Jobhop Jobhop's blog : How Not To Get Distracted When Working From Home

Working from home has become the new norm. Even with more workers now returning to the office as Covid-19 restrictions ease, remote working is still the order of the day for many employees across the world. What does this mean for those who find working from home difficult, along with all the distractions this set-up can bring?

If you're one of these people, the following tips to avoid distractions when working from home may come in handy.

Have a designated workspace

One of the biggest distractions when working from home is not being able to disconnect from family life. Indeed, researchers have found that over half of remote workers find it hard to separate home and work life.

To fully switch off from all of the distractions of home life, set up a designated workspace, such as in a spare room, rather than sitting and working at the kitchen table or on the sofa. Doing this means you can firmly close the door behind you, keeping distractions at bay.

Achieving a harmonious work-life balance can be very challenging when you're remote working, but there's a lot of information online helping you to find the perfect sweet spot.

Stick to a routine

Try to remember that although you're at home, this is work time, so stick to the hours you would normally work if you were at the office, and follow the same routines, such as lunch breaks. You might be tempted to put a wash on, start making tea early or watch a bit of TV, but these aren't the things you'd normally do at work, so make a clear distinction between what's work-related, and what isn't.

Leave household chores until the end of the day, and don't be tempted to think you can squeeze them in during a break time, as chances are you'll end up taking longer than you anticipated. Instead, use break times to relax and refresh your brain, so that you return to your desk raring to go.

Put your phone on silent

Mobile phones can be a constant source of distraction. It's estimated that smartphone users receive around 46 notifications each day. So unless you need your phone for work, put it on silent to ensure you can get work done without your phone constantly pinging. Many modern smartphones have ‘do not disturb’ features built in, which means any notifications will be delivered quietly when the function is switched on.

Organise childcare
Juggling work and looking after kids at the same time can prove very challenging, and even if you manage to keep them occupied, you'll never fully switch into work mode. Therefore, make sure that all of your childcare needs are fully catered for on those days when you need to work from home so that you can concentrate fully on the task at hand.

Whether you're considering working from home or would like to get back to the office, take a look at the opportunities on Jobhop.

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