Working from home has many advantages-so long as you are able to prevent distractions. Surprisingly, staying on task is often more difficult when you are at home rather than an office. Remaining vigilant is the key to surviving as a telecommuter, and here are some practical tips for staying focused.
Create an Inviting Workspace
You are far less likely to become distracted in a clean, uncluttered workspace than you are a messy, disorganized one. Take the time to set up a neat, well organized home office that you will look forward to going to each day. This may mean an initial investment in some bins or trays to ensure that everything has a place to go. Don’t worry, that money will be well spent in the long run.
The location of your home office is equally as important. A cubicle in the corner of your living room might be okay, but a spare bedroom or closet would be even better. Ideally, your remote office should provide privacy and be somewhere you can leave and forget about once you are done working. This means the bedroom you sleep in is probably not a good choice, but a guest room would nonetheless suffice.
Get Rid of Distractions
Just because you choose an out-of-the-way office does not mean there will not be distractions. Think about the things that tend to distract you and then do your best to eliminate them. If you don’t really need that television, get rid of it. The same goes for your cell phone and other electronic devices. Unless you must take calls throughout the day, turn your phone off during working hours and get in the habit of just checking your voicemail occasionally.
The need to eliminate distractions is another reason your office should be neat and tidy. After all, many telecommuters lament that they are constantly cleaning their homes rather than working. Keep a well-kept workspace to convince yourself that the rest of your house is just as nicely maintained as the area you’re in. That also will be easier to do if you can close off your office and avoid looking at the rest of your home.
Set Firm Boundaries
When people first begin working from home, they assume that they will naturally be more productive. They deduce that activities such as office gossip will not prevent them from focusing on the task at hand. Many are surprised to find that the same distractions that are present in brick-and-mortar offices are also there at their home office. How you avoid these distractions? We’re glad you asked.
First and foremost, do not allow others to interrupt your schedule. Friends and family members could not just “drop in” any time they like if you were working a regular job, and there is no reason why they should at your home office either. Politely let others know that they are not to disturb you during working hours. That rule should apply regardless of whether you maintain a set schedule or are able to set your own hours.
So how do you keep other people from intruding on your time? First, let those around you know your schedule and ask that they not call or drop by during those hours. If necessary, post your working hours on your office door or even the front entry of your home. During those hours if you receive a call or the doorbell rings, feel free to ignore it.
Consider a Caregiver
The above advice may not work if you have little ones at home that you also need to keep an eye on. In that case, you may need to adjust your schedule so you are working while your spouse is at home or while your little ones are napping.
In some instances, you may want to consider hiring a sitter while you do your job. That can be a tough call to make, especially since many people telecommute in order to save on child care. You’ll have to calculate the cost of a caregiver in relation to the amount of money you can expect to make if you are able to work without any distractions.
Pets can also be a distraction for remote employees. While it is nice to have your furry friend beside you, it can also be time-consuming to keep moving your cat off your laptop or taking your dog out to potty. If you are constantly interrupted, it may be time to consider doggy day care or a drop-by pet sitter.
Take Care When Scheduling Appointments
For many people, one of the nicest things about working from home is the ability to schedule appointments whenever you like. However, appointments can also be distracting because you may be tempted to run other errands or take little side trips while you are out. Before you know it, most of the day is gone and you haven’t even started doing any tasks yet.
Even if you do come straight home, you could find it hard to get started. You may feel you need to unwind before beginning your day. Likewise, if your appointment is mid-morning, you might find it difficult to start working because you are thinking about getting ready to leave instead.
Whenever possible, schedule appointments for first thing in the morning or as late in the afternoon as possible. Isn’t that what you likely would do if you were working at a physical location? You wouldn’t want to lose productivity so you would choose a time that would result in the fewest losses, right?
Make Use of Technology
Working remotely is no longer a fringe idea. More and more companies are recognizing the benefits of telecommuting and are allowing people to choose a home office. As such, there are more products than ever available to help you keep on task, improve productivity, and enhance your performance.
