You’re a journalist on a tight deadline. How can you stay focused and avoid distractions?

1 Set clear goals

Before you start working on your assignment, make sure you have a clear idea of what you need to do and why. Write down your main goal, the steps you need to take, and the deadline you have to meet. This will help you prioritize your tasks, stay on track, and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant or less urgent matters. You can also break down your goal into smaller, manageable subgoals that you can check off as you complete them. This will give you a sense of progress and motivation.

2 Eliminate distractions

One of the biggest enemies of focus is distraction. Distractions can come from both external and internal sources, such as noise, phone calls, emails, social media, or your own thoughts and emotions. To eliminate distractions, you need to create a conducive work environment and set some boundaries. For example, you can turn off your phone notifications, close your browser tabs, wear headphones, or work in a quiet place. You can also tell your colleagues, friends, or family that you're working on a deadline and ask them not to disturb you unless it's urgent.

3 Use the Pomodoro technique

Another way to stay focused and avoid distractions is to use the Pomodoro technique. This is a time management method that involves working in short bursts of 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. After four Pomodoros, you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. The Pomodoro technique helps you concentrate on one task at a time, avoid burnout, and reward yourself for your efforts. You can use a timer, an app, or a website to keep track of your Pomodoros and breaks.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?