An email notification, a phone call, your dog barking at the window, a sudden urge to check Instagram, a “Let’s jump on a quick call” message… And suddenly it’s lunchtime.
Working from home is not easy since we are surrounded by temptations and diversions even when we are in our environments. Recent research shows that over half of respondents found it more challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a result of remote employment. But that’s to be expected; working alone from home often involves strange moments of isolation. It’s easy to fall behind on your WFH goals if you don’t have the proper habits engrained in your daily routine.
If you’re having trouble staying focused while working from home, continue reading for six remote work tips to help you fight distraction and increase productivity.
Establish a Routine With Your Housemates
People are, as we all know, a major source of distraction. When considering some tips for working from home, arguably the most important one is often coordinating your schedule with your family or whoever you live with.
For example, there might be instances throughout the week when your school-aged kids are home with you. It can be quite difficult for parents to juggle taking care of their kids and getting work done at home.
If this is your family situation, everyone has to adhere to a consistent routine. When living with a partner and kids, create a plan that works for both of you in terms of watching and taking care of the kids. Alternatively, you may try getting up an hour earlier so you can work in peace. In the long run, this may help lighten your burden.
Set Up Your Own Office
It’s tempting to use your bed or sofa as an office, but you should choose a more permanent space. Perhaps you use the dining room table as a temporary workplace, or perhaps you have a dedicated home office. To avoid distractions, your workspace should have a door and be packed with all the resources and equipment you need, such as a computer, printer, paper, headphones, etc. Avoid getting up often to grab what you need, since this will reduce your productivity.
Start Your Day on the Right Foot
When you don’t have to hustle to go to work in the morning, it’s tempting to want to sleep late. But if you’re having trouble getting things done, waking up earlier could help. Plan and wake up an hour before the rest of the house. Brew a pot of coffee or tea and settle down to tackle your inbox and some more substantial tasks. Having the house to yourself will allow you to do a surprising amount of work.
Put Away Your Electronic Devices
While working at an office, you probably don’t spend much time on your phone; however, it all changes when you’re at home. Getting lost in a rabbit hole is surprisingly simple. It just takes a glance at the comments section of an article to waste an hour of your day.
Do everything you can to get rid of any digital distractions so you can focus on getting your work done. Take down your bookmarks for social media sites and sign out of any account you have with them. Turn off notifications and hide your phone in your bedroom if you need to get work done. Don’t use social media until after you’ve signed out for the day.
Do Some Meal Prepping
There are no longer any nearby vending machines, and you cannot just go down the street to get some lunch with your coworkers. When working from home, you may have to handle making meals for yourself and maybe even others.
Preparing your meals ahead of time can save you time and energy in the kitchen. Prepare several days’ worth of meals on Sundays and divide them up into individual servings to keep in the freezer. You can save time throughout the week by not having to stop what you’re doing to cook meals on the go. Because not everyone in the family will be hungry at the same time, this is a great solution for large households. This way, everyone can eat whenever it’s convenient for them.
Stop and Rest
We all have our limits. If you’re serious about getting things done, you need to schedule frequent pauses to let your brain (and body) rest and recuperate. Make sure to get up and move around every 40 minutes, whether it’s to get a drink of water or cuddle your pet.
Take longer pauses to socialize with other people a couple of times a day. Spend 20 minutes of your day catching up with your loved ones, whether that means playing with the kids, taking a stroll with your partner or pet, or interacting with your parents. Get away from your desk for a while and refresh your thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Various difficulties come along with working from home. However, the load can be lightened by making a plan, communicating it clearly to loved ones, and avoiding any potential distractions. With a simple plan, staying productive while working from home has never been easier.
