{"content_id":"bnb8gddczz","slug":"three-ways-to-restore-focus-at-work","locale":"en","schema_type":"HowTo","category":"how_to","category_name":"How-to","title":"Regain Focus: 3 Methods and Work-Specific Guidelines","summary":"To manage your focus at work, choose one deliverable to finish, set separate times to check messages, and leave a return note before stopping. Adjust your focus periods to fit your work conditions, and review your plan based on whether you produced a deliverable.","sponsorship_disclosure":null,"affiliate_disclosure":null,"commerce_disclosure":null,"author":{"name":"Injoys Editorial Team","url":"https://injoys.com/ko/about"},"key_points":["1. Clearly define one deliverable you can finish in the time available.","2. Distinguish when to check regular messages from the channel for urgent contact.","3. Before stopping work, record your progress, unresolved issues, and next action."],"content_markdown":"If you are busy but have not finished anything, start by choosing one deliverable to complete. Check routine messages at set times, and leave a resumption note before stopping. If it is difficult to secure time for a task, adjust your communication rules first.\n\nThe times and quantities are practical examples. Check the 2009 and 2018 research sources for the evidence.\n\n## Why You Are Busy but Have Not Finished Anything\n\nIf you switch frequently between tasks, you may produce little compared with the time you spend working. After checking a message, you have to recover the context of your original task. However, work can also pile up because the workload itself is too heavy or necessary materials are unavailable. Focus habits alone cannot explain every delay.\n\nAttention residue is the phenomenon in which thoughts about a previous task remain even after you move to another task. Sophie Leroy's 2009 study explains that it is difficult to disengage your attention from an unfinished task. The study also found effects on performance in the subsequent task. [2009 attention residue study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597809000399)\n\nFirst, identify why the work stopped.\n\n| What you observed | What to check first |\n|---|---|\n| You repeatedly switch between writing a document, checking messages, and searching | How you switch tasks and check notifications |\n| You cannot decide what to do first | The completion criteria for this task |\n| You are waiting for an answer or materials | What you need to request from someone else |\n| The required workload exceeds the time available | The scope and priority of the work |\n\n## 1. Choose One Deliverable to Complete\n\nIn your plan, write down a deliverable whose completion you can verify rather than just the name of an activity. If you only write “research,” it is difficult to decide where to stop. Defining the comparison criteria and format gives the task clear boundaries. Use numbers as examples for setting the size of the task.\n\n| Vague plan | Plan with completion criteria |\n|---|---|\n| Study | Solve 3 problems and write down why the incorrect answers were wrong |\n| Research | Summarize the differences between 2 products on one page |\n| Write a proposal | Write three sentences explaining why the proposal is needed |\n| Prepare a presentation | Choose one key sentence for the audience to remember |\n\nTime blocking is a method of assigning tasks to blocks of time on your schedule. For example, connect one deliverable to an available 30-minute block. The 30 minutes is an example used in this article. Set the actual time according to your work and communication obligations.\n\n1. Choose the task you need to move forward today.\n2. Choose a block of time you can secure.\n3. Write down in one line the deliverable you will complete within that time.\n4. When the time is over, check whether you produced the deliverable you defined.\n\n## 2. Check Messages at Set Times\n\nDuring a focus block, decide in advance when you will check routine messages. Separate out messages that require an immediate response. Tell your collaborators when you will check messages. For phone calls, it is also useful to decide which people and purposes should be treated as exceptions.\n\n1. Turn off notifications that can wait during the focus block.\n2. Choose a channel for urgent messages.\n3. Tell your colleagues when you will check routine messages.\n4. Put any smartphone you do not need for the task out of reach.\n5. Check the messages you postponed when the focus block ends.\n\nYou can tell colleagues, “I will check routine messages after I finish the draft.” Then tell them which channel to use for urgent requests. If you stop responding without notice, others will not know when to expect a response. Message-checking rules must be set within your actual work obligations.\n\nWhile writing, close any unnecessary search windows as well. Mark sections that need sources with a note such as “Need to verify source for statistics.” However, if that information determines the direction of the writing, check it first. Resolve all fact-checking notes in the draft before submission.\n\n## 3. Leave a Resumption Note Before Stopping\n\nIn a resumption note, write down a cue for starting the next step. “Continue writing the proposal” does not make it easy to find a starting point. You can leave the note at the end of the document you were working on. You do not need a separate app or template.\n\n1. Record how much you have completed.\n2. Write down what still needs to be checked or decided.\n3. Specify the first action to take when you return.\n\nFor a proposal, you can leave a brief note like the one below.\n\n| Note item | Example |\n|---|---|\n| Progress | Finished writing the problem definition paragraph |\n| Unresolved issue | Need to verify the evidence for the customer case |\n| Next action | Review the case materials, then write the relevant paragraph |\n\nYou can apply the same format to reading. Write a question to check in the next chapter on your bookmark. If an urgent request prevented you from leaving a note, find where you last stopped when you return. Choose one next action at that point and begin.