Working from home is a dream on many levels. It’s kinder to the environment — the recent pandemic beautifully illustrates how quickly the planet can recover with fewer cars on the road. It decreases stress by preventing the need to battle traffic twice a day. It’s a boon for people whose disabilities prevent commutes and busy parents who can use their 10-minute breaks for picking up Legos, those ticking time bombs for unwary feet.
However, some people struggle without the structure of a typical nine-to-five, finding it challenging to concentrate. It’s not that you’re weak-willed. People are creatures of habit, and all you need are new and improved ones to fit your changed reality. If you’re working from home, here are five ways to focus.
1. Invest in a Comfortable Setup
Your first step in improving your focus while working from home is to recreate a mini “commute” by selecting a dedicated office space. If you’re lucky, you might have a separate room. Otherwise, designate a spot — even if it’s a small desk in your living room corner — that’s for work purposes only and outfit it.
When selecting your home office workstation, concentrate on ergonomics, as you can’t focus when struggling to find a comfortable position. The right chair can help prevent back problems, so head to the office supply store instead of ordering online to find the best fit. Variable-height desks are another option that eases pain and helps you focus by encouraging gentle movement.
What other factors should you consider when setting up your home office? Here’s a short list:
- Lighting: Overhead fluorescents contain invisible pulsing that induces migraines, but a desk lamp or track lighting keeps your workspace bright.
- Noise: If you share a home with others, a pair of noise-canceling headphones can be your best focus aid.
- Temperature: Rooms above the garage can get chilly if the space below isn’t insulated. Use a space heater, or, better yet, improve your home’s energy efficiency by fixing the problem.
2. Establish “Do Not Disturb” and “Quiet” Signals
A closed office door can work as an effective Do Not Disturb sign if you have such a space. Otherwise, you need a method to communicate with your spouse, kids or roommates when you’re in a Zoom meeting and would appreciate them refraining from blaring the television.
Fortunately, this trick is as simple as hanging a special blazer or even a hat — a “thinking cap,” if you will — over your office chair. Communicate that this means you need uninterrupted focus, and anything short of blood loss or fire can wait.
3. Silence Non-Vital Notifications
Technology is fabulous for making working from home a reality — but it can also impinge on productivity. How? Again, humans are habit-bound creatures. Think back to your old high school lessons about Pavlov and his dogs, then ask yourself how compelled you feel to respond every time your phone dings or a visual alert tells you something’s happening somewhere.
You might think it’s no big deal to check the occasional notification, but that’s a dangerous and incorrect assumption. On average, it takes over 20 minutes to regain focus after an interruption. Therefore, put that pesky phone in a drawer if you can’t silence it for fear of missing a call from your child’s school and turn off all other alerts.
Do the same with your desktop. Some PCs notify you of everything from virus scans to special offers, taking you off task. Look up your model online and silence those focus thieves.
4. Pace Yourself and Take Breaks
It’s tempting to work straight through when you telecommute, especially if you’re accustomed to the constant need to look busy to avoid getting in trouble — even when you’re accomplishing little of merit. However, the typical nine-to-five never represented human reality. Your brain functions better with occasional breaks.
How can you make this realistic when you control your schedule? Start by time-blocking. Make a list of each task you need to complete, tackling the most burdensome ones first or when you have the most energy. Crossing things off your to-do list creates a feeling of accomplishment that keeps you going.
When working on time-consuming tasks that take several hours or days to complete, use the Pomodoro method. What’s that? Use a timer, setting it for 25 minutes when you begin working. After 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. Then, after three or four of these “Pomodoro” periods, take a longer rest of 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Create a Clear Boundary Between Work and Home
Remember the first tip on this list? Ideally, your work-from-home location should be 100% dedicated to that task — don’t use the same space for paying bills or writing grocery lists. Why? You need to create a clear boundary between work and home.
However, location alone might not be enough, especially in a tiny space. What can you do? Create rituals. Yours might be as simple as making your to-do list for the next day before powering down your computer and taking a 5-minute walk, stretch or meditation break before you rejoin the family, fully switched into “home” mode.
How does this help focus? When the boundaries between home and work blur, you’re constantly thinking about one when you should concentrate on the other. For example, thoughts of unfinished laundry interrupt your budget report. When you create a proper time for each task, it becomes easier to accomplish them all without distraction.
How to Focus When Working From Home
Working from home has many advantages. However, for some people, it’s devastating to their concentration.
However, establishing the right routine will help you get back into the swing of things and feel more productive. Follow these tips to focus when working from home.