10 ways how to stay focused while working from home

Madina Baikulova

5 mins read

Remote work is here to stay. And although there are many benefits to remote employment, there is a concern about how to avoid distractions while spending time at home.

At Happeo, we have helped businesses operate successful remote work strategies for years. We understand the pros and cons of working in a digital workspace and are happy to share these insights with you.

One of the main motivations for remote work is to spend more time at home and less time commuting to the office. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted. Between family obligations and household chores, some individuals don’t know how to balance their personal life with their work time. Below are some recommendations how to stay focused while working from home.

10 ways how to stay focused while working from home

1. Create a home office
   Many modern offices are designed to maximize employee productivity, but our homes lack these innovations. Without a physical boundary like an office or cubicle, it’s tempting to work from the living room couch. Having a dedicated area to work remotely gives people a comfortable and quiet space to work on tasks and make phone or video calls. Ideally, workers should make use of a spare room with a door to reduce noise.

2. Schedule work with to-do lists
   Apps like Google Calendar can help remote workers schedule a set time to work on tasks. If you are already taking advantage of Google collaboration tools and Google intranet solutions, you can use Google Calendar to create a work schedule and set important reminders. Time blocking allows users to set aside periods of time to work on specific projects.

3. Set designated work hours
   Some friends and family members assume that working from home means you have a lot of time for frequent lunch or coffee breaks. This is why remote workers need to learn how to set boundaries. Once you have your workday planned out, do your best to stick with it.

4. Stay connected with colleagues
   One of the biggest problems remote workers face is staying connected with colleagues and team members. Social intranet solutions and video conferencing applications are among the best replacements for in-person meetings. However, just because remote teams can communicate at any time, doesn’t mean this is always productive.

5. Manage your devices
   Smartphones and other devices can cause some serious distractions. To reduce distractions, employees may want to block access to certain websites during the workday.

6. Put background music for concentration
   Music has the power to sharpen your focus and improve your mood while working. Listening to soft background music can help employees engage in tasks while blocking out distracting noise.

7. Work outside the home
   Sometimes, remote workers find it difficult to stay on task. Getting out of the house keeps employees energized by giving them a new environment to work in. Coffee shops and co-working spaces can provide areas for remote employees to work if they don’t feel like being alone.

8. Get dressed up
   The simple act of getting dressed for work allows individuals to transition from their personal life into "work mode." Getting dressed properly can help ensure professionalism during video calls.

9. Use the right tools for remote work
   Wifi, cloud storage, and other digital tools are essential for sustainable remote work. A shared company remote intranet software allows people to access files, share updates, and collaborate on projects in real-time.

10. Take a break
    It’s normal to feel stressed when working from home. Taking small scheduled breaks to refresh can help protect your work-life balance.

When working from home, there are a number of ways to stay focused and deal with distractions. Take some time to find the right methods that work for you.