\n\n## What the Research on Resumption Notes Confirmed\n\nThe research on resumption plans evaluated performance on a newly introduced task. It is a 2018 paper by Sophie Leroy and Theresa M. Glomb. Attention residue was lower under conditions in which participants made a resumption plan. The decline in performance on the interrupting task was also reduced. [2018 Tasks Interrupted paper](https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/orsc.2017.1184?journalCode=orsc)\n\nThis study did not test whether performance improved after participants returned to the original task. You can confirm this scope in the University of Washington's description of the research. Therefore, there is no basis for saying that resumption time is consistently reduced. Use notes as a practical way to leave a cue for restarting. [University of Washington research description](https://www.washington.edu/news/2018/01/16/task-interrupted-a-plan-for-returning-helps-you-move-on/)\n\n## Comparing Applications for Different Work Conditions\n\nAdjust how you apply these methods based on how long you can delay communication. Individual document work and real-time response work have different conditions. If it is difficult to turn off notifications, divide the work into smaller tasks that you can complete. For work with frequent interruptions, you can start by using resumption notes.\n\n| Work conditions | How to apply the method | Conditions to check as well |\n|---|---|---|\n| Work done alone, such as writing a document | Assign a focus block to one deliverable | Whether the materials needed for writing are ready |\n| Work that requires immediate responses to customers | Divide it into tasks that can be completed between responses | Communication channels that must remain available |\n| Work with frequent meetings and urgent requests | Write a resumption note before stopping | The specific place to start after returning |\n| Work that combines research and writing | Separate research blocks from drafting blocks | Key facts that must be checked first |\n| Studying or reading | Specify problems to solve or questions to check | Criteria for determining completion |\n\n## Work That Does Not Progress Even When You Focus Alone\n\nIf you need an answer from someone else, mark the part that is waiting separately. This is a situation that is difficult to resolve through individual focus alone. Instead of repeatedly opening the entire stalled task, identify the parts you can move forward. The process below is a practical way to organize work dependencies.\n\n1. Write down the materials or decisions blocking the task.\n2. Make a specific request to the person who can provide what you need.\n3. Find the parts you can proceed with without an answer and reduce the scope of the work.\n4. Leave the action you will take after receiving an answer in your resumption note.\n\nFor example, consider a proposal that requires verification of a customer case. Mark the case paragraph as awaiting verification. Start with the sections you can write using information that has already been confirmed. If there are no parts you can move forward, you need to adjust the schedule or scope of the work.\n\n## Common Mistakes in Focus Plans\n\nDo not judge task completion based only on whether you kept to the allotted time. You may sit for the entire scheduled period without producing a deliverable. Conversely, you may finish the planned deliverable early. Check both the time and the completion criteria.\n\n| Common mistake | How to correct it |\n|---|---|\n| Thinking you must fill the entire 30 minutes | Adjust the time to fit your work conditions |\n| Turning off notifications without saying when you will respond | Announce in advance when you will check routine messages |\n| Expanding every search into unrelated topics whenever you get stuck | Write down what you need to check and limit the scope of the search |\n| Writing only “continue later” in the note | Specify the file location and next action |\n| Treating an unverified draft as complete | Check fact-checking and submission criteria separately |\n| Using the entire break to handle postponed messages | Separate time for handling messages from break time |\n\n## How to Adjust Your Plan at the End of the Day\n\nAt the end of the day, review both the deliverables and the reasons for interruptions. If it was difficult to secure 30 minutes, you can reduce the block to 15 minutes. This number is not a standard for concentration or a criterion with guaranteed results. When you reduce the time, reduce the scope of the deliverable as well.\n\n1. Compare the deliverable you originally defined with what you actually completed.\n2. Classify the reason for not finishing as task size, communication, or waiting for materials.\n3. Choose one condition to change during the next work session.\n4. Note the next starting point and finish your work for the day.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIf you are busy but have not finished anything, start by choosing one deliverable to complete. Check routine messages at set times, and leave a resumption note before stopping. If it is difficult to secure time for a task, adjust your communication rules first.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe times and quantities are practical examples. Check the 2009 and 2018 research sources for the evidence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#why-you-are-busy-but-have-not-finished-anything\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"why-you-are-busy-but-have-not-finished-anything\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhy You Are Busy but Have Not Finished Anything\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you switch frequently between tasks, you may produce little compared with the time you spend working. After checking a message, you have to recover the context of your original task. However, work can also pile up because the workload itself is too heavy or necessary materials are unavailable. Focus habits alone cannot explain every delay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttention residue is the phenomenon in which thoughts about a previous task remain even after you move to another task. Sophie Leroy's 2009 study explains that it is difficult to disengage your attention from an unfinished task. The study also found effects on performance in the subsequent task. