Working from home can be an amazing experience, but it can also be a lot of work to avoid distractions!
We all know that sitting in front of the TV or working with music playing in the background is not going to help you get anything done. With tips like these, you will never have to worry about being distracted while working from home again!
#1 Close All Social Media Apps on Your Phone
When you sit down to work from home, the first thing that's usually on your mind is checking social media! While it might seem like a great idea at first, these apps are going to be more of a distraction than anything else.
To avoid distractions and focus on your job while working from home, make sure all of your social media apps are closed. This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more!
Social media is a perfect distraction because it's so quick and easy to get caught up in scrolling through your feed. You won't even realize that hours have gone by, but you'll look back on the time lost while distracted and wish you had used it productively!
If you really need a way to stay connected with friends or family while working from home, taking 45 minutes out of your day to go for a walk and chat is the perfect solution.
You can also set up notifications that will pop up on your screen at certain points throughout the workday, so you know it's time to take a short break or lunch! This way, you won't have any excuses about why you're distracted while working from home.
#2 Turn Off Non-Essential Notifications from Other Apps
When you're working at home it's easy to get distracted by a text or email coming in on your phone – but these may not be as important as the work that needs to be done for your job. Set up notifications so that you can be notified every time something comes in, but that you don't have to look at your phone after each alert. This is a great way to avoid distractions!
Everyone has at least a few non-essential apps on their phone that don't need to be open during the workday. For example, if you have a game app, and never play it when working, turning off the notifications will help keep your mind on what's important.
Non-essential app notifications can also include email or text alerts. Only turn on notifications for the most important emails, and make sure you only check your phone during breaks or after work – not when it's time to get down to business!
You don't need to be distracted by every new notification that pops up on your screen. By turning off the notifications for apps you never use, or only check once in a while (like social media), you will avoid being pulled away from work and truly focus when working from home!
#3 Have A Set Time for Working and Stick To It
Another common distraction people face when working from home is not having enough structure – this means they work whenever they feel like it, and this is not a good idea!
Set up a set time for working – maybe in the morning before everyone wakes up or at night after dinner. Make sure you get dressed to work first because it will help your mind transition to work mode.
If you don't have a set time to work, it's easy to get distracted by other things like chores or errands that need to be done. Your kids might want your attention, and taking care of these tasks is important – but setting boundaries will be necessary if you really want to focus on getting the job done!
Even if you slip up and break your own rules every now and again, make sure you take time for yourself afterwards. Maybe go to the gym or meet up with friends – taking care of your physical and mental health is just as important as getting work done!
When working from home there will be a million distractions, but if you set up boundaries and have a schedule to follow, these tips for avoiding distractions will work like magic.
#4 Working In Front of The TV Or With Music Playing In The Background
Unless you're doing some form of creative work, working in front of the TV or with music playing is not a good idea. It's too easy to get distracted by what you're watching and soon enough your day will be over!
To avoid distractions make sure there are no shows on while you work from home – even if it might seem like they help you relax.
If sitting in silence while working every day seems boring, try turning on some instrumental music that you don't know the words to. It's still possible to get distracted by lyrics, but it will be much easier not to have any songs with words and meaning!
Working from home is meant to make your life more convenient – not to cause you more stress than before. Don't let yourself get distracted by the TV or music playing in the background, even if it seems like a fun way to spend your day off!
Turning on some instrumental music while working from home might not seem like much of a distraction – but having lyrics is dangerous and can lead to multitasking that won't get the job done at all.
#5 Have a Designated Workspace Away From Distractions Like Kids, Pets, and Chores
There are also many distractions that come from working at home – chores can easily be put off when you're trying to work while everyone is running around the house. Make sure there's a designated workspace for you where no one disturbs you! This is a great way to avoid distractions while working from home.
Sometimes it's hard to isolate yourself at home, and even if you try to work in a room with no one else around it can still be difficult. Make sure there are toys out of sight, and if you are trying to work at night make sure the kids are asleep!
The distractions that come with working from home will be hard to avoid, but creating a designated workspace where you can focus on getting the job done will make all the difference.
People working from home often struggle to separate themselves from the family – and even if you try your best, there will be times when it's hard not to get distracted by your kids fighting or the laundry that needs to be done. Make sure there's a designated workspace for you and keep other people out of it!
#6 Get Dressed Before Starting Work – Don't Start Your Day Wearing Pajamas!
One of the best tips for avoiding distractions when working from home is to get dressed before you start work. It will help your mind transition to work mode and make it easier not to be distracted. Don't start your day wearing pajamas!
It's so tempting to work in your pajamas when it's just you and the house, but getting dressed for work will keep you focused on what needs to be done. You don't even have to put on a full suit, just make sure that you're not working from home in your underwear!
Working from home can make it feel like you're not doing anything, but if you get dressed for work and have a designated workspace that will change. Putting on your work clothes or a nice outfit will help you transition to working from home and not being distracted by anything else.
Conclusion
Working from home can be a lot more enjoyable than going into an office every day. You don't have to worry about traffic, you work at your own pace and on your own time, and nobody's telling you what to do (unless it's the boss).
But there are also some downsides that come with working in such a distracting environment like having kids or pets around all the time. We've put together 6 tips below on how to avoid distractions while working from home so that productivity isn’t hindered by any of these factors.
If you're looking for ways to make your remote job even better, try out one or two of these helpful suggestions today!