We get distracted 275 times a day. Use three ways to stay focused

June 11, 2026 — 1:50pm

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Distractions are everywhere at work. All you need to do is sit down at your desk, and it doesn’t take long for someone to interrupt you with a question. Even when there’s no one else around, we are bombarded with constant virtual pings from new messages and emails all day long.

It’s little wonder that our focus at work is slipping. Employees are interrupted on average every two minutes during core work hours, according to Microsoft’s most recent Work Trend Index.

That’s a whopping 275 distractions a day by meetings, emails or chats – and that doesn’t even count Chris sliding their chair over for a casual gossip.

By now most of us have heard the standard advice for how to focus better – like switching off notifications or banishing our phone to another room – but there are some counterintuitive ways to get a competitive advantage at work that can help you focus better on the task at hand.

1. Stop working when........

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