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597809000399\"\u003e2009 attention residue study\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, identify why the work stopped.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you observed\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat to check first\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What you observed\"\u003eYou repeatedly switch between writing a document, checking messages, and searching\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to check first\"\u003eHow you switch tasks and check notifications\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What you observed\"\u003eYou cannot decide what to do first\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to check first\"\u003eThe completion criteria for this task\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What you observed\"\u003eYou are waiting for an answer or materials\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to check first\"\u003eWhat you need to request from someone else\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What you observed\"\u003eThe required workload exceeds the time available\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to check first\"\u003eThe scope and priority of the work\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#1-choose-one-deliverable-to-complete\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"1-choose-one-deliverable-to-complete\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e1. Choose One Deliverable to Complete\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn your plan, write down a deliverable whose completion you can verify rather than just the name of an activity. If you only write “research,” it is difficult to decide where to stop. Defining the comparison criteria and format gives the task clear boundaries. Use numbers as examples for setting the size of the task.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eVague plan\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlan with completion criteria\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Vague plan\"\u003eStudy\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Plan with completion criteria\"\u003eSolve 3 problems and write down why the incorrect answers were wrong\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Vague plan\"\u003eResearch\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Plan with completion criteria\"\u003eSummarize the differences between 2 products on one page\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Vague plan\"\u003eWrite a proposal\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Plan with completion criteria\"\u003eWrite three sentences explaining why the proposal is needed\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Vague plan\"\u003ePrepare a presentation\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Plan with completion criteria\"\u003eChoose one key sentence for the audience to remember\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTime blocking is a method of assigning tasks to blocks of time on your schedule. For example, connect one deliverable to an available 30-minute block. The 30 minutes is an example used in this article. Set the actual time according to your work and communication obligations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose the task you need to move forward today.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a block of time you can secure.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrite down in one line the deliverable you will complete within that time.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen the time is over, check whether you produced the deliverable you defined.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#2-check-messages-at-set-times\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"2-check-messages-at-set-times\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e2. Check Messages at Set Times\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring a focus block, decide in advance when you will check routine messages. Separate out messages that require an immediate response. Tell your collaborators when you will check messages. For phone calls, it is also useful to decide which people and purposes should be treated as exceptions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTurn off notifications that can wait during the focus block.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a channel for urgent messages.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTell your colleagues when you will check routine messages.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePut any smartphone you do not need for the task out of reach.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck the messages you postponed when the focus block ends.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can tell colleagues, “I will check routine messages after I finish the draft.” Then tell them which channel to use for urgent requests. If you stop responding without notice, others will not know when to expect a response. Message-checking rules must be set within your actual work obligations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile writing, close any unnecessary search windows as well. Mark sections that need sources with a note such as “Need to verify source for statistics.” However, if that information determines the direction of the writing, check it first. Resolve all fact-checking notes in the draft before submission.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#3-leave-a-resumption-note-before-stopping\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"3-leave-a-resumption-note-before-stopping\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e3. Leave a Resumption Note Before Stopping\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a resumption note, write down a cue for starting the next step. “Continue writing the proposal” does not make it easy to find a starting point. You can leave the note at the end of the document you were working on. You do not need a separate app or template.