Working from home can bring some unique challenges, especially if you are not used to it. Maintaining focus throughout the day is tough, especially when personal obligations get in the way and are difficult to ignore.
Differentiating between personal and professional time is essential to ensure you remain productive, professional, and focused and to ensure you look after your physical and mental health.
Here are some tips on how to remain focused on your work from home jobs throughout the day.
Establish Your Working Hours
Before you start working from home, decide what your ‘office hours’ will be. If you don’t, your personal life will impact your work life and vice versa. I split my day in to work chunks and private chunks.
I get up early, work for a few hours before the kids get up, and then work between 9.30 and 2.30 while they are at school.
Having this routine allows me and my family to know my boundaries and helps me remain productive.
Set Boundaries With Your Family And Friends
When I inform people I work from home, most of them think I sit around in my pajamas, meeting up with friends and the like, nothing could be further from the truth.
Explain to your family and friends that you are not available during work hours, and stick to it, rather than having your work time interrupted repeatedly and allows you to avoid temptation.
Avoid Distractions
Shut off any notifications you may have set up for your social media accounts, interacting with your Facebook friends or browsing through Instagram while working is a great way to lose your focus and become less productive.
I allow myself to catch up on news headlines, interact with my social media accounts, and check my emails once, maybe twice a day, meaning I focus better on my daily objectives.
Look After Your Mental and Physical Health
When I began working from home, I would often go a few hours without leaving my desk, and my health suffered.
I felt that because I worked from home, I needed to prove that I was at my desk producing reports all day long. Luckily I soon realized that the work I was creating, was not up to my usual standard, after some reflection, I started going for regular walks around the block to clear my head and get my blood flowing, which helped me to focus.
I also find it helps to eat away from my office. Spending 20 minutes away from the desk while I eat means a more productive few hours in the afternoon.
Set A Dedicated Work Space
It helps to create a space within your home , a place where you can focus, store all your files and work materials, and where you will not get distracted.
Ensure you set yourself up away from your bedroom and avoid sitting in front of the TV with your laptop as you will achieve nothing.
Don’t Wear Your Pajamas.
This one totally up to you, whatever you find comfortable. I find changing into my work clothes or at least something different than my Pj’s helps change my focus from lounging around to ‘right let’s get this job done.’
Treat Yourself
On days I work from home, I mostly stick to a routine, 20 to 30 minutes for lunch and a quick walk around the block in the morning and afternoon.
However, once a week, generally on a Friday afternoon, I allow myself to finish early and make the most of working from home. No kids just me, I read a book or meet friends for a long lunch. I figure I work longer hours now as there is no commute, so I deserve some time to myself.
It’s an excellent time to refresh those batteries ready for the next week.
Assign Deadlines To Your Tasks
I find that applying deadlines to my tasks helps to focus my day. I don’t have a manager telling me when to complete my work, so I ensure I set those myself.
Time often runs away from me, so planning my day around my deadlines means I focus on what I need to prioritize.
Stay Connected
One of the hardest adjustments for me when I started working from home, was the lack of social interaction.
There is no doubt about it, working from home can be lonely, there are days when I don’t speak to anyone but my dog during work hours and this can sometimes take an emotional toll on my personality.
I find making a time every day to talk to a work colleague, customer, or supplier can boost my productivity.
I attend networking gatherings and meetings with clients regularly to build in people time, and I sometimes share a workspace in an office down the road to get that human interaction.
Summary
There are countless advantages to working from home; however there are several challenges to face.
Find ways to keep positive, proactive, and motivated. Find a quiet space in your home where you are comfortable; somewhere you can minimize interruptions as much as possible.
Organize your day and manage your time effectively and stay connected!