Picture this: no commute, no in-person meetings, and no dressing up! Feels like a dream, right? Except it’s not a dream, it’s stone-cold reality. We all want to be productive over the course of our workday. But the sad truth is that personal priorities do get in the way. According to Harvard Business Review, “most focused and effective remote workers set up boundaries for themselves so that they can actually get work done.” The good news is that there are multiple solutions to prevent distractions and disruptions during working hours. Let’s dive in!
Set up a Workspace
Environment matters. Try your level best to work from a desk or a table so that it feels like you’re in an office environment. You need a chair with proper back support so that you can stay focused and productive. According to Wall Street Journal, “Any kind of pain, stiffness or other symptoms is a distraction from being able to perform our work.” Avoid working from the bed. Working from the bed can cause a person to feel lazy and demotivated to work at all. The bed should only be associated with sleep and relaxation. For this reason, the bedroom is off-limits for an office space.
Have a Designated Schedule
A schedule motivates you to maintain a disciplined routine. Every working individual needs structure. Ensure you’re not overworking yourself with too many meetings. Choose a set of working hours that fits your energy and mental health. Maintaining a schedule keeps you accountable for your deadlines and responsibilities. It’s almost as if your phone is watching you like a hawk at the workplace for you to stay focused and get your assignments done. Attempting to create a routine for the busy parts of your day will allow you to procrastinate on your freedom which will help you focus on what’s more important.
Set Boundaries
Working from home doesn’t mean distractions don’t exist. When you’re working at home, it is imperative for you to set boundaries with the people around you. According to Harvard Business Review, “you need to explain to friends, family, and other acquaintances that the days you’re working remotely aren’t opportunities for non-work-related activities.” Friends and family will always be a distraction during the course of a workday. As a working individual, it is crucial for you to create and enforce boundaries for yourself. For example, if you are scheduled for a meeting at noon, you can tell your spouse or your roommate that you will be occupied at that time and will only be free after that. In these types of scenarios, it is a good idea to be away from the common areas so that you can peacefully attend to your responsibilities.
Schedule Breaks
Since our eyes are mostly glued to a computer screen, we all need a break from time to time. These breaks could be as simple as cooking meals and attending to other personal obligations. According to Forbes, “The longer you work without a break, the harder it becomes to focus.” Your brain needs time to unwind and refocus on other things in life aside from work. There is no reason for you to be hard on yourself if you simply cannot focus on the task at hand. This is what breaks are meant for. Schedule breaks to check in with yourself and the people around you. It will give you the chance to improve your concentration later on.
Stop Half-Focusing
Ever feel like you’re zoning out during a Zoom meeting? This could happen through multi-tasking or just simply feeling sleepy and lazy. This is what’s called half-focusing and it is the enemy of a working individual. It is imperative to give your full, undivided attention to any project/task you are focusing on. Multi-tasking can only get you so far. It’s very rare for someone to be successful at multi-tasking. By focusing on one task at a time, you will be able to get it done fast and out of the way at a more efficient pace.
Gauging Employee Experience with PxidaEX
It takes an effort to have the ability to stay focused and productive in the workplace. Want to find out how to make it better for your employees? PxidaEX is the perfect tool for you! PxidaEX can help you create surveys to gather information about the level of productivity for your employees and how your organization can help support and improve that through work culture. Try it for your teams today!