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Last Updated on May 20, 2017 by Work In My Pajamas
If you work from home, you probably understand the benefits all too well. As a telecommuter, you’re probably the envy of all of your friends who have to sit in early morning traffic. While working from home can be an amazing experience, it holds its own challenges as well. One of the most difficult parts of working from home involves staying focused and efficient. If you find that you struggle in this area, implement these four tips into your daily work routine.
Avoid Email
Most people get at least 50 to 150 new emails every day. If you sat down and answered each email as it came through your inbox, you would completely waste the work day. Most successful people designate a few times during the day to answer emails. It’s a good idea to answer emails early in the morning. You can also answer them at the end of the work day. If there are some emails that apply to work, it’s okay to check email a little more frequently. Consider answering emails twice in the morning (at specific times) and twice in the evenings.
Maintain a Designated Workstation
When most people think about the ability to work from home, they automatically dream of working in pajamas. While many people work in their pajamas, this can also lead to a trend of working in bed. The danger with working in your bed is that you’ll fall asleep or lose focus. Maintain a designated workstation with a desk, lamp and comfortable chair. Keep power cords, like those from Americord, available to charge your work devices. You need to create an environment that’s conducive to success.
Use a Timer
If you struggle to focus on one task at a time, pull out a timer and set it for 20 minutes. For 20 minutes, stay focused on the task in front of you. Keep setting the timer until the task is done. Eventually, you’ll be able to focus for a few hours without even flinching.
Stay Away from Social Media
While social media has its benefits, it’s easy to waste time scrolling. If you have to disable your apps during the work day, it’s worth it. If you’d like to check your apps at lunch time, that’s fine. Just remember that your employer isn’t paying you to scroll. However, your job might involve social media, and so you should try to have the discipline to only use it for work purposes and keep your personal social media stuff out of the picture until your work day is over.
As you continue to develop your discipline, you’ll find that these tricks will help you stay focused for a longer period of time. Not only will this help you on a professional level, it’ll help you become more disciplined with the other tasks you have to manage in your life. As you continue to succeed in becoming more productive, the success bleeds over into other areas of your life and has the power to open new doors, opportunities and an improved lifestyle.
