According to CareerBuilder, a whopping 80% of employees believe that remote work reduces distractions.

But, let’s be honest for a second. Do you really spend every minute of your shift doing your best work? Is your home office 100% distraction-free? Or, if you are a company leader—are you completely confident your employees are totally devoted to their tasks when working remotely?

Even the best of us can fail once in a while. According to Upgraded Points:

• 75% of remote workers report spending some time on social media instead of working
• 70% also shop online
• 53% stream entertaining content
• 72% are AFK doing chores some part of the time…the list goes on.

Thankfully, many employees are responsible. 65% of them report staying late to make up for the lost time during the day. Yet this rhythm can easily lead to burnout and a dip in a company’s overall productivity.

To prevent more serious issues, here are some simple actionable tips you can try or, as a leader, recommend to your employees.

1. Rely on Monitoring Software for PC

Although it may seem strange, remote monitoring software can be your friend. If your company uses one of these tools, utilize the data it collects about yourself.

Track how much time you waste and on which activities. Monitor your own website and app usage to gain more awareness of your habits.

With this info, you can better organize your time and tackle work-related distractions.

Remember, these tools track your work day and provide proof of your productivity. This is how they can help you lose the habit of overcompensating just because you work remotely.

2. Try a Time Management Technique

One of the most popular time management techniques is the Pomodoro Technique. It involves working intensely for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. After four cycles, you take a longer break of 20-30 minutes. A variation involves 55-minute work periods, followed by 10-minute breaks.

There is also a Draugiem Group’s variation of Pomodoro: you work for 52 minutes and rest for 

Other effective methods include:

• Time Blocking: Plan your day in such a way to group similar activities to avoid constant interruptions.
• Eat That Frog: Do the most demanding task first thing in the morning, so everything else seems easier.

3. Strive to Stay Connected 

Staying connected with colleagues is essential for maintaining commitment and engagement, and preventing feelings of isolation. Tech Ai It also supports emotional, physical, and cognitive well-being, even for introverts.

Maintain regular communication through meetings, check-ins, and virtual coffee breaks. Still, even with regular online meetings, it might be beneficial to occasionally work from the office to foster a sense of community.

4. Put All Non-Essential Apps to “Do Not Disturb”

The majority of us are addicted to our phones. Apps are constantly bombarding us with social media updates, news, and messages. Working from home means less supervision, which makes it easier for us to start using our phones more frequently.

This lack of self-control is even more pronounced when you are stressed. When you get a notification at that moment, it’s a perfect excuse not to deal with the problem at hand.

Luckily, your phone has a do-not-disturb mode. So, use it! Include all apps that are not essential for your work and apply this setting to all workdays during your work hours.

5. Set Up Your Workspace

To maintain focus and fight distractions, you first need to discipline yourself. By now, you’ve likely tried to work from your sofa or bed. You also must have realized that it leads nowhere.

Creating a dedicated workspace can do wonders for maintaining productivity when working from home. You don’t need a separate room. You can set up a workstation in one corner of your space.

What you do need to have is a desk, a table, or even a folding version of these. Ensure the space is ergonomic, with good back support and a monitor at eye level to avoid health issues.

This mental separation enhances focus and encourages a professional atmosphere.

6. Let Light in

Open the curtains first thing in the morning. Letting in natural light can help you wake up more quickly since it enhances mood and energy levels.

Unlike artificial light, sunlight has also been shown to boost productivity. Studies indicate that workers with access to natural light are up to 70% more productive. So, make sure to let the sunshine in during your WFH workday.

7. Set Clear Boundaries

Probably the worst inconvenience when working from home are the people who don’t get the concept. For example, there are elderly members of the family who see you’re at home and think you must be available. There are also kids, friendly neighbors, etc.

To replicate the professional office environment at home, you need to be clear with everyone. Inform your family members about your work hours and be firm—you are not available at those times. Talk to all your frequent visitors. Explain that you are working from home, but that doesn’t mean you can tend to guests around the clock. Sometimes, your important meeting might coincide with a due delivery date. Simply leave a message to the courier asking them not to ring the doorbell and leave instructions for the package.

Conclusion

Like any work environment, home office can become riddled with distractions. It happens when you aren’t looking. Remember, poor focus and constant making up for lost time until complete burnout is not an inevitable path.

Stay alert, track your habits and productivity, and set clear boundaries for both yourself and others. This sort of discipline can make WFH productivity levels skyrocket again.

Stay in touch to get more news & updates on Internalinsider.com!