Try to improve your focus when working from home? Here are are some tips and tricks to be productive when you work remotely.

Working from home is quickly becoming the new normal for many. On the surface, it may sound like a dream since you can just work in your sweatpants, it can be a struggle to set your own schedule. Some people find that working remotely lets them get more work done.

On the flip side, it can also backfire since it’s easy for you to be distracted and lose motivation. One of the reasons for this is because you’re left unsupervised so you’re free to do whatever you can.

Furthermore, distractions like social media, household chores, and family members or housemates can get in the way of your work. In other words, when personal and business time meets, your productivity can be compromised. So, what do you do at times like these? This article will help you solve your dilemma.

Tips To Improve Your Focus When Working From Home

Working remotely definitely has its fair share of perks. Likewise, it can also be disadvantageous, especially when it comes to maintaining your focus. And so, here are some tricks that will help improve your focus in your home-based work.

1. Create a home office

Whether you’re using your kitchen nook or have a sprawling home office, it’s crucial to have your own workspace. While working remotely lets you work anywhere you want, it’s highly recommended to set up a home office. Sitting on the couch, for instance, won’t be good for your posture.

Plus, it’s often close to a TV, which will tempt you at some point. Having a double monitor can also boost your productivity. Just remember that much like your bed is for sleeping, your desk should also be reserved for working.

2. Dress up

Perhaps one of the greatest perks of working at home is that you can just wear slippers and PJs. Still, there’s a happy vibe for getting dressed in the morning. After all, it’s sort of engraved for people with a business mindset and daily ritual.

Moreover, humans are creatures of habit, so we might as well get accustomed to doing good habits. Dressing up just a bit will be like your morning routine. How you look isn’t really the main point, but it’s more about creating a professional mindset, making you more motivated to work.

3. Stick to your boundaries

One of the top misconceptions about being home-based means you don’t have much work. So, when someone invites you to lunch, it can be hard to get across that your work needs as much as hours as them. As such, it’s important to set boundaries.

Let your family and friends know that when you’re at home working, you don’t have much time to socialize. You can talk with them briefly of course but only on your breaks.

4. Make a schedule

Calendars are there for a reason. Make use of yours. If you’re the type of person to plan down to the last minute, then go pencil in even your break time. Place your schedule in front of you so you can easily see what other tasks need working.

On the other hand, if you’re more of a “to-do-list” person, then create a list and cross things off as you go. Also, prioritize what tasks are nearing their deadlines and write them down.

You can use a planner, a whiteboard, or an online calendar. Some people may also prefer to just go with the flow. If that’s the case for you, make sure that you know what you need to accomplish daily so you can stay on task.

5. Automate if you can

Technology’s here for us to use. It even makes a good administrative assistant. You can use it to create email rules to filter out irrelevant messages, schedule alerts for important activities, and set up appointments.

You can also use it to pre-schedule social media posts, create automated customer billing, and even detect mistakes in your content. Needless to say, technology has an abundance of uses that will help you increase your productivity and maintain your focus.

6. Limit or better yet stay off social media

Social media is a huge distraction to many. It’s so tempting that even a quick browse to your Twitter account can already suck up so much of your time. When this happens, your focus goes down the drain and the same goes for your work.

To stay focused when working from home, restrict the amount of time you spend on social media. You can also utilize apps and web extensions that let you set a certain time restriction on a website, say, Facebook. After using up those times, you’d be unable to access that site for the rest of the day.

7. Stay active

When you’re at home working, you spend most of your time just sitting in front of your computer. Physical activity, even if it’s just a quick walk, is essential for your body. This will also exercise your mind since staying idle for too long can cause your brain to become sluggish, which in turn, reduces your focus.

So, when you have a quick break, you can take a brisk walk outside or maybe go for a quick jog with your dog. If you cannot go outside, a 5 to 10-minute workout at home is enough. Some stretching exercises will do, too. Doing this will help clear up your thoughts, making you more productive for the remaining hours.

8. Have scheduled breaks

Take a break but you must schedule when to take it and when to go back to work. Taking too much break can make you get off track, but too little can also be counterproductive since you could be already burned out before you even clock out.

Don’t try to eat lunch in front of your desk just to get some more work done while eating. Take a proper lunch break even when you’re at home. Apart from your body needing fuel from food, your brain could use some break too.

Getting distracted is inevitable. Cut yourself some slack. Finding focus and maintaining this disposition can be hard when working from home. However, with some perseverance, self-discipline, and restructuring, you can stay productive and effective. Use those tips below to see how much it’ll help you with your focus.

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