Working from home seems like the “new normal” now. We are used to rolling out of bed just minutes before our Monday morning meetings. Slacks have been traded for fuzzy pajama pants, and cubicles have been exchanged for cozy home offices. Now that we are used to this lifestyle and are driving further and further away from office life, this new work style is becoming increasingly comfortable. Since our homes are the new version of corporate offices, it is no surprise that working from home comes with many distractions. We have easy access to our living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. It is easy and convenient to throw in a load of laundry in between Zoom calls. We can make a quick stop at the supermarket during our lunch breaks. So, how do we stop WFH distractions and maintain productivity? Keep reading to find out.
Since your boss is now a virtual entity, you are essentially your own direct manager now. While working from home comes with many perks and the opportunity to live a more flexible lifestyle, it can be easy to fall behind on projects and become less communicative with your work team. Now is the time to practice self-discipline and hold yourself accountable. Create a system of evaluation for yourself, and reflect on every week once it is completed.
You can ask yourself this series of questions:
Incorporating self-reflection is one of the most important steps to evaluating your WFH performance and beginning your journey to eliminating distractions.
Locking yourself in the house for the entire workday might work for some, but it is unreasonable and not necessary for most. Breaks are encouraged! Taking a break can help you clear your mind and regain your focus. Plus, it is one of the most beneficial perks about working from home with a flexible lifestyle. Just make sure to allow yourself a shortlist of break options to choose from. Breaks during the workday shouldn’t be the time for a guilty-pleasure Target run that takes a good chunk out of your day. Instead, choose productive, enjoyable, and refreshing activities.
Here are some examples:
Activities to avoid:
Working from home means that almost every task must be completed on the computer. As all of us know, the internet is a black hole, and it is more than possible to get lost scrolling through social media or browsing online stores. This can be tricky because sometimes, we can feel as though we are multi-tasking warriors when we do multiple computer activities at once. Sending personal emails during company calls, shopping for holiday gifts, even catching up on side-hustle activities will all take away from your overall focus on the task at hand. It may be hard to monitor your time on social media/indulging in other distractions, but there are a few tools that can help.
Examples:
You wear many hats; being an employee is only part of your life! Some of us are parents, siblings, caregivers, children, entrepreneurs, and so much more. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Even if you are working virtually, this does not mean that you now have more time to do it all. If possible, communicate with your roommates, family, or partner about your stress levels and responsibilities. This will help you stay more focused on your work during the day. Here are a few examples depending on the roles in which you fill in your life.
Examples:
Building a focused office space at home will help you always have a reliable place to complete tasks. This does not have to be anything fancy, but feel free to customize if you want to! It is enough just to have a small corner of your home to call your own professional space.
Looking for home office ideas? Check out these blogs.
10 (more) WFH Essentials You Need – Here
WFH? Try Yoga! – Here
Pets That Make WFH Easier – Here
We hope that you and your family are staying safe, sane, and healthy during this time of uncertainty. Working from home can be stressful, even if you have a new flexible schedule. Be patient with yourself, you can do it!
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