How to Stay Productive While Working From Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has been unfolding for about a year at this point, and you may have gotten used to working from home.

For some people, it’s easier to stay productive in their own space—but for others, productivity is a struggle when work and home aren’t physically separated. If you’re caring for kids full-time while trying to work, that can make things even harder.

If you’ve found your productivity slipping in the past few months, you’re not alone. Here are some tips for better focus under less-than-ideal conditions.

First, when all else fails, use headphones.

Under ideal circumstances, you’d have a separate room you can use as an office—a room with a door that closes. And everyone in your household would respect your work time and never knock on that door unless it was an emergency. But we’re not living in an ideal world.

Many people struggle working from home because they don’t have a dedicated space, and because they’re frequently interrupted. If you don’t have your own space, you can create your own mental space for work by putting on headphones.

Invest in a pair of good noise-canceling headphones. Create your own separate “room” by turning on a podcast, music, white noise—whatever works best to block out distractions. And ask your family not to interrupt you while your headphones are on unless it’s a real emergency.

It might not be as good as a separate office with a closing door, but it’s a start.

Second, invest in an ergonomic chair. You might have been able to get away with working all day on the couch, slumped on your bed, or seated at the kitchen table for a few weeks or even a few months—but after a while, your body will feel the strain. And that can affect your concentration.

Many workplaces have ergonomic seating, but since you’re not in the office, you may need to invest in your own ergonomic furniture. These can be expensive, but your health and comfort are worth it—and your workplace may even help you buy it.

Finally, take regular breaks. It’s quite possible that you took breaks at work as part of your routine—perhaps without realizing it. That mid-morning walk to the coffee machine, with a stop to talk to a friend on the way back—that’s a routine that helps you refocus and clear your mind.

Taking breaks at home can also help bring you the same benefits. Consider taking a walk at lunchtime, planning stretch breaks every few hours, or even building a yoga break into your workday. Nobody cares if you work in yoga pants these days, so you might as well take advantage.

It’s not always easy to maintain focus while working from home. Take breaks, invest in ergonomic seating, and get some good, noise-canceling headphones if you don’t have a separate space—and chances are your focus and productivity will improve.

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