3 Ways to Stay on Track When Working from Home

Working from home has plenty of benefits, but it can also be a bit of a challenge to stay on track. On one hand, you have more freedom and flexibility; on the other hand, it can be easy to get sidetracked. When you’re at home, it’s easy to get distracted by things like laundry or the dishes. And, of course, there’s always the temptation to take a break and watch a little TV. 

For many people, the lines between work life and home life become blurred, making it hard to stay on task. However, it’s important to stay focused when you’re working from home. After all, your boss is still expecting you to get the same amount of work done – even if you’re not in the office. 

Are you someone who finds it hard to stay on track when working from home? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Staying focused and productive when there are so many distractions can be a challenge. But it’s definitely not impossible. Here are three ways to stay on track when working from home:

1. Have a Dedicated Space to Work

One way to stay on track is to create a dedicated workspace for yourself. Set up a desk in a quiet corner of the house, and make sure that everyone in the family knows that this is your “office.” 

Having a designated area for work will help you stay focused and limit distractions. Make sure your workspace is comfortable and has everything you need to be productive. Then, when it’s time to work, you can sit down at your desk and close the door on everything else. Establishing a daily routine – just as you would if you were going into an office – can also help to keep you focused and prevent burnout.

Of course, it’s also important to take breaks now and then. But if you can stay focused for the majority of the day, you’ll find that working from home is a breeze. 

Just remember to set clear boundaries between work and personal time. When you’re done with work for the day, make sure to step away from your desk and take some time for yourself. We’ve previously recommended unplugging from the ‘always-on’ culture by turning off your work devices after your workday to maintain positive feelings about home working.

This will help you relax and recharge so that you can be productive when it’s time to start working again. You’ll start to find that working from home can, in fact, be a great way to increase productivity and focus.

2. Keep Up Communication with Your Colleagues

Working from home can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. If you’re feeling like this, it’s hard (if not impossible) to keep up your motivation and productivity levels. Maintaining communication with coworkers and scheduling time for social activities outside of work can help to combat feelings of isolation. 

It’s especially important to make an effort to stay in touch with those in your immediate team. Whether you’re sharing updates on a project or just chatting about the latest news, communication is essential for maintaining a strong team dynamic. 

Furthermore, it can help to prevent misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page. From video conferencing to instant messaging, there are plenty of ways to stay in touch with your team. So don’t be afraid to reach out and make sure that you’re staying connected.

3. Test Out Time Management Techniques

If you’re finding it particularly hard to stay focused when there are so many distractions, one way to combat this is to try out some time management techniques. The Pomodoro Technique is a popular method that involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. This cycle is repeated 4 times, and then you take a longer break of 15-20 minutes. This technique can help to keep you focused and prevent burnout. 

Another useful tip is to set yourself some daily or weekly goals. This gives you something to work towards and helps you to stay motivated. When you’re working on a big project, it can be tempting to just plough through and try to get it done as quickly as possible. However, this can often lead to feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and can even result in lower-quality work. 

Instead, it’s usually better to break the project down into smaller tasks. Not only will this make the project feel more manageable, but it will also give you a sense of progress as you check each task off your list. Experts also advise time tracking tools to show you areas of your job you’re dedicating too much time to, as well as projects to which you might be rushing to meet deadlines.

If you do happen to run into a snag while working on one of the smaller tasks, it won’t derail the entire project. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by a big project, take a deep breath and then start breaking it down into smaller pieces.

When you work from home, it can be easy to let yourself get off track. But if you want to be productive and successful, it’s important to take steps to keep your focus.