5 Tips for improving focus and productivity when working from home
There are a lot of distractions when you work from home – a noisy family, the TV and notifications coming out of your ears. It’s easy to lose focus and productivity can suffer as a result. The good news is, there are a few simple things you can do that will make a huge difference. Here are 5 tips to help you improve your focus and be more productive when working from home.
Turn off Notifications
Take away all those pesky notifications. You’d be surprised by how much one notification can affect your productivity. If you want to achieve optimal focus and give yourself the best chance of achieving a flow state, eliminating these distractions is a must. Social media alerts, messages, emails, news updates – turn them ALL off! You’ll be amazed at how much more focused and in the zone you will get.
Set a daily schedule and stick to it as much as possible
If you’re looking for a tried-and-tested way to maximize productivity, then setting up and following a daily schedule is the way to go. Doing the same activities at nearly the same time every day helps you stay both organized and efficient. While nobody likes having their free time regimented and regulated, knowing roughly what needs to be accomplished from moment-to-moment can actually bring a sense of comfort. Plus, with a steady daily schedule in place, you’ll have more free time to enjoy yourself at the end of your work day. So if you want greater mental clarity and more satisfaction in life, crafting that perfect schedule is the best place to begin!
Aim to achieve a flow state
If you’ve ever experienced a flow state, then you know that it’s like no other feeling—it’s almost magical. This focused and almost meditative state is where creativity, productivity, and learning ability are at their peak. So what’s the best way to tap into this state? Well it can take some practice, but if you focus on something that you enjoy without being too hard or too trivial a task you can reach that magical sweet spot of just the right amount of input from your brain and – voila – the flow begins. Don’t forget to relax and enjoy the journey!
Eat healthy foods that provide sustained energy
Eating healthily isn’t just about looking good – it’s also about how you feel throughout the day. If you start your day with a sugary cereal or an energy drink, sure you’ll get a spike of energy but that won’t last you very long. Eventually, it will be gone leaving you to crash back down, leading you to reload on more sugar in order to feel energized again. On the other hand, if you start your morning off with a balanced breakfast that includes some protein and complex carbohydrates, your body is getting a better balance of what it needs giving you sustained energy throughout the day. By snacking on fruits and veggies in between meals, you’ll be able to keep your energy levels from dropping too low without having to rely on sugary snacks to give you spikes of energy followed by crashes. Eating healthily does take more time and effort up front than just grabbing processed junk food at every meal but I promise maintaining an energetic lifestyle throughout the day is worth it!
Read ‘Deep Work’ by Cal Newport
If you’re looking for more actionable steps for optimizing your efficiency, you need to check out Cal Newport’s book ‘Deep Work.’ It’s based on years of research and studies that show how setting aside dedicated time for uninterrupted focus can lead to better performance in any field. I’ve read this book myself, and it had a powerful impact on the way I approach my day. The strategies and tactics discussed in the book actually allow you to do more productive work in less time by honing in on being intentional with your working hours.
Give them a go
If you commit to implementing all five of these tips, you will see a dramatic increase in productivity. However even if you can do two or three, I am convinced that you will still see great results.