Did you know that the number of Americans working from home has tripled from 5.7% in 2019 to 17.9% in 2021? And even though the threat of COVID-19 is less severe today, more people still want to work remotely.
But while working from home offers excellent benefits and opportunities, there are some times when you find yourself losing focus at work. This can be infuriating, especially when you have a deadline and want to produce great results. The good news is that you can get yourself back on track. How? First, determine why you can’t focus at work, then find the solution for that specific problem.
Here are the possible reasons people working from home have difficulty focusing and how to combat them.
1. You’re distracted
Many things can distract you when working from home. It can be your pets, family members talking to you, unexpected deliveries, your bed, and most especially the online world.
It’s especially tough when working online because notifications from your emails, Facebook, TikTok, or Amazon keep popping up. And while you might think that a quick look at your newsfeed is okay, you’ll find yourself scrolling for the 10th time during the day.
So what should you do? First, create a barrier between you and your distractions. Designate a space for work. It’s better if you have a room for a home office to avoid having an interaction with your family or the temptation to check out the TV. Also, put your phone on silent mode or use the “Do Not Disturb” function to block notifications while you’re working. If you’re still easily distracted, consider staying at a coffee shop or library to increase your focus.
2. You can’t separate home from work
It’s difficult to focus on working when you can see your family hanging around, or you have chores to do. As a result, you get less motivated and would rather attend to your home duties.
To have a clear work-life boundary, create a dedicated workspace. Avoid working from your bed, as it will pull you back to sleep. If you don’t have specific work hours, set your own schedule. Working from home allows you to have flexible work time so use that opportunity to create a calendar that suits your lifestyle.
3. You don’t like what you’re working on
Even if you like your job, some tasks might discourage you from continuing to work. You may want to put it off for as long as possible, but you can’t escape it. So motivate yourself by sandwiching it between things you like to do. Better yet, do the unpleasant tasks first so you can move on to doing other tasks more efficiently.
4. You’re working too much
If you always overwork yourself, your health will eventually give up. Mental and physical exhaustion can fog your brain and negatively affect your concentration. To avoid this, make sure to take enough rest. Take enough time to sleep and allow yourself to relax.
5. You have a messy workspace
A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind. Having a messy room can be very distracting and stressful. So keep your room clean and organize your desk. Also, make it a habit to declutter your computer to locate your files more easily.
Conclusion
Knowing what to do is different from actually executing it. These tips will not be effective without you acting on them. So motivate yourself and reorganize your thoughts. And don’t push yourself too hard. Instead, start small and slowly work towards your goals.
