When I wake up in the morning, I have every intention of getting right out of bed and starting my day. I sip my coffee and check my email, start crossing off items on my to-do list, and smile at how much I’ve gotten done by lunchtime.
And… that’s not how it really goes.
We all face distractions when we work from home – that’s part of the trade-off. For some of us, these distractions come in the form of small children. For others, it’s family members and friends constantly calling, the laundry piling up, or other household responsibilities. Then, there are the distractions we let slip in when we need a break: TV, Internet, Netflix, social media, a nap, and other relaxing activities.
But what happens when these distractions get the best of us and start really getting in the way of the things we need to do? One key to avoiding distractions lies in getting into a routine and setting up your brain to know when it’s okay to take a break.
Here is how to avoid distractions from getting the best of you when you’re working remotely.
1. Prepare Your To-Do List the Night Before
This helps me be able to get a good night’s sleep because I’ve written it all down and am not thinking about it anymore – I know I’m ready for the next day.
2. Get Into a Routine
Start your day off with a routine that gets you going. Maybe it’s a cup of coffee or going over your to-do list for the day. Whatever it is, stick with it – your brain will get used to this routine, and it will get you in the mindset that it’s time to work.
3. Figure Out Your Prime Time
Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, figure out your most productive time of day and take advantage of it. Set aside that block of time to complete your most significant tasks.
4. Set Your Work Hours
They’ll be different for everyone. My best hours are 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. – I don’t know how I got on that schedule, but I think it’s something to do with the fact that the house is just so much quieter after everyone else is in bed, and I tend to use my morning hours to tackle household responsibilities. My mind is usually more work-focused when I know that distraction is out of the way and taken care of.
5. Have a Dedicated Office Space
If you have an office door, close it during your office hours. Let the people who might be home with you know that this means you are working. If you have kids, you might have something such as a stoplight with red, yellow, and green on it. Place the marker next to the appropriate color to signal to them what you’re doing.
Red means stop: Don’t come in unless it’s an emergency – I use this for when I’m on phone calls.
Yellow means caution: I’m busy – please only interrupt if it’s important.
Green means: Yes, I’m working, but it’s okay to interrupt, or I’m almost done.
How to Make Time for Fun in Your Schedule
Another essential element to avoiding distractions is identifying them and then creating time for them—build it into your schedule. Yes, build fun into your day! Here’s how.
1. Turn Off Notifications
Turn off distractions, especially ones that make noise, during your set office hours. These include TV, email notifications, and social media. Don’t log onto the Internet for anything other than work.
2. Take Your Lunch
If you are working a straight 8-hour day, make sure to take a 30-minute lunch break. If you’re like me, you’ll have to set a timer to remind you to drink water, eat lunch, or take a break – I simply forget.
3. Regular Breaks
It’s also important to take at least two short (for me, 15-20 minutes works) breaks in your day. These are the times when you will want to schedule in the fun I mentioned earlier. Of course, you’ll want to get up and get away from your computer, but go ahead and check Facebook, too – you’ve earned it!
4. Stop Multitasking
Do you have a favorite show you just can’t miss? Don’t watch it while you work. Multitasking really isn’t all that good for us or our productivity. Why not watch it while you work out? Or, if it’s a show you love watching with friends, make it a weekly date. Just don’t let it be a workday distraction.
Related content: How to Stay Disciplined When Working From Home
How to Avoid Distractions Wrapup
The point is to treat your distractions as normal human occurrences and not get too discouraged when they happen. Try to establish a routine that will help you overcome distractions and then schedule a few so that you can still indulge in that guilty pleasure, relax, and be more productive when you are working.
Do you have any tips on how to make your day more productive? How do you avoid work-at-home distractions? Which distractions prevent you from getting your work done? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you!
Nicole Perrotta
Great advice. And timely for me. Working out of my house lately has been difficult with my 3 and 2 year old running into the office at anytime. I love the Red, Yellow, and Green indicator suggestions. I am planning to implement that first.
Thanks.
Holly Reisem Hanna
Glad you enjoyed the tips, Nicole!
Sarah Cook @RaisingCEOKids
Awesome points! Some of these are difficult with kids but important to incorporate!
Holly Reisem Hanna
Glad you enjoyed Angela’s tips! Definitely, balancing work and life is a challenge!
kathleen
Okay, are you watching me every morning/day? Lately, everything is a distraction and I hate that … aging doesn’t help, as I need a pot of coffee to get going! LOL!
So, stop watching and just kick me in the butt, would ya?
I love your advice as it’s to the point! I am going to print this off and put it in my daytimer. If I can find it as, you know, I look at that all the time! Ha, ha!
Thanks!
Holly Reisem Hanna
Glad you enjoyed the advice, Kathleen. I think time management is an ever-evolving balance as you go through the different stages of life.