Incessant phone calls, social media sites or chatty colleagues – distractions are abundant in today’s workplace. Just as deadlines are inevitable, so is the need to concentrate to stay productive.

Interruptions cost workers productivity time and are downright bad for business. Information overload — just one example of a productivity roadblock, marked by an excess of information that makes it difficult to prioritize and get work done — costs the U.S. economy at least $900 billion per year, according to economic research and advisory firm Basex.

In Staples’ fifth annual national Small Business Survey findings, released earlier this year, more than 57 percent of business owners and managers said they suffer from ping-pong syndrome, with symptoms that include “bouncing” in between demanding tasks. For employees, some of the top distractions cited in a Workplace Options survey last year were other people/personnel (24 percent), technology (23 percent) and meetings (12 percent).

Regardless of distractions, it’s clear that employees must take measures into their own hands to get the job done. For instance, 42 percent of American workers report that they are extending their workdays by staying on the job late or arriving early, according to the Workplace Options survey of 606 employees.

Rearranging your work schedule may not be a feasible option, so here are some strategies you can take to avoid even the most tempting work diversions.

Start with a Clean Slate. To create a productive (and motivating) atmosphere, regularly clean your workspace and ensure your most important files and documents are accessible at all times. David Cheong, creator of the Software Engineer’s Journey to Entrepreneurship blog, advises creating shortcuts to important computer files that you access frequently. The same strategy can be applied to the tangible items on your desk, such as keeping your most-used items, like notepads and staplers, closest to you.

Make a Time-Ticking Task List. Prioritize important to-do tasks and create a list with the most important items at the top, in descending order. Then set a deadline for each task. “A deadline can make it easier to forget the non-essential and speed up your working time,” Stepcase Lifehack explains, and also suggests clarifying objectives before getting started on essential tasks.

Set the Tone with Others. If you’re on an immediate deadline and simply do not have time to focus on anyone (or anything) besides the task at hand, let it be known. Consider politely informing co-workers, friends and even family that you are working on a deadline ahead of time, and will therefore be unavailable via e-mail and in person during a specific time.

Schedule times to check e-mail, Lifehack urges. This strategy can also be applied to walk-ins and meetings. If you have your materials in front of you and are ready to start on your goal, it will help to shut your door and turn off any non-essential equipment, whether it’s the Internet, your phone or other potential electronic distractions. For ultimate procrastinators, lock potential distracting items away in a drawer until your tasks are complete.

Simplify Multitasking. A mounting workload doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but too much multitasking can actually slow down your work. “Multitasking results in lower efficiency in all of the tasks being performed: there is no substitute for focused thinking on a single task,” according to Cody Burke. The Basex senior analyst further explains that it may take a worker 10-20 times the length of an initial interruption to recover from a distraction.

The key to multitasking is the way you break down tasks. Rodale.com, an environmental health website, suggests approaching your goals by uni-tasking instead of multitasking, such as focusing your full attention to one task and completing it (with an allotted time) instead of trying to accomplish everything with your partial attention at once.

Take Time to Refresh. Working straight through the day, even with an approaching deadline, may prove to be counter-productive. Lunch breaks, and even smaller breaks throughout the day can help alleviate stress and refresh your mind, Vault.com’s Careers Blog explains.

During lunch, be mindful of your intake: avoid too much caffeine and fatty foods, which may cause your concentration to suffer, Lifehack suggests. Rather than head to the vending machine during your afternoon slump, opt for energy-boosting snacks like fresh bananas, which can ultimately help your concentration.

Of course, arriving to work refreshed from a good night’s rest — the Mayo Clinic recommends 7-9 hours — will help get your day off to a good start.

Know Your Limit. Information overload has its consequences, and taking on too much work can backfire. So think before you accept assignments. “There’s a limit to how much you can do,” Glassdoor.com emphasizes. “You can manage that limit and do things well, or you can ignore the limit and do a lousy job on everything.”

Related

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The Quickest Way to Annoy a Coworker

Is Technology Helping Us Through the Downturn?

When a Meeting is Unnecessary

6 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Workspace

Make Your To-Do List Work for You

For Optimal Results, Procrastinate Now…Don’t Put it Off

Does Multitasking Make Us Less Productive?

Achieve More While Doing Less

Putting a Price Tag on Sleeplessness

Beating Boredom on the Job

Saying ‘No’ to Your Boss

Resources

Information Overload: Now $900 Billion – What is Your Organization’s Exposure?
Basex, Dec. 19, 2008

…Survey Reveals “Phonemance” Overtakes Romance Among Small Business Owners
Staples, Jan. 3, 2011

Highlights: 5th Annual National Staples Small Business Survey
Staples (via SmallBizTrends,com), January 2011

Employees Struggle to Successfully Maneuver Around Workplace Distractions
Workplace Options, Sept. 30, 2010

18 Ways to Stay Focused at Work
by Dave Cheong, Aug. 14, 2006

10 Tips for Razor Sharp Concentration
by Scott H. Young
Stepcase Lifehack, July 26, 2008

The Impact of Interruptions and Multitasking On Knowledge Worker Efficiency and Effectiveness
by Cody Burke
Basex, April 14, 2011

Mind-Body-Mood Advisor: Five Ways to Focus Your Wandering Mind
by Jeffrey Rossman
Rodale.com, Dec. 2, 2010 (last updated)

Take Back Your Lunch at Work
Vault.com, June 24, 2010

11 Energy-Boosting Snacks
by Lisa Kovalovich
Fitness Magazine, December 2005

How Many Hours of Sleep are Enough for Good Health?
by Timothy Morgenthaler
MayoClinic.com

Work Smarter, Not Harder – Here’s How
Monster+Hot Jobs / GlassDoor.com, Oct. 12, 2010