh, Nancy in Accounting is eating Indian food. Again. And did Laverne lose a fight against his cologne bottle? He totally reeks. And what’s up with that nasty scent in the hallway? What is that, anyway?! Gross.
3. Uncomfortable Shoes
Real women wear sky-high stilettos. With a giant smile. Just kidding – this isn’t the 1950s. Swap your high heels for a comfy pair of ballet flats, loafers, or even flip flops – if you think you can get away with it.
2. Hunger Pangs
You knew you shouldn’t have skipped lunch. It was a bad idea.
It’s just that you were so worried you wouldn’t get those reports to your boss on time, and then the smell of that Indian food was totally turning your stomach, and by the time you stopped staring out the window at the girl fighting with her boyfriend, your lunch break was over. Sigh.
1. The Clock
Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick…OH MY GOD, What do you mean it’s not even 9am yet?
Stop staring at the clock. Take it off the wall if you have to. Put a sticky note over the corner of your computer screen. Hide your watch in a drawer. Time goes a lot faster when you’re not constantly checking it.