Tips for Staying Focused When Working from Home

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Working from home is beautiful and glamorous and it is something many of us picture when we think of the perfect life…I mean, getting paid while I am in pajamas? Heck yes, count me in!!!

Then comes time to work from home…and your dog is being extra cute, your dishes are piling up in the sink, and you are constantly watching TV.

How on earth are you ever going to focus when you have all these distractions just staring you right in the face?

Staying focused when working from home takes time, practice, and intentional planning and strategizing.

Here are some of my best tips for staying focused when working from home!

Work From Home Tips

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Have a Clean Workspace

In my experience, the state of your work environment is directly proportional to how well you work.

Think about it, have you ever been in a dark office with no windows? It kind of makes you feel down in the dumps, doesn’t it? Or, have you ever had an unpleasant coworker?

I bet it makes it hard to focus on anything besides how crappy they may be acting that day.

If your work environment isn’t at its best, neither will you be at yours.

Clean up your workspace, and do not have anything there that isn’t related to work.

Put up some inspirational quotes and vision boards, and let in some natural light. Turn it into an upbeat space that gets you excited to sit down and work.

Limit Your Distractions

I know we all love having television constantly playing in the background of our lives, but this can be quite distracting when you are working from home.

Turn off the tv.

Put your phone on silent and keep it in another room.

Stay away from cleaning, ESPECIALLY stress cleaning, as that is a dangerous road to go down.

Use this time solely for work.

Focus on 3 Main Tasks for the Day

Have you ever had a to-do list that was so long, you never even saw progress?

These lists are dangerous, and I think we all have created them at some point in time.

Avoid this by having 3 main tasks to complete each day.

Give each one a timeframe, and see if you can beat your time (but still do a great job!).

You should have a clear goal every time you sit down to work, and this will prevent you from having 50 tabs open and most of them being online shopping.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Accountability is the secret to commitment and success.

Think about that.

Aren’t you more likely to go to the gym or go to class if you have a friend counting on you to show up?

Having an accountability partner is HUGE.

If you work from home by yourself, you may be wondering how this could be possible for you. Try choosing one day a week to meet a friend at a coffee shop to work. You can keep each other focused and motivated.

If you are unable to meet up with someone in person, you could give your social media followers a peek behind the curtain and show them what you’re working on during the day.

By announcing what you are working on, you are more likely to actually complete it.

Listen to Music That Helps You Stay Focused

Noise-canceling headphones really help me stay focused and cut me off from outer distractions.

I really enjoy listening to instrumental music through my noise-canceling headphones when I am working.

My personal favorites are “Deep Focus” playlists on Spotify and anything by Pretty Lights.

Intentionally Take Breaks

Taking breaks is SO important when you are working, as it allows you to clear your head and refocus your thoughts.

When you plan out your breaks, it prevents you from wasting time checking your texts or scrolling on social media.

My favorite method for planning out my breaks is the Pomodoro Method.

This method includes 25-minute hard-core work sessions, followed by 5-minute breaks. After the fourth 25-minute work session, you take a longer break of approximately 15-30 minutes. This allows you to work everyday life into your work schedule.

Save taking the dog out or washing the dishes or checking your phone for those breaks, and save your work time for work.

Take a Walk at Lunch

Spending some time outside is one of the best things for your focus and motivation.

There is something about fresh air, I swear it’s magical!

Lunchtime is usually when we feel the most sluggish. I mean, we did just eat a meal, didn’t we? I love to take a walk after eating lunch.

It will get you out of that afternoon slump, and it’s an easy way to reset your thinking for the rest of the day.

Spending some time outside can also keep you inspired, so get ready to start having some of your best ideas after you go for a walk!

It’s also great exercise, so what’s not to love?

Have a Clear Distinction Between Work and Home

Ahhhh beds. It’s so easy to want to stay in bed forever, isn’t it?!

It’s ESPECIALLY easy when you actually have the chance to stay in bed all day when you are working from home.

However, try to avoid this at all costs. If you start working from your bed, you will be thinking of work when you go to sleep.

You NEED to have a separation between work life and home life somehow.

First, have a dedicated workspace. For some, this may mean a home office, and for others, it could mean their favorite coffee shop or their balcony, or simply their kitchen counter. Whatever it is, be consistent with where you are.

Second, cut off your work at a specific time each day. It’s easy to work well over 40 hours a week when you are working from home, but set boundaries. Know that you will shut down work at dinner time or when you leave to get your kids from school.

Third, plan your time off. COMPLETELY off. It is really easy to work while on vacation when you have access to wifi, but it is important that you take the time completely off. Make sure your team knows ahead of time when you will be out, and work ahead and get things done so you are not stressed about logging off.

Final Thoughts

I hope you put these tips into practice and see a massive improvement in your productivity and focus. It may take time, but it will be worth it! You’ll be amazed by what you will be able to accomplish from the comfort of your home.

If you are currently looking for work, check out the work-from-home job opportunities on Jooble and perhaps you will find your dream job.