Hi all, we have discussed a number of times the benefits of working at home and the distractions, here, here, here, here, and here.
What I am looking for is help from all of you, the readers of Home Office Warrior. I would like to take all of the comments you leave on this post and turn it into a post based on all of your tips. I am looking for a minimum of 10.
So, what are your tips for dealing with the distractions of working at home?
Categories: Home Office, Tips for Working at Home
March 26, 2008
11 Comments
Buy and work in a garden office so that you’re in a separate building well way from the fridge, television, dog, children, etc.
I just saw this blog over at ProBlogger and had to rush over. I am a self-employed gal struggling with the work-from-home environment, and this is a GREAT question. Unfortunately, I have no tips - I just need answers on how to stay focused. As an avid reader, there is no END to the amount of daily distractions for me, and being new to the blogging world (I now have two!) I have found there is so much new stuff I want to know about, it’s hard not to study, research, and communicate with other like minds all day. But I have to get back to work now!
Since I have an office, I’m technically not a home office warrior, but maybe Grant will let me post this anyway.
I use a virtual PBX for my phone. I typically don’t take incoming calls unless I expect a specific call. Instead, I return calls during certain times of day that I’ve blocked out for that purpose. This allows me to focus on the matter I’m working without distraction.
Have separate work time vs. family & personal time. If you work here and there all throughout the day, you’re just begging for distractions. You’re never really focused on work OR the family. But if you discipline yourself to have actual work hours, you can firewall that time better. And it’s much easier to ask the spouse and kids to not distract you during work time, if they know that you’ll have dedicated time for them later.
If friends call on the phone, say you’re about to get onto a work call and that you’ll phone them back that evening. Same goes for friends/neighbours who pop round.
Take a break when you finish a task. Get up, make a coffee and if you want to put on a load of washing or unpack the dishwasher, do it, but just do that and then head back to work.
I find the more work I have to do and the less time I have to do it in, the more productive I am. If I’m under less pressure, I’m more prone to be distracted by a billion things.
Have a designated room/place in your home for work - try not to work in the living room in front of the TV.
Try to have a door or other separator on your designated work space so that when it’s work time you can shut out the house and when it’s home time you can shut out the job.
Dress for work even though you’re working at home. If you look like you’re going to work you’ll feel like you’re going to work.
-Ben-
I have a few ideas, some which apply to any job and some which are unique to home office:
1. Turn off all phones - if you have a deadline, just turn off your phones, both your home line and home office line. They are distracting. And if you don’t need to work online, get off the grid so that you don’t go back and forth between email and your work.
2. Get up early to get the chores out of the way. Even if I have huge piles of laundry, I will only run them at 5:30 am or at night during the work week.
3. Leave the house. Sometimes, going out of the house is the best way to avoid distraction and get back on track. I like the Panera because it has free wireless, but a Starbucks or even public library work just as well.
The only time I really accomplish anything without distraction is while my son is in school or after he’s gone to bed. During the work day I turn off the phones. But other than that my day is highly fragmented and I work in short but effective bursts. My office is a completely private room which I (and my entire family, unfortunately) love to be in because it’s so comfortable and cozy. During the work day I only do chores as a ‘break’ from work, to get up and stretch. They manage to get done. And take an actual lunch to get away from your work and actually refresh and clear your mind.
Use distractions to your advantage. When I am really focussed I need to get up from my desk regularly. I find putting on a load of washing or unstacking the dishwasher is a great way to collect my thoughts. In the office when I do this I end up in a conversation about something else and lose focus.
I can work through any distraction when I want to. When I am in the ‘zone’. If I am not there, anything - a bus going by, a smudge on my desk - anything will distract me. So then it comes down to ways to get in the ‘zone’. That I have not figured out. It happens by accident.
I only answer my business phone line during my regular work hours. I figure those personal calls would be going to voicemail if I worked outside my home office and it’s important that I not get sidetracked by personal things while working. If it’s an emergency my family knows to call my cell.
Also, I try to consistently get up early and get dressed for work, business casual, jeans allowed. No sweats or pajamas unless I’ve designated it ‘dress down’ day. For me, this puts me in a ‘business mood’ and allows me to separate myself from all of the household things that need to be done.
Great tips so far. Lets keep them coming!!!!!!