Working from home can be a blessing and a curse. Though there’s no commute – other than from the bed to the computer – there are tons of distractions that might not be present in an office space. Those who are getting ready to start working from home or those who want to make it a little easier to get work done will want to do the following to minimize or avoid distractions.
Have a Solid Internet Connection
It’s all too easy to get distracted playing on a phone or doing something else around the house when a website takes forever to load. All it takes is a few seconds to get distracted, but if the internet goes down, it’s going to be too easy to end up doing something else and losing focus. Instead, get a better connection so that it doesn’t go down as easily or take too long to load crucial pages. Find the right internet for your home to minimize any potential downtime that could lead to distractions.
Create a Designated Workspace
It is a good idea to create a designated workspace that helps to get the brain in the mood to work.
This can be anything from a dedicated home office to a comfy spot in the living room, as long as it’s used for work and everything needed to do work is within easy reach. Those who have smaller spaces or don’t have room for a dedicated office may want to start by creating a mobile workstation that includes supplies that might be needed, like pens and paper. This way, it can be pulled out when it’s time to work and put away when work is done.
Set Regular Hours
It is a good idea to set regular hours for work. While some workers will have a more flexible schedule, as long as work gets done, this can lead to pushing off work until it’s the end of the night or failing to make enough time to get everything done. Plus, when it’s possible to get up and leave at any time, it’s a lot easier to get distracted. Instead, set work hours based on needs, turn off notifications and other distractions, and get work done.
Don’t forget to let family and friends know about the set work hours to help minimize potential distractions.
Keep Snacks and Drinks Nearby
Snacks can be problematic because it typically involves going into the kitchen. As soon as the worker steps away from the workspace, they’re more likely to get easily distracted and may not make it back to the desk in a reasonable amount of time. The solution? Keep snacks nearby. A small fridge is perfect for keeping a few snacks and drinks, and it can make it easier to get a bite to eat without having to leave the office. Try out different office snack ideas to find ones that can be made ahead and eaten easily without being a distraction while working.
Everyone is different, so take some time to figure out what works best for you. Though these tips will help, there is a lot of wiggle room to make changes and adjustments to get everything set up perfectly. Take the time to try out different ideas now to help minimize distractions while you’re working.