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecord how much you have completed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrite down what still needs to be checked or decided.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecify the first action to take when you return.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a proposal, you can leave a brief note like the one below.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eNote item\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eExample\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Note item\"\u003eProgress\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Example\"\u003eFinished writing the problem definition paragraph\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Note item\"\u003eUnresolved issue\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Example\"\u003eNeed to verify the evidence for the customer case\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Note item\"\u003eNext action\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Example\"\u003eReview the case materials, then write the relevant paragraph\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can apply the same format to reading. Write a question to check in the next chapter on your bookmark. If an urgent request prevented you from leaving a note, find where you last stopped when you return. Choose one next action at that point and begin.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#what-the-research-on-resumption-notes-confirmed\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"what-the-research-on-resumption-notes-confirmed\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhat the Research on Resumption Notes Confirmed\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe research on resumption plans evaluated performance on a newly introduced task. It is a 2018 paper by Sophie Leroy and Theresa M. Glomb. Attention residue was lower under conditions in which participants made a resumption plan. The decline in performance on the interrupting task was also reduced. \u003ca href=\"https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/orsc.2017.1184?journalCode=orsc\"\u003e2018 Tasks Interrupted paper\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study did not test whether performance improved after participants returned to the original task. You can confirm this scope in the University of Washington's description of the research. Therefore, there is no basis for saying that resumption time is consistently reduced. Use notes as a practical way to leave a cue for restarting. \u003ca href=\"https://www.washington.edu/news/2018/01/16/task-interrupted-a-plan-for-returning-helps-you-move-on/\"\u003eUniversity of Washington research description\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#comparing-applications-for-different-work-conditions\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"comparing-applications-for-different-work-conditions\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eComparing Applications for Different Work Conditions\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdjust how you apply these methods based on how long you can delay communication. Individual document work and real-time response work have different conditions. If it is difficult to turn off notifications, divide the work into smaller tasks that you can complete. For work with frequent interruptions, you can start by using resumption notes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWork conditions\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHow to apply the method\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConditions to check as well\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Work conditions\"\u003eWork done alone, such as writing a document\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to apply the method\"\u003eAssign a focus block to one deliverable\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Conditions to check as well\"\u003eWhether the materials needed for writing are ready\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Work conditions\"\u003eWork that requires immediate responses to customers\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to apply the method\"\u003eDivide it into tasks that can be completed between responses\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Conditions to check as well\"\u003eCommunication channels that must remain available\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Work conditions\"\u003eWork with frequent meetings and urgent requests\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to apply the method\"\u003eWrite a resumption note before stopping\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Conditions to check as well\"\u003eThe specific place to start after returning\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Work conditions\"\u003eWork that combines research and writing\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to apply the method\"\u003eSeparate research blocks from drafting blocks\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Conditions to check as well\"\u003eKey facts that must be checked first\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Work conditions\"\u003eStudying or reading\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to apply the method\"\u003eSpecify problems to solve or questions to check\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Conditions to check as well\"\u003eCriteria for determining completion\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#work-that-does-not-progress-even-when-you-focus-alone\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"work-that-does-not-progress-even-when-you-focus-alone\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWork That Does Not Progress Even When You Focus Alone\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need an answer from someone else, mark the part that is waiting separately. This is a situation that is difficult to resolve through individual focus alone. Instead of repeatedly opening the entire stalled task, identify the parts you can move forward. The process below is a practical way to organize work dependencies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrite down the materials or decisions blocking the task.