Ciprian Sutu

Tips for Staying Focused and Productive While Working from Home

Working from home can be a dream come true for many people. You get to work in your pajamas, skip the commute, and have all the snacks you want.  

But as great as it may seem, working from home can also be a real challenge when it comes to staying focused and productive. 

One of the biggest challenges that I and most of the people face when working from home is distractions. When you're in your own environment, it can be easy to get distracted by things like the TV, social media, or household chores that need to be done.  

And let's be honest, who hasn't taken a quick nap or caught up on a favorite TV show during work hours? 

To combat these distractions, it's important to create a designated workspace. This doesn't mean you have to have a full home office, but it does mean finding a space that's free from distractions and comfortable enough for you to work in for hours at a time. This could be a corner of your living room, a spare bedroom, or even just a desk in your bedroom. 

But also, you could take it to another level, by building your “work cave”. That’s what I did. I divided my space with a room that it’s only for work. But, in the same time, I designed it in my way, an environment that I enjoy staying in. A comfortable coach, for the times when I want to just write content, a TV with an Xbox to relax sometimes, a coffee machine also is essential for those lazy mornings, and of course, my play yard: the desk. 

Another important aspect of staying productive while working from home that I faced is sticking to a schedule. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you can sleep in until noon and work whenever you feel like it. And I don’t say that you can’t work at night, or when you feel like it, but remember, we talk about how to maximize your productivity, not about what you enjoy doing. Also, remember that the percentage of people that are awake in the morning is far more than people who work at night. You don’t want to lose the chance to sell something to these people, or to contact them.  

Stick to a schedule that creates the perfect environment for your target, the one that cares about your health too. Make sure to take breaks throughout the day to recharge, you are not a robot to work 24/7.  

Eliminating distractions is also key to staying productive while working from home (this one was the hardest thing for me). This means turning off your phone, closing your email, and focusing on the task at hand.  

It can also mean communicating with your family or roommates about your work schedule, so they know not to disturb you during certain hours. When I started working from home, I was living at my parents' house. And the fact that my mom never understood that working from home is still work, pissed me off every time. She would always ask me to do things, wanted to stay in my room to talk with me, and a lot more things that were distracting me. 

Finally, it's important to take care of yourself when working from home. This means taking breaks throughout the day to stretch, move around, and take care of your mental health. Don't forget to eat healthy and stay hydrated. 

Also, take time for your social life. You don’t want to become antisocial, don’t you? And sometimes, working from home is the best way to become like that. You get to speak with people only about work, and that’s it. You must stay happy too if you want to be productive, your mental health matters the most.  

It's important to remember that working from home can be a real challenge, but with the right mindset and habits, it can also be a great opportunity. Creating a routine and sticking to it, eliminating distractions, and taking care of yourself are all important steps to staying focused and productive while working from home.  

I have to go now, my mother still doesn’t understand that I work, and she calls me. Brb, but you go ahead, put on your favorite pajamas, grab a snack, and get to work!