Do You Have Any Tips For Staying Focused While Working From Home?

People who work in traditional offices often think that people who work from home have it so easy–you can wear your pajamas to work, your “commute” is about a minute and a half walk (from the bedroom to your home office), and you can schedule your work day around your regular life.

It all sounds great, and it is, but those of us who work from home know that there are special challenges that accompany the privilege of working virtually.

People who work from home are surrounded by distractions that people in traditional office jobs would get to escape. The laundry, the television, your cozy comfy bed, your dog barking, your roommates or spouse popping in to ask questions of you, and any noise that is happening around the house. If you have children, then you also have special challenges in the summer time when they’re home all day.

At home workers need to come up with some strategies that will protect their work time and help them focus when surrounded by distractions. This article is going to cover some tips that will hopefully help you stay focused while working from home…

Work In 50 Minute Periods

I use a technique called “timeboxing” in which I take a 50 minute stretch of time and devote it to one particular project. During that time, the door is close, the phone is going to voicemail, Twitter and Facebook are closed, and as best I can I focus all of my attention on one project.

The 50 minute segment is usually long enough to get an article first draft completed, and then pick it up a few day later to review it. This timeboxing technique helps tremendously, breaking up the day into 50 minute stretches of uninterrupted work.

Don’t Let Email Control Your Life

If you don’t put some limitations on your email, it can distract you throughout the day with the constant influx of new messages begging for your attention. Decide what is the longest period of time that you can go without checking email and still be on top of your work.

I check mine every two days or so, and I just scan the messages in between in case anything urgent needs my attention.

I schedule a work session for checking and answering emails, and I give myself a certain amount of time to get that work done. The time restriction makes you work faster, and you’ll find that you’re saving a lot of time by handling a bunch of emails at one sitting rather than one here and one there.

Let Your Phone Go To Voicemail

If you’re in one of your protected work times (one of those 50 minute stretches) let your phone go to voicemail (make the ringer be silent too), and just check all of your voicemails at a time that is more convenient to you.

If your phone is a landline and you have an answering machine, move the answering machine into another room, or turn the volume off so that you don’t get distracted when a message comes in.

Working With Children In The House

It really helps to have a dedicated work space where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of family life. When I go into my office and close the door, the kids know not to disturb me unless there’s a real emergency.

It’s important to communicate with your spouse and your kids as to how they can respect your work time, as it’s way too easy have a very blurry line between work and pleasure. Really, your family won’t know that they’re making it hard for you to concentrate unless you tell them.

So, my office is off limits (unless there’s a real emergency) for certain periods during the day, but in between my work windows I come out to spend time with my kids and also relieve my wife for a little.

As far as the noise goes–putting on headphones and listening to the iPod helps!

Working for home is truly a privilege and a pleasure, but it’s crucial to create some structure to your day and boundaries on your work time. Some basic communication with your spouse, children, or roommates is extremely helpful in getting the cooperation of others in the house. It helps you get your work done faster, so you can rejoin your family and friends sooner!

Now let me ask you–what are your tips for staying focused when working from home?

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