Do you sometimes struggle to stay focused when working remotely? This is a problem that many people have these days, as many work remotely, either full-time or as part of a hybrid work model. When you are unsupervised, not in an office environment and surrounded by home comforts, it can be challenging to stay focused on the task at hand and it is easy to succumb to distractions. You do not want your work performance to suffer as a result of working remotely, so what can you do to stay focused? Here are a few tips that should prove to be useful.
Stick to A Schedule
First, it is important that you stick to a schedule. It can be hard to be productive and stay focused if you do not have a regular work pattern, so you need to try and start work, take breaks, and finish at the same time each day. This should help you to focus during working hours, but make sure that you are setting yourself a realistic schedule.
Silence Notifications
Leading on from this, it might also be worth silencing the notifications that you have on your computer and phone. It is hard to focus and avoid distractions if your phone is pinging every few minutes and people are trying to start text conversations. It is possible to turn iMessage notifications on your phone and computer off, making it much easier to stay focused during the working day. There are also a few apps that you can use to maximize productivity when using your Mac, and these could make a big difference to your daily performance – learn more at https://setapp.com/how-to/turn-off-imessage-and-notification-on-your-mac.
Take Regular Breaks
The importance of taking regular breaks cannot be overstated. It might seem counterintuitive to spend time not working, but it is much easier to focus when you give yourself frequent breaks throughout the day. Ideally, these breaks will involve getting up, walking around and even leaving the house. If you find yourself struggling to stay focused during the day, even a short 5-minute break can help and gives you the chance to begin a new working session.
Create the Right Office Environment
It is also vital that you have a suitable work environment at home. If you are trying to work while sitting on the sofa in front of the TV or in a busy area of the home, you will find it hard to concentrate and struggle with distractions. Ideally, you will have a dedicated room in the house that can be used as a home office. If not, you need to find a quiet area of the home. This is important in terms of staying focused throughout the day, but also separating your work and home life (something that many remote workers struggle with).
Dress for Work
One of the perks of remote work is that you do not have to dress for the office each day, but you might find that it helps to at least get dressed in the morning. It is hard to mentally switch gears and be productive when you are working in your pajamas, so it is worth getting changed to signal to your brain that it is time for work. This can also help at the end of the day to switch off and get ready for your free time. That is not to say that you should be wearing a suit and tie while working from home, but it should help to wear something other than sweatpants!
Let People Know You Are Working
Many people will find that other people distract them when working from home. This is a common problem as it can be hard for people sometimes to understand that you are actually working and not available for a chat or to help with a chore. Therefore, you should always let the people that you live with and friends and family know that you will be working during the day and should only be contacted at certain times or in an emergency.
Connect with Colleagues
Although you will want to avoid being distracted by friends and family, it is a good idea to try and connect with your colleagues during the day. One of the biggest issues that people have with remote work is that it can be isolating. Not only can isolation impact your mental health and well-being, but it could also stop you from being as productive as it will be harder to engage with work. Therefore, it is helpful to connect with colleagues throughout the working day, whether this is with group chats, emails, or video calls. This should also help you to stay focused and feel more connected to your team.
Look After Yourself
Finally, it is vital to look after yourself. It is hard to stay focused and be productive if you are not looking after yourself and struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle. During the pandemic, some people claimed that they ended up working much longer hours and spent most of their time stuck at their desks. It is important to try and enjoy the benefits that remote work can bring, so you should try to get out of the house on a daily basis, prepare healthy lunches, keep on top of chores, and take time for yourself. You also need to make sure that you are exercising regularly, spending time with loved ones, and getting enough sleep. When you do all of this, you should have more energy each day, find it easier to stay focused, and enjoy the benefits of working remotely.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the advice in this post will be useful and help you to stay focused when working remotely. Remote work has many perks and is common these days, but some people find it hard to concentrate and stay focused during the day. You do not want your performance to suffer, and you want to be able to enjoy the benefits of remote work, so try the above methods, and you should find that it helps you to stay focused and be productive each day.