Even while the office layout may have changed, there are still plenty of distractions. Some even contend that it's more difficult than ever to concentrate, especially when working in a place that was formerly your retreat.
Aside from internal deterrents, there are instances when we should be utterly focused and reach a deadline, yet other circumstances are beyond of our control. In a perfect world, we'll be able to complete our report quickly and without interruption from outside factors. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen very frequently or ever because you still have to interact with other people even though you're focused on doing your very own business at home. None of us is an island.
In the olden days, our coworkers and superiors were frequently the main interruptions. If you live with parents, a partner, pets, or kids, the same applies to a remote setup, albeit with a different cast of people. It was obvious that everyone in the workplace was there to work. On the other hand, they are hazy at home. Is it more important to finish your homework before doing your duties since your mother is waiting for you to do them, or vice versa?
Here are some strategies for making sure that people won't bother you while you work from home.
Let people know. Communicate.
Direct communication is the best approach to discourage people from wanting to communicate with you. You could turn off your Active status in Slack, Gmail, or other platforms, or set your online status to "Do Not Disturb."
Tell everyone in your group messages in advance that you're busy and ask them not to bother you. If you find this uncomfortable, add a little comedy to your "Do Not Disturb" message. If your manager is bothering you with another assignment, let them know and ask them to give you, say, at least two hours to complete your previous task.
You'll save time, avoid conflicts, and dispel uncertainties in the virtual workspace by being open and honest about what you're doing.
Practice saying no.
You can again practice communicating what you really feel when you know how to say NO. Set your priorities and decline if your roommate or friend asks to phone you for a noon conversation or invites you to the park.
A no is most likely a delayed yes, so after finishing your assignment, return to them and consider what they require from you. Communication is essential, forever and always. It just makes everything a lot easier!
Put on noise-cancelling headphones and lock the door.
Inform family and friends that you have a work assignment to complete. Sometimes, it's possible to communicate clearly without using words. Put on earbuds to let people know you're not accessible to converse.
Close your room's door. At your door, post a "Do Not Disturb" sign.
Going back to the original suggestion, it's one technique to keep others from bothering you at home. Make sure everyone is aware of one another's schedules. Put a cork board or magnetic dry erase board in full view of the entire family at home. This hopefully gives them the signal that you can't be disturbed.
Organize your workspace.
The presence of clutter in your workspace can also be a source of distraction. When you realize how much work you still have to complete, it is really distracting. Spend a short amount of time cleaning it up, and you'll end up saving more time overall. Install storage options to make maintaining a clean desk easier for you. For desk necessities, Flexispot offers storage solutions such as an Under Desk Drawer that you can attach to a desktop. It also carries standing desks with pull-out drawers. Mobile file cabinets are available for larger goods that need to be protected. They come with caster wheels so it's easier to move them around when you need anything.
Schedule check-ins, social media breaks, meal breaks, and other activities.
Being careful of your time is crucial per a study by the University of California, Irvine. It takes people 23 minutes to get back on track after becoming distracted. It's important to keep true to your scheduled time slots.
Use only 10 minutes of your time scrolling on Facebook if you say you'll only use 10. Do not use Facebook at all if you are not able to resist the temptation. You know yourself more than anyone else so be honest so you can stay disciplined.
Keep a record of interruptions every day.
By keeping a list of all your daily interruptions, you might help yourself become more self-aware. Write down who or what stopped you, the reason they did so, and then classify whether or not it was urgent and whether or not they actually needed your opinion. Your mind will become clearer after you write it down. By reviewing it at the day or week's end, you may evaluate your behavior and come up with ideas to break harmful habits.
Disable your alerts.
The temptation to abandon your essential activity when a sudden notice appears is great. Turn off all alerts from obtrusive apps like Instagram or Facebook Messenger to prevent this. Also available are Airdrop and Do Not Disturb modes for your phone. Set your phone so that it will only give you sound alerts when specific people contact you if you are concerned that you will miss crucial or urgent calls.
Work effectively or ahead of time.
One piece of advice is to work quickly or in front of everyone else so that you can join them when they aren't working since you have the time. When you are done with work when folks aren't on their home computers yet, chances are you'll finish early and would have plenty of time free once they're clocked in. Remote work typically has flexible hours.
It has been demonstrated that standing desks increase productivity and efficiency in your home office. It enables you to stand up straighter and work while being fully focused. Standing desks that may be adjusted in height are widely available from Flexispot.
