There are plenty of positives that come with working from home. You can save significant time not having to commute to a workspace, and you may have access to some tax benefits from working out of a home office, depending on your job and how you file your tax return. However, a poorly maintained home office can greatly reduce your productivity. Whether you have a workspace solely dedicated to your job, or you must share the space with others when you’re not on the clock, distractions in your workspace can prevent you from getting things done in a timely manner. Reducing these distractions can help you work more efficiently from your home.
Common home office distractions
- Personal phone – It may not be feasible to turn your phone off or keep it in a separate area during work, as you may wish to be accessible in case of emergencies. You can, however, take steps to reduce the time you spend on it. If you don’t have the discipline to stay away, consider installing an app that prevents you from using social media and other distracting apps during worktime.
- Clutter – A cluttery desk or workroom can require you to straighten up each day before you’re able to start working. Take some time to do a major cleanup and declutter of your workspace. Do a quick refresh each day or weekend for maintenance, so your workspace is always ready to use.
- Interruptions – One of the greatest distractions when working from home is interruptions from others in your household. Whether it’s your kids, spouse, or pets, dealing with others during worktime can significantly reduce how much you get done. Set boundaries with the humans in your life so they understand when you’re available and when you’re not. Disruptive pets may be distracted with a new toy, or if you’re faced with an important meeting or call, excluded from your work area when possible.
Working from home requires you to develop strategies that allow you to separate work from home. Distractions in your home workspace can keep you from meeting deadlines and greatly reduce your productivity. Eliminating distractions, or setting boundaries with those you share your home with, can help you stay on task, so you’re able to get your work done in a timely manner.
