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Gizem Nur Keskin
How do you deal with distractions while working from home?
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Honestly, the distractions around the house are my biggest nightmare while working from home. Even though I am a remote worker, I try to go out and work in coffee shops, and libraries as much as possible so that I am much more disciplined. What about you?
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Richard Gao
What type of distractions are you dealing with? Phone notifs and computer notifs can just be blocked, but kids and pets are trickier :) If it's the former, there's certain apps you can download that make it harder to access distracting websites and apps.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@richard_gao2 It's my cats, having my bed beside my desk...
Aaron O'Leary
I feel distractions come because of a clouded mind, so I do things that uncloud my mind like walking, cooking, reading etc. When I have a clear mind I can focus, couple that with a Pomodoro timer also.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@aaronoleary I really love reading and walking but these days I seem to cannot find or create time to do what I like. Do you have any suggestions for that?
Anoir Houmou
It's very hard to be distracted when you have goals to complete by the end of each day, I'd suggest creating a to do list to keep yourself motivated
Gizem Nur Keskin
@anoirhoumou Thank you for your suggestion, Anoir! Writing my tasks really helps most of the time but some other times it also doesn't do the trick for me :(
Hemant Warier
Working from home can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. On one hand, it offers flexibility and the ability to create a comfortable working environment. On the other hand, it can be a breeding ground for distractions that can affect productivity. Here are some tips that I personally use to deal with distractions while working from home: 1. Create a dedicated workspace: Having a specific area designated for work can help to separate the professional and personal aspects of your life. 2. Set boundaries: Let your friends and family know when you are working and when you are available to interact with them. 3. Eliminate distractions: Identify what distracts you and eliminate it. This can mean closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, turning off your phone, or finding a quieter place to work. 4. Prioritise your tasks: Make a list of what needs to be done and prioritise your tasks for the day. This will help you stay focused and prevent getting sidetracked. 5. Take breaks: It is important to take regular breaks to recharge and refresh your mind. Use this time to step away from your work, stretch, and do something you enjoy. 6. Lastly, my personal favourite : Make use of time management tools and apps like Forest, which helps to keep the track of time and stay away from phone and other distractions. By implementing these tips and finding what works best for you, you can reduce distractions and increase productivity while working from home. Remember to be kind to yourself and don't stress over perfection, because we all have our off days.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@hemantwarier Thank you for taking the time to write everything in detail, Hemant! Will try to implement them into my routine for sure!
R. S. Mills
@hemantwarier Agreed! I read a great book on Time Management recently. Check out, Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman!
Moon
Distractions can definitely be a challenge when working from home, especially when you're trying to stay focused and productive. I think it's great that you're making an effort to work outside of your home in order to maintain discipline. Sometimes a change of scenery can make all the difference in terms of motivation and focus. Have you found that working in coffee shops and libraries helps you to be more productive?
Gizem Nur Keskin
@moon10 Yes! Coffee shops and libraries do the job for me but I want to find a way in my home environment that I never need to go out to get some work done!
Moon
@gizemnurkeskin To achieve this, consider the following tips: 1. Choose a quiet and private room or area for your home office. 2. Make sure the space has good lighting and is well-ventilated. 3. Set up a comfortable chair and a desk that is at the right height for you. 4. Keep the space clutter-free and organized. 5. Use noise-cancelling headphones or white noise machine to eliminate background noise 6. Make sure you have the right technology and tools to do your job, such as a computer, printer, and internet access. By following these tips, you can create a space that is conducive to productivity and allows you to stay focused and motivated. I think this will help you a lot! If you have any other questions plz don't hesitate to ask!
Brian Regan
I like being able to go to the office. I don't go in 5 days a week, because some days I do get more work done from home, but having the option is a great way to separate work and personal life.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@brian_regan I really love the office atmosphere but I am a remote worker and my office is in another city. So, I try to go to the coffee shops and libraries to kind of create the atmosphere! Hybrid is the best I believe!
Mateo Caño
@brian_regan agree! having flexibility is the best. Do you rent the office long-term or on a flexible basis?
Joseph Abraham
Here's how I deal with it: 1. I've established a specific workspace and room 2. Communicate a lot with my family 3. Set time for work and family 4. Celebrate wins as a family
Ishwar Jha
For me working from home was blessings until I was comfortable and convinced about power naps, procrastinating and living with no goals in mind. Recently, I came to "wake up Ishwar" realisation and immediately moved to a office. I don't think I was so happy since I started working from home.
Mateo Caño
@ishwarjha did you rent a long-term office or just flexible terms (month-by-month)?
