Working from home has its perks – no commute, the ability to do your laundry at lunch, and, of course, snuggles from your pet – but it’s also notorious for the endless distractions that present themselves throughout the working day. Here are some of the top work-from-home distractions and our tips for handling them.
Social Media and Phone Usage
Phones are a fact of life, but when there’s no one around to hold us accountable for our phone usage, spending valuable work time browsing, scrolling, or texting is easy. If you find it hard to resist the siren call of your phone, set it to “Do Not Disturb” during your busy hours, put it away in a drawer, or use a productivity app such as Forest to block common time-wasting sites. You might win back as much as 45 minutes spent on social media!
Chores and Life Admin
The administrative parts of life are never-ending. When you work from home, it’s easy to find yourself booking appointments or doing some spot cleaning instead of setting in to make that big deadline. While having the flexibility to get life stuff out of the way is one of the perks of work-from-home life, ensure it doesn’t take over your whole day. Block out time for those essential phone calls or urgent tasks so that you can knock them all out at once.
Loved Ones (Human and Otherwise)
Sharing a workspace with family or pets is a unique challenge. Your partner wants to stop by to chat, your kids want you to come and play, and your dog can never have too many belly rubs. Having your own workspace with a door that closes can help define your “work” hours instead of your home ones. Putting up a wall calendar in a common area with any upcoming meetings will also help everyone get on the same page about when extra quiet is needed. Finally, be sure to carve out some time for Fido on your lunch break – the perfect time for a walk – and make sure that friends who want to “catch up for coffee” are aware that being at home doesn’t always mean being available.
Loss Of Routine
Surprisingly, this is a major distraction. If you don’t feel like you’re “at work,” it’s too easy to waste valuable work time. Recreate your work routine at home by putting on actual work clothes, committing to being at your desk from 9-5, and setting yourself up to succeed with “work” music, task lists, and time trackers like Pomodoro. This will help you draw a line between work and home life so that you can more easily stay on track. Some people find that an “accountability buddy” helps keep them in that work mindset, so try coworking with a friend and see if that works for you.
Get the Flexibility of Home with the Perks Of The Office At W Executive Suites
If you’ve tried it all and the distractions are winning, explore the possibilities of a calm, productive workspace at W Executive Suites! With four thoughtfully located addresses in West Palm Beach, Stuart, and St. Lucie, we’re the ideal option for anyone seeking a professionally appointed workspace designed to let you work on your own terms. Take advantage of flexible hours, admin support, package and mail handling, and a great community of go-getters – all while avoiding the distractions of home. To arrange a tour, get in touch!