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMake a specific request to the person who can provide what you need.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFind the parts you can proceed with without an answer and reduce the scope of the work.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeave the action you will take after receiving an answer in your resumption note.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, consider a proposal that requires verification of a customer case. Mark the case paragraph as awaiting verification. Start with the sections you can write using information that has already been confirmed. If there are no parts you can move forward, you need to adjust the schedule or scope of the work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#common-mistakes-in-focus-plans\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"common-mistakes-in-focus-plans\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eCommon Mistakes in Focus Plans\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not judge task completion based only on whether you kept to the allotted time. You may sit for the entire scheduled period without producing a deliverable. Conversely, you may finish the planned deliverable early. Check both the time and the completion criteria.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCommon mistake\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHow to correct it\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Common mistake\"\u003eThinking you must fill the entire 30 minutes\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to correct it\"\u003eAdjust the time to fit your work conditions\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Common mistake\"\u003eTurning off notifications without saying when you will respond\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to correct it\"\u003eAnnounce in advance when you will check routine messages\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Common mistake\"\u003eExpanding every search into unrelated topics whenever you get stuck\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to correct it\"\u003eWrite down what you need to check and limit the scope of the search\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Common mistake\"\u003eWriting only “continue later” in the note\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to correct it\"\u003eSpecify the file location and next action\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Common mistake\"\u003eTreating an unverified draft as complete\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to correct it\"\u003eCheck fact-checking and submission criteria separately\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Common mistake\"\u003eUsing the entire break to handle postponed messages\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"How to correct it\"\u003eSeparate time for handling messages from break time\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#how-to-adjust-your-plan-at-the-end-of-the-day\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"how-to-adjust-your-plan-at-the-end-of-the-day\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eHow to Adjust Your Plan at the End of the Day\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the day, review both the deliverables and the reasons for interruptions. If it was difficult to secure 30 minutes, you can reduce the block to 15 minutes. This number is not a standard for concentration or a criterion with guaranteed results. When you reduce the time, reduce the scope of the deliverable as well.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare the deliverable you originally defined with what you actually completed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClassify the reason for not finishing as task size, communication, or waiting for materials.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose one condition to change during the next work session.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNote the next starting point and finish your work for the day.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n","tags":["Productivity","Follow through","Goal Achievement","Habit Formation","Self Management"],"faqs":[{"question":"What should I do first to regain focus?","answer":"Start by choosing one deliverable you can finish in the time available. Write down the completion criteria, such as \"write three sentences explaining why planning is needed\" rather than \"write a proposal.\""},{"question":"Does focused work have to last exactly 30 minutes?","answer":"30 minutes is just an example. You can shorten it to 15 minutes or another duration that suits your work situation. If you reduce the time, also reduce the scope of the deliverable you plan to complete."},{"question":"What is attention residue?","answer":"It is the phenomenon in which thoughts about a previous task remain even after switching to another task. A 2009 study found that people had difficulty disengaging their attention from unfinished tasks. This also affected their performance on subsequent tasks."},{"question":"What should I do if I need to answer calls or respond to customers immediately?","answer":"Keep the communication channels required for your work open. Identify and adjust only the notifications that can wait. You can break work into smaller tasks that can be completed between responses."},{"question":"What should I write in a return note?","answer":"Write down what you completed, any unresolved issues, and the first action to take when you return. Be specific, such as \"check the customer case study materials, then write that paragraph\" rather than \"continue writing.