Working from home is often a dream come true for those who do not want to be bothered with the daily commute, the toxic environment most corporate setups have, and those who simply want to be able to earn more while being able to spare time for the things and people they love. Indeed, working from home is a very convenient setup that requires minimal effort and preparation. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a sturdy computer, and lots of time and patience.
Of course, while this setup has numerous advantages, it is not without its share of challenges. One of the greatest challenges faced by virtual assistants, freelancers, and other people who work from home is constant distraction, which comes in many forms. It can be the television and the temptation to surf non-work related sites, as internet usage and breaks are not being closely watched. Distraction can be housework – dishes on the sink, floors that need to be mopped, clothes that need to be washed and ironed, kids that need to be bathed, fed, put to sleep, and watched over, and other tasks that require you to spend time away from your computer. It can be relatives and friends who do not understand the concept of “working from home” and for some reason assume that you’re not really doing “real work,” and oblige you to either grant them favors or spend time with them. Your flexible work setup then becomes a liability as far as productivity is concerned, and this can mean unfinished tasks, which can lead to bad reviews from employers.
Fortunately, there are ways to stay focused and productive even when you are working from home, with numerous distractions.
Here are some helpful ways to stay focused:
Have a visible to-do list. Seeing all your tasks listed down can give you a sense of urgency and urge you to stay focused. Plus, nothing feels more satisfying than getting your pen and crossing out a task that you have just accomplished.
Work on one task at a time. The reason most people succumb to distractions is because they feel overwhelmed and need to take a break. To prevent this, resolve to not take a break until after you have finished a task. May it be a 5-minute social media break, a quick stretch, a quick snack, or some cuddle time with your kid, do not give in until you are able to cross out the task you have at hand.
Stay somewhere quiet and orderly. Having a designated work area at home can do wonders for your productivity. It can be a well-ventilated spare room with a desk, laid out to resemble a small office. No matter how tempting it is, do not set up your work station in bed, in front of the TV, or in the kitchen, as this makes you vulnerable to mindless snacking, napping, and watching TV. Having a clean, organized desk that is free from clutter can also help you work better.
Step out if you have to. If you find that staying at home is killing your productivity and making you more prone to getting distracted, go ahead and work outside. Find a well-lit café or co-working space that has spacious desks, power outlets, and a relatively quiet and friendly environment and get your most urgent, most difficult tasks done. Sometimes, a change in your work environment can help jog your brain cells and inspire you to do more things faster. Being away from home also keeps your mind off housework, so you can concentrate only on the needs of your clients and the work you need to finish.
Prepare for your day as if you are preparing to work in a real office. This tip might sound strange, but it works for a lot of people. Set your alarm an hour before you need to be online, and do not hit the snooze button. Instead of working in your pajamas, take the effort to take a shower, eat a proper meal, read the papers, and dress up in something casual – say, a slight upgrade to your usual house attire. This helps shift your mindset from that of simply “slumming it” at home to actually being productive at work. It also helps stave off the temptation to go back to bed, because you are already awake and fully prepared to take on a full day of work.
Listen to some music. Invest in good earphones and when you find your environment to be too noisy or too distracting, plug them in and listen to the type of music that helps you stay focused. Some people listen to loud rock music and completely tune out the outside world, while soft, classical music does it for some people.
Have a definitive work schedule for the day. Apart from listing down your tasks, it helps to put on paper the amount of time you will allot per task, including breaks. This keeps you from lingering on unnecessary activities and helps you stay on track with the tasks you need to finish. Staying productive in a work from home setup, especially as a virtual assistant or a freelancer, is the key to delivering tasks efficiently and on time, which ultimately keeps clients happy.
Try any of these tips today so you can stay more focused on the job and you could also check some tips for the whole year and how to achieve them.
