I used to get distracted by other people easily, but I found some ways to reduce this

The thing that distracted me the most was other people talking. I could be working in a library or coffee shop with tons of other people around who were all working silently, but the moment I heard a conversation, I was completely derailed. I heard every single word of it. I would try to watch videos or do school work, but I could hear the sounds of them making dinner, and I could even hear a keyboard clacking from another room (but somehow not my own keyboard).<br><br>This doesn't happen as much anymore, and I have managed to train myself to focus better. I think the best thing I did was to put my desk in a high traffic area of the home where I'm surrounded by a lot of noise and goings on, but I have to ignore all of it and focus on my work.<br><br>The next step was using noise cancellation earbuds and music. I can't really listen to music with singing, so I listen to lo-fi beats. There's no singing and the sounds are very consistent, so once I've heard the loop about 8 times, I don't even notice it anymore. I also have really good noise cancelling earbuds. I can hear violent keyboard clacking, but I can't hear talking if they're not screaming. I have to be careful not to really zone in on the music itself, or it distracts me. I think my brain has gotten good enough at tuning it out that I don't notice it anymore. I listen to music when people are home and I'm trying to focus, but I don't listen to music when I'm working in a coffee shop and it's quiet. I think this is because the earbuds make a big difference when I can't control my environment, but they don't make a big difference when it's already quiet.<br><br>I also don't look at people when they're talking anymore. If someone walks into the room while I'm working, I don't look up at them until they talk to me. If someone is talking to me, I try to look at the ground instead of looking at them. Looking at them makes it feel like my job is to pay attention to them, and then I can't help but listen to what they're saying. If I don't look at them, it's easier to focus on my work and only hear them enough to know when they've stopped talking.<br><br>I've also practiced being able to be alone and work for long periods of time without giving into the temptation to take a break. I think this has helped me develop a work mindset. I'm better at being able to "clock in" and "clock out." For example, when I'm at work, I'm focused on my job 100% of the time. When I get home, I'm focused on whatever I'm doing at home. This means that when I'm trying to work at home, I can focus on doing that, and when I'm done, I can focus on relaxing and spending time with whoever is home.<br><br>This has all contributed to me being able to tune out distractions better. I've also made sure that I can leave the room if I need to. I can take my work somewhere else if I need to. That helps. But overall, I just have much better tunnel vision than I used to.