Sanjay Somashekar
I'll be checking out the comments to see how people are dealing with this. The distractions are real, but I feel that sometimes I'll be the most productive when I sit for a few hours straight early in the morning and deal with the work I do! Rest of the day I'd just focus on getting small tasks done.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@sanjay_somashekar When you say "early", are you talking about early-early- like 5 am?
Eddie Forson
Make sure you have a room or space where you only focus on work. We are lucky enough to have a small spare room which I have turned into an office. When the door is closed it indicates to my partner that I am in "work mode". Another thing you should do is put your phone away. Phones are a massive instrument of distraction. Leave it in a separate room from where you are so that it is not within your reach. I tend to timebox my work using techniques like Pomodoro. I set clear goals that I strive to complete within the timebox. Hope it helps :).
Gizem Nur Keskin
@ed_forson Would love to have a separate working space 🥲Thank you for the tips, Eddie!
Lucas Oliveira
I don't really, haha. This start of 2023 it's been overwhelming with things to do, and being distracted is basically part of it. I really need to organize my agenda, and I'll look for Notion or another productivity application to do it.
Utkarsh Gupta
I have tried multiple ways to effectively try and get some "Deep Work" done, including the widely proclaimed Pomodoros! IMHO, the more you try to avoid distractions, the more you get distracted by the minutest of things! The best way is to make distractions part of your daily life. That way, you get to stay engrossed in what's most important to you for most of your productive time and get back to it every now and then with a renewed sense of vigor. Doing this has earned me the tag of a workaholic but I have been able to manage my personal and professional life to a decent extent! Do share what you feel about this.
Rebecca Tany
I'm also a remote worker, it's very important to have a private working environment, it can help me keep focused. And I also installed a large computer screen to make the working environment more comfortable. Of course, I also love to go out to work in coffee shops.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@rebeccatany I wish I had a separate working environment!
Gizem Nur Keskin
@rebeccatany @lydia_cohen Does it really make a difference?
Mateo Caño
@rebeccatany can you get focused working in coffee shops? They were too noisy and uncomfortable the times I tried to work from there. What about renting a small space? too expensive?
Rebecca Tany
@mateo_cano I only work in coffee shops when I want to have a relax, so the noisy is OK for me. Renting a small space is also expensive, I will choose working in my room.
Mateo Caño
@rebeccatany yeap, most of the spaces are too expensive. Do you generally go to the same coffee shop?
Ágh Helmut
My most important rules: - turn off notifications while working - only focus on one thing at a time and the goal of the task should be measurable to clearly know when it's done - pomodoro helps me stay focused longer - There is no interaction with people until tasks are done
daniel roy
I've been working remotely for around 5 years and the last 2 years is the hardest time because I got married ( I live with my wife & fur boy) and get more homework than before. Here are two ways how I handle - wake up earlier It gives me more time to do some homework - plan everything before each night usually i already plan and prepare everything first, for example if tmr I've a meeting then I will create a notes about the detail of meeting so tmr it help me to work faster From my perspective, it's not possible to clean the distractions but we can create a better framework to make distraction painless.
Gizem Nur Keskin
@daniel_roy93 You get my point! Having someone around and pets is great but sometimes it makes it harder for me to focus on the task at hand! I will try to implement your suggestions into my daily routine, thank you, Daniel!
R. S. Mills
@daniel_roy93 I treat the gym the same way! I have to knock it out early! It sets up my whole day, but finding a private space and making time amidst the chaos is also needed.
Harshvardhan Mishra
Setting up boundaries with your loved one, and asking for time for focussed work. Also brain.fm has been working great to keep me focussed lately.
HAROON Khan
I usually try to create a work environment that is free of distractions. That means setting up my desk in an area with minimal noise and clutter, and avoiding having the television or any other potential sources of distraction nearby. I like to set aside specific blocks of time for breaks so I can step away from work and refocus on what needs to be done. Taking frequent breaks helps me stay focused throughout the day.
I go out :) It's impossible to avoid distractions when you have 2 cats and 2 dogs
Mateo Caño
@alara_akcasiz to an office or co-working space?
Kunal Rajelli
Add ur favourite background music(on loop), write down your daily goals on a sticky note; keep it somewhere its always visible. Headphones on. Gets you into that work loop.
Joanne Hurley
I get distracted just as much at the office tbh. I think a dedicated workspace helps. Breaking up the day with exercise or walks. Appreciating that its better than commuting and having to make it work as you have a better life is a big motivator.