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Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by Work In My Pajamas
Working from home is not always the easiest of tasks. You need to be able to keep yourself focused on the day ahead of you. Though the temptation can be there to be a little lax, you do need to treat this as if you were actually in an office. Here are some of the best tricks to help you focus when working from home.
Simulate a Commute
You are not going to be getting in your car or catching public transport when you work from home, but that does not mean that you can’t simulate a commute. Doing so will help you get into the mindset of working, and it doesn’t matter if you are only spending a few minutes doing so – it can really help with making the switch from your morning brain to a working one.
One of the things that many like to do is go for a quick walk. Walking around the block can give you the stimulation you need and can get your brain ready for work. If you have a dog, try to take them out for their morning walk and time it so you get back from the walk ready for work.
The other option is to place your workspace outside of your home in some way. If your office is in a shed or outbuilding at the end of your garden, the walk there could be all the commute that you need.
Have an Office
Some people make the mistake of trying to work from their sofa or even their bed. This is a comfortable area that is for relaxation – not work. You are not going to be able to maintain productivity here, especially over a long period of time. For this reason, you need to make sure that you have a space set up for a home office.
This should ideally be in a quiet room of your house where you can have peace. Some might like to try to work from the kitchen table, but if you have children or other distractions then you might struggle to focus.
You also need to think about the furniture that you want to use within your office. Look into the benefits of a standing desk over a seated one – these benefits might be just what you need if you find yourself a little restless when trying to work! Being able to move around a little and change your position when working can actually help you to focus more if you need.
Have a Cut-Off
Many people stretch out their days too far when working from home. They have an unproductive start to the day and think that they can just stretch it into the evening instead of trying to double down and have a better afternoon. However, this style of work is only going to lead to fatigue and other issues.
You need to make sure that you establish a point where you will stop working. Most people don’t stick to a 9 to 5 when working from home. You might find that an 8 to 4 is better. However, you need to make sure that you do indeed stop working come 4 PM. Stand up, shut the office door behind you, and don’t think about work again until the next day.
When working from home, the work/life balance can be disrupted more easily. You need to make sure that you are able to maintain it the best that you can, and this will frequently mean that you have to be firm with yourself about when you halt work for the day. Don’t be tempted to check your emails or get a head start on tomorrow’s workload. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Recognize When You Need a Break
We can’t hold focus forever. There will be times when you just need to stand up and get away from your desk for a little while. Listen to your body. If you are struggling to focus on your tasks, there is likely to be a good reason why.
Stand up and take a quick five-minute break from your work. You could decide to grab a cup of tea and a snack, or maybe even stand out in your garden for a minute. If you are listening to music as you work, change it up and try a different genre. These are small fixes, but they can make a difference if you are struggling to concentrate.
Working from home carries different challenges compared to working from the office. If you are able to overcome these challenges and work out what it takes for you to focus, you should be able to refocus your attention and concentrate more whenever you might need to. Think about how you currently work from home. Could it be more productive? A few easy changes might make it so!
