As wonderful as working remotely can be, there are challenges. One of the most common of these challenges is staying focused. So, if you’re looking for ways to improve work-from-home focus, know you aren’t alone—and thankfully—there are a lot of great resources that can help you improve.
Here are seven of my favorites. I hope you will find these helpful!
Understand Your Hours of Peak Productivity
Are you an early bird or a night owl? Pay attention to your energy levels and productivity throughout the day. If you’re a morning person, it probably doesn’t make sense to stay up late and work every night. If you prefer to work late after the day is done, don’t sabotage this by scheduling work very early in the morning.
Set Daily Goals / To-Do Lists
Sometimes the best advice is the most obvious. One of the greatest barriers to work-from-home focus is disorganization, and there are several ways you can combat this. If you like to do things the old-school way with a physical pen and paper, then create a written to-do list that notes your daily goals. There are also some great online apps that make getting organized easier.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
It’s hard to stay focused when there’s a lot going on around you. So, if you don’t have an in-home office or some other dedicated workspace, create one! Make your space comfortable, organized, and as free from distraction as possible.
Discuss Boundaries and Working Hours with Friends and Family
Have you noticed that friends and family think you’re free to chat at all hours because you’re at home? If this is a problem for you, take some time to gently talk with your loved ones. Remind them that working from home is a real job and you need to have your time respected. Set hours if you need to or ask them to be patient if you are unable to return a call or text right away.
Resist Screen Time Temptations
If you work from home, you probably spend a lot of time in front of a screen. It can be tempting and easy to open up a new tab, browse social media, check out a few YouTube videos, or do some online shopping. Just don’t do it. When it’s time to work, it’s time to work. You can always take breaks!
Take a Break!
One of my favorite work-from-home quotes goes something like this: “I love working from home because I get to choose which 16 hours of the day I will work.” Can you relate? Sometimes us remote workers can be a little overzealous, so don’t forget to take a break every now and then. A refreshed mind is a mind that can be put to good use!
Eat Healthy and Exercise
Taking care of your mind and body is one of the best ways to improve work-from-home focus. Go for a walk during one of your scheduled breaks or include a 15-minute workout within your daily routine. It doesn’t take much to make a big difference. As for nutrition, consume food with Omega-3 fatty acids. Blueberries, nuts, broccoli, and green tea are also listed as great foods for improving focus.
More Resources for Improving Work-From-Home Focus
If you want even more information about improving work-from-home focus, here are some related articles you might want to check out:
- How to Work from Home with Kids: 10 Powerful Resources and Pro Tips
- Top 10 Work-From-Home Office Products for the Best Experience Possible
Good luck!