\""},{"question":"Is there research showing that return notes reduce the time it takes to resume a task?","answer":"The 2018 study reviewed in this article did not examine performance after returning to the original task. It assessed how return plans affected attention residue and performance on the interrupting task. This study cannot determine how much resumption time is reduced."},{"question":"Should I avoid looking up information I need while writing?","answer":"If the information determines the direction of the writing, check it first. You can mark items that can be checked later and continue drafting. Resolve all marked items before submission."},{"question":"What should I do when waiting for materials or a response from a colleague?","answer":"Separate the parts awaiting confirmation from those you can work on independently. Request what you need, then start with the work you can proceed with. Note in your return note what you will do when you receive a response."},{"question":"How can I tell whether my focus plan is working?","answer":"First, check whether you produced the deliverable you set. Record whether it remained unfinished because of the task's size, communications, or waiting for materials. For the next task, adjust one condition based on that cause."}],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597809000399","title":"Sophie Leroy, Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks, 2009","type":"source"},{"url":"https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/orsc.2017.1184?journalCode=orsc","title":"Sophie Leroy·Theresa M. Glomb, Tasks Interrupted: How Anticipating Time Pressure on Resumption of an Interrupted Task Causes Attention Residue and Low Performance on Interrupting Tasks and How a “Ready-to-Resume” Plan Mitigates the Effects, 2018","type":"source"},{"url":"https://www.washington.edu/news/2018/01/16/task-interrupted-a-plan-for-returning-helps-you-move-on/","title":"University of Washington, Task interrupted: A plan for returning helps you move on, January 16, 2018","type":"source"}],"images":[{"id":1463,"url":"https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MjEyNDIsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--6f8f7de8890b59ee6e71e21dc63b32e450adc489/ai-c6a4b698.webp","is_representative":true,"generation_method":"ai_photo","license":"ai_generated","mime_type":"image/webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"translations":{"ko":{"alt":"인쇄소에서 책자 교정본 옆에 메모를 쓰며 파란 유선전화로 손을 뻗는 여성","caption":"업무를 멈추기 전 진행 상태와 미해결 사항, 다음 행동을 기록하면 복귀가 쉬워집니다.","description":null},"en":{"alt":"Print shop worker writes a return note beside a booklet proof while reaching for a blue corded phone","caption":"Before stopping, record your progress, unresolved issues, and next action to make resuming easier.","description":null},"ja":{"alt":"印刷店で冊子の校正刷りの横にメモを書き、青い有線電話に手を伸ばす女性","caption":"作業を止める前に進捗、未解決事項、次の行動を記録すると再開しやすくなります。","description":null},"es":{"alt":"Trabajadora de imprenta escribe una nota junto a una prueba y alcanza un teléfono azul con cable","caption":"Antes de detenerte, anota el avance, los asuntos pendientes y la siguiente acción para retomar mejor.","description":null},"id":{"alt":"Pekerja percetakan menulis catatan di samping bukti cetak sambil meraih telepon kabel biru","caption":"Sebelum berhenti, catat progres, hal yang belum selesai, dan tindakan berikutnya agar mudah melanjutkan.","description":null},"pt":{"alt":"Funcionária de gráfica anota ao lado de uma prova enquanto alcança um telefone azul com fio","caption":"Antes de parar, registre o andamento, as pendências e a próxima ação para facilitar a retomada.","description":null},"zh-hant":{"alt":"印刷店女員工在冊子校樣旁寫下備忘，並伸手接藍色有線電話","caption":"中斷工作前記錄進度、未解事項與下一步行動，能讓後續更容易接續。","description":null},"de":{"alt":"Druckereimitarbeiterin notiert neben einem Korrekturabzug und greift zum blauen Schnurtelefon","caption":"Notieren Sie vor einer Unterbrechung den Stand, offene Punkte und den nächsten Schritt für den Wiedereinstieg.","description":null}}},{"id":1464,"url":"https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MjEyNDgsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--51609373c855eee4c22f4cf2702bdc9afe591937/ai-d3d60cb0.webp","is_representative":false,"generation_method":"ai_semi","license":"ai_generated","mime_type":"image/webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"translations":{"ko":{"alt":"도서관에서 학생이 펼친 문제집에 답을 쓰고, 떨어진 창가에는 스마트폰이 놓여 있다.","caption":"일반 메시지는 정해 둔 때에 확인하고, 확보한 집중 시간에는 정한 결과물을 끝내세요.","description":null},"en":{"alt":"A student writes in an open workbook at a library while a smartphone rests on a distant window ledge.","caption":"Check routine messages at set times and use protected focus time to finish the chosen deliverable.","description":null},"ja":{"alt":"図書館で学生が開いた問題集に書き込み、離れた窓辺にはスマートフォンが置かれている。","caption":"通常のメッセージは決めた時間に確認し、確保した集中時間で定めた成果物を仕上げましょう。","description":null},"es":{"alt":"Un estudiante escribe en un cuaderno abierto en la biblioteca mientras un móvil descansa junto a la ventana.","caption":"Revisa los mensajes habituales a horas definidas y usa el tiempo de concentración para terminar el resultado elegido.","description":null},"id":{"alt":"Mahasiswa menulis di buku latihan terbuka di perpustakaan sementara ponsel tergeletak di ambang jendela.","caption":"Periksa pesan biasa pada waktu yang ditetapkan dan gunakan waktu fokus untuk menuntaskan hasil yang dipilih.","description":null},"pt":{"alt":"Um estudante escreve em um livro de exercícios na biblioteca enquanto um celular repousa junto à janela.","caption":"Verifique mensagens comuns em horários definidos e use o tempo de foco para concluir a entrega escolhida.","description":null},"zh-hant":{"alt":"一名學生在圖書館的練習本上書寫，遠處窗邊放著一支智慧型手機。","caption":"一般訊息應在固定時段查看，並利用保留的專注時間完成選定的成果。","description":null},"de":{"alt":"Ein Student schreibt in ein offenes Arbeitsheft in der Bibliothek, während ein Smartphone auf der Fensterbank liegt.","caption":"Prüfe gewöhnliche Nachrichten zu festen Zeiten und nutze die Fokuszeit, um das gewählte Ergebnis abzuschließen.","description":null}}}],"published_at":"2026-09-22T23:20:41+09:00","updated_at":"2026-09-22T23:20:41+09:00","license":"cc_by","translation_status":"reviewed","available_locales":["ko","en","ja","es"],"data_locales":["ko","en","ja","es","id","pt","zh-hant","de"],"url":"https://injoys.com/en/articles/three-ways-to-restore-focus-at-work"}