A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

How to avoid distraction/keep focused?? - llr

Posted: Sep 21, 2012

I've had a really hard time lately with this... Lots going on at home so my mind just wanders. My paychecks are awful now as a result...

What do you do to keep yourself from getting distracted (bills, email, Facebook, staring at a wall LOL, etc)?? I really need something to get me motivated and back on track again. :(

TIA!

the only thing that works for me - downtime

[ In Reply To ..]
and this doesn't work all the time either (I'm like you), is to try to finish a job by a certain time. Say you have a middle sized job. Allot 10 minutes to it. Say "I will have this done by 1:15." Then really try to do that.

How to avoid distraction/keep focused - Big Orange

[ In Reply To ..]
I have the same problem and have had since I was outsourced and lost 1 FT and 1 PT position. Working another job, but I make about 1/4 of what I used too. I have never been able to get my Mojo back and I think know the would say it was depression, but it is what it is. I used to stress about it so much that I really made myself physically sick but overtime I do what I can and try not to worry to a point. After 33 years, I am burnt out I think but have had back surgery twice and foot surgery and spinal stenosis and boy oh boy sitting here for the long hours has taken its toll. My back is so bad that I can stand up for about 10-15 minutes and then have to stop and sit down and then it do it all over again. I tried walking on a vacation to Charleston this summer and I was done for at about 1/2 block. When I sit here for long hours my legs feel like Jello when I get up. I have not found a way for me to stay focused anymore. I probably need a new career but at 62 and all the physical issues going on with me a diff career would be hard unless it is a sit down job. May be if had a space to type away from all the noise that might help. I even put a lock on my door and told family if my door was shut not to come in, but that did not work either. Good luck

If you do find a way, please - post it here! sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Since VR this job has become so mind numbingly boring that I can barely even get out of bed in the morning. I'm really praying I can hang in there until age 62.

I have a big sign - on my computer

[ In Reply To ..]
that says "MT STARS DOES NOT PAY YOUR BILLS!" It keeps me motivated to stay off of this site until after work. Good luck!

I put 4 pennies on my desk, right under my monitor - pennies to paychecks

[ In Reply To ..]
It is super hard turning those pennies into a paycheck, so when I get the urge to go on this site, or check e-mail, or anything else, I look down at those 4 pennies and then I get all guilt ridden and pound the keys faster.

That is all that has helped me get by for the past 6 years of doing ASR.

being distracted - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm totally burned out on this job. I'm going back to school, hoping to get out of MT in 2 years. Since starting school not only has my schedule been more hectic which makes me less focused, but planning on getting out of MT has made me almost less motivated to work too.

I keep soft music on in my computer room while I work. I find a completely quiet room is more irritating to me. I also keep my cell phone on the desk and sometimes set the alarm on it for 1 hour. I tell myself I am not to get up out of the chair until the alarm goes off, and I push myself to get a really good line count in that 1 hour. I don't do this all shift, just a game I play to motivate myself. I also text friends and family here and there, just to break up the monotony and for comic relief sometimes.

I have also started a reward system. Like with snack food I like, cookies, candies, candy bars, whatever. I tell myself I'll reward myself with a quick snack if I do the next X number of reports without stopping.

These are sounding pathetic to me as I write them, but it is what I'm using to stay focused. They don't always help. Some days I can't focus for the life of me. My line counts have gone down drastically from what I used to average, back when I was super motivated. I'm physically and emotionally drained from this job. I've dealt with stress headaches, heartburn and racing heartbeat--only on work days. My days off, mysteriously I feel ok. It's ridiculous. I don't answer the phone unless it's family. I don't answer the door unless I'm expecting someone. I don't leave the house for lunch because it's so hard to get myself back in the groove if I do. Don't know if any of this helps, but you're not alone in the trouble focusing department. Best wishes.

Doesn't sound pathetic to me... - I might try some of those...

[ In Reply To ..]
especially the snacks and treats! LOL!

I make a game out of it... - Bindi

[ In Reply To ..]
I make it a competition with myself for short periods of time. I sit down at the computer, determined to be focused for, say, 1/2 hour or 1 hour at most each time. The game is to see how many lines I can do within that period, remaining focused, and, of course, dedicated to quality. I amaze myself and it tells me that I'm capable of doing that if I only focus. This reinforces to me that I can be more productive and makes me want to keep maintaining the record or breaking it. It works.

I also have a large Post-It stuck to the monitor that says (wait for it) FOCUS!

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a mantra and keep repeating to yourself: "I am focused. I am productive. I am focused. I am productive" or words to that effect. Mantras work.

Great posts! - Thank you, not OP

[ In Reply To ..]
Great ideas all, especially the pennies and the FOCUS sign.

Rewards - Sleepy

[ In Reply To ..]
Well, it'd help if the doctors/dictators didn't usually sound bored out of their skulls when dictating (constant yawning), but I often try promising myself a little reward if I get to a certain point, like the 500 line mark around mid day. Then I allow myself a reward/treat, like a bunch of pistachio nuts - something yummy. :)

unprofessional docs - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Good point. I listen to some docs who are very professional, meticulous, a joy to transcribe for. I'm very focused with them. Lately though, it seems most of my docs are in a complete rush, bored themselves, dictate like it is the last thing they want to be doing at the time and can't wait to just rush through and get it over with. When they are that wishy washy in their dictation style and professionalism, I feel the same on my end. I'm less motivated to clean up their errors and poor grammar. I'm to the point where if they don't care about the quality, why should I?

I go by what's in my queue. - Des

[ In Reply To ..]
I can see how long the reports are and the report types, and I give myself a goal to get those reports done in x amount of time. If it's a 30 min report, my goal will be 1 hr 15 mins. If it's a 5 min report, my goal is 15 mins.

Also, any time between those reports that's not spent typing, I include in the time it took me to complete that report. If there's a 5 min gap between reports, that turns 15 mins into 20 mins, which means I didn't meet my 15 min goal.

I'm a big snacker, but I can't snack and type at the same time (I also can't walk and chew gum at the same time), so I eliminate "hand" distractions on my desk, i.e. things I want to touch or pick up. This gets really hard to do when I'm hungry or if I'm in a long, boring report.

Aromatherapy - VetMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I think this more of an under-employment problem than anything else. Take an intelligent, educated person and put them on voice rec, and bingo! Boredom, lack of focus.

So you've got a lot of company. I have this problem too. I found that aromatherapy has helped me quite a bit. I've got a reed diffuser in my work area with an "energizing scent." It does make a difference. And I noticed recently that when I squirt on a little of my favorite perfume, that makes a $5 difference to the better in my total pay for the day.

Also green tea helps my focus. I originally started drinking it to burn extra calories (supposedly), but it is a great pick-me-up without the insomnia.

I think I'd be better off selling perfume in a department store sometimes. I'd darn sure be happier, I think.

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