Staying focused while working from home.

[DediRock]

Staying focused can be difficult in a home environment.
I am interested to know what best practices you use to minimize distractions and maintain productivity while working from home.

 

[mxnhost]

We've got a hybrid model. I find personally when working from home, having music in the background or with headphones helps a lot with interval breaks to keep focused and not get keyboard fatigued.

 

[Artashes]

Working from home is terrible. Not that I have to deal with two toddlers running around screaming and bugging me, but it's generally too much distraction: food in the fridge, YouTube-like environment, errands, Amazon deliveries, etc. Having the office to come to certainly helps focus. Or coworking spots, or libraries (those are great if you have no calls on the agenda).

However, if I find myself working from home, I utilize two simple strategies:

— frequently change my work spot
— listening to music in headphones to isolate myself from any noise (DJ sets for me as those mostly have no lyrics to distract on)
— coffee

 

[PeterShene]

Oh this can be difficult.
- Isolate yourself from the day-to-day things of your home, animal, and front door, basically get a home office area. (Also earphones like everybody said)

- Monitor what you do, write a mini list... for the next 90 min I need to do x,y and z, after the 90 min take a break and make a new list including the things you couldn't get finished. When you monitor your time you will be surprised at how much you waste and how much you can get done.

- Start early or late. In my case I get up at 4 - 5am there is nobody awake it is super quiet till 8 - 9am. This gives me 4 solid hours. I usually use this time to do work that requires a lot of attention by 9 am I switch to work that is easier, repetitive, or admin stuff until about 2 pm. 2- 3 pm I'm done, il take a nap for 30 min or so, and then whatever I do next is up to me.

Usually, I do some exercise for about 60 -90 minutes just to get the blood going and the alertness back up. For the rest of the day I kinda just coast around, sometimes il find myself getting back into work things... this is part of being a business owner.


-

 

[SharedGrid]

I have worked from home for a good few years now, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My office wasn't too far away with a 30 minute commute one way, but it's giving me a extra hour of personal life time 5 days a week. I also find that I achieve more by working from home, I found myself having general chit-chat with people in the office which wasted so much time and now I don't have that distraction.

It's still good to meet up with people you work with every so often though, I believe building relationships with people you work with allows for better collaboration. You can understand their personality and how others work by knowing them in person. There's only so much general chat you can have over Teams, Slack, or whatever.

I don't really have any tips for working from home, I just prefer it and I'm generally a very focused guy. Music is a big part though, I find myself listening to music for the majority of the working day.

 

[DediRock]

That sounds like a great approach! Music can definitely help with focus and breaks. Do you have any favorite playlists or genres that you find most effective?

We've got a hybrid model. I find personally when working from home, having music in the background or with headphones helps a lot with interval breaks to keep focused and not get keyboard fatigued.

 

[DediRock]

Working from home is terrible. Not that I have to deal with two toddlers running around screaming and bugging me, but it's generally too much distraction: food in the fridge, YouTube-like environment, errands, Amazon deliveries, etc. Having the office to come to certainly helps focus. Or coworking spots, or libraries (those are great if you have no calls on the agenda).

However, if I find myself working from home, I utilize two simple strategies:

— frequently change my work spot
— listening to music in headphones to isolate myself from any noise (DJ sets for me as those mostly have no lyrics to distract on)
— coffee

Working from home can definitely have its challenges, especially with distractions.

Great strategies!
Though I have never tried switching up where I work, definitely, DJ sets are a solid choice for background music.
Coffee is always a good boost too—just don’t overdo it!
Thanks!

 

[DediRock]

Oh this can be difficult.
- Isolate yourself from the day-to-day things of your home, animal, and front door, basically get a home office area. (Also earphones like everybody said)

- Monitor what you do, write a mini list... for the next 90 min I need to do x,y and z, after the 90 min take a break and make a new list including the things you couldn't get finished. When you monitor your time you will be surprised at how much you waste and how much you can get done.

- Start early or late. In my case I get up at 4 - 5am there is nobody awake it is super quiet till 8 - 9am. This gives me 4 solid hours. I usually use this time to do work that requires a lot of attention by 9 am I switch to work that is easier, repetitive, or admin stuff until about 2 pm. 2- 3 pm I'm done, il take a nap for 30 min or so, and then whatever I do next is up to me.

Usually, I do some exercise for about 60 -90 minutes just to get the blood going and the alertness back up. For the rest of the day I kinda just coast around, sometimes il find myself getting back into work things... this is part of being a business owner.


-

Those are excellent tips for staying productive!
Setting up a dedicated workspace, monitoring tasks, and adjusting your schedule to fit quiet times can make a big difference. Incorporating exercise is a great idea too—it helps with both focus and energy.
Thanks!

 

[DediRock]

I have worked from home for a good few years now, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My office wasn't too far away with a 30 minute commute one way, but it's giving me a extra hour of personal life time 5 days a week. I also find that I achieve more by working from home, I found myself having general chit-chat with people in the office which wasted so much time and now I don't have that distraction.

It's still good to meet up with people you work with every so often though, I believe building relationships with people you work with allows for better collaboration. You can understand their personality and how others work by knowing them in person. There's only so much general chat you can have over Teams, Slack, or whatever.

I don't really have any tips for working from home, I just prefer it and I'm generally a very focused guy. Music is a big part though, I find myself listening to music for the majority of the working day.

Hey SharedGrid, that’s great to hear that working from home has worked so well for you!
I agree that occasional in-person meetups can strengthen relationships and improve collaboration.
Actually, music is also a key part of my routine, it really helps maintain focus throughout the day.
I appreciate your input! You've given me some great perspectives to think about.