5 Tips to Stay Focused While Working at Home

Netflix is calling, and you still have tomorrow’s work to do. You can have just one more episode, right? How about sleeping a little longer since it’s cold outside and you don’t have to commute? And, before you know it, half the day is gone. Today, we’re going to discuss five tips to stay focused while working at home.

We’ve all been there. It’s 2 p.m., and you’re struggling to focus on your work. Maybe you’re working from home, or you’re just having an off day. Either way, it’s tough to stay motivated when you’re not in the office.

When you work from home, it’s easy to get sidetracked and push off tasks until later. But, if you want to be successful, you need to find ways to stay motivated and accountable, even when there’s no one looking over your shoulder. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track.

Tip #1 – Set Realistic Goals for Each Day and Week to Stay Focused

It’s easier to stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked when you have a clear idea of what you need to accomplish each day. You can start your day by making a list of tasks for the day or the whole week and sticking to it as best as possible.

If you find yourself getting off track, take a step back and reevaluate your goals. Are they realistic? Do you need to adjust them? Sometimes, we set too lofty goals for ourselves, which can lead to us feeling more overwhelmed and stressed.

Many work-from-home people use Asana or Trello to help with goal setting and task management. These tools are free and can help you keep track of your progress and deadlines.

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Tip #2 – Find a Work Schedule That Works for You to Stay Focused

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to finding a work schedule that works for you. Some people prefer to start their day early and get most of their work done in the morning, while others find that they’re more productive in the evening.

Try out different schedules and see what works best for you. And, if you can’t seem to stick to a plan, be flexible and try something new.

You might also want to consider batching your work. Batching is when you group similar tasks and work on them simultaneously. For example, if you have a few writing tasks, you can batch them together and work on them for a couple of hours instead of spreading them out throughout the day.

The important thing is finding a schedule that helps you be productive and stick to it as best as possible.

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5 Tips to Stay Focused While Working at Home

Tip #3 – Break Up Your Day into Smaller Chunks to Stay Focused

It can be overwhelming when you have a lot of work to do. And, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s easy to avoid doing anything at all.

One way to combat this is by breaking up your day into smaller chunks. Dedicate a certain amount of time to each task, and then take a break. This will help you avoid burnout and stay focused on the task.

You can also use the Pomodoro Technique to help you break up your day and work more efficiently. You work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break with this technique. After 4 Pomodoros, you take a longer break of 20-30 minutes.

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Tip #4 – Find an Accountability Partner to Stay Focused

If you’re struggling to stay on track, it might help to find someone who can hold you accountable. This could be a coworker, friend, or family member. Set up weekly check-ins with your accountability partner to discuss your goals and progress. And, if you need help staying motivated, ask them for encouragement and support.

You can also join an online accountability group or community. These groups can provide support and motivation when you’re feeling stuck, and you can even make friends who are in the same boat as you.

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Tip #5 – Get Dressed for Success to Stay Focused

This may sound silly, but getting dressed for work can actually help you feel more motivated and focused. When you’re in your PJs all day, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that you’re not working. But, if you take the time to get dressed as if you’re going to the office, you’ll likely find that you’re more productive.

So, next time you’re struggling to focus, try getting out of your PJs and into some real clothes. Even if you don’t leave the house all day, getting dressed will help you feel more like you’re working and less like you’re lounging around.

Some light makeup will also trick and let your brain know it is time to get down to business.

The Bottom Line

Working from home can be a challenge, but staying motivated and accountable is possible. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, you can always do a few things to help yourself stay on track.

When you have a plan and stick to it as best as possible, you’ll find that working from home can be much more manageable and even enjoyable.

By Lauren Hunter

I'm Lauren, and I've been on a journey to earn money and save money for most of my life. As the editor-in-chief of EarnItSaveIt.com, and as a freelance writer, coach, musician, and entrepreneur, I love looking for new ways to make money and better ways to keep it. I'm also a wife and work-at-home mom (WAHM) to four kids, so budgeting is my middle name. I'm excited to be on this money journey with you!