Remote Business Owners: 7 Strategies to Avoid Distraction

The percentage of persons who work from home has climbed by 115% in the past ten years. That's a noteworthy improvement. If you fall into this category, you're a part of a rapidly expanding trend that appears to be picking up speed, particularly as younger people join the workforce.

Although setting up a home office has its advantages, such as fewer time-consuming meetings, simpler environment control, and a lower risk of distractions, it also has drawbacks of its own. Aim to be as productive as possible and stay away from anything that can impede your progress. How are you able to accomplish that?

1) Use Your Home Office Just for Work.

You should be entering a totally different environment—one that you identify with work—when you walk into your workplace. It won't do to just sit on your couch. (Your back and posterior will also suffer from this.)

Assemble a separate computer for professional usage from the one you use for personal use. Use a whole other space just for work as your office, if at all feasible. According to Extra Space Storage, maintaining organization in the office is also essential to creating a distraction-free space. "Take some time to arrange and clear your desk if your home office is disorganized. Maintaining a tidy workspace may aid in mental clarity and help you stay concentrated on the task at hand.

Establish a work-centered environment so that when you sit down to work at your computer, your first thought should be on work, not about social media or Hearthstone. Make sure everything in your workspace is arranged to encourage you to work.

2) Establish a Timetable

You need time set apart for work in the same way that you need a physical location. You never truly leave the workplace when you work from home, and if you're not cautious, it may be difficult to distinguish between work and personal or family time.

Make sure to set out time for work and adhere to a plan if you want to be as productive as possible.

It's not necessary to have office hours from eight to five. Actually, it most likely shouldn't be.

The best times to avoid distractions are probably in the early morning or late at night, especially if you have children. Having that calmer, more productive time to oneself may be the difference between a productive and a non-productive day, regardless of whether you're an early riser or a night owl.

3) Establish Ground Rules for the Children and Others.

You are well aware of how much of a distraction kids can be if you have kids. That gets significantly amplified when you work from home. Make sure there are ground rules in place if there are children around so they understand that you are working and should not be bothered.

When a parent doesn't want to be disturbed, they may post a sign. Some people will shut the door.

Whichever route you choose, be sure the kids understand that you are working when you are in your office and that emergencies are the only reason you are there. Make sure you schedule time to engage with them outside of your office; if they know you'll be leaving eventually, they're less likely to disturb you.

When friends and neighbors say things like, "since you're at home, could you..." you need to create clear limits. You cannot, I repeat.

4) Spend Money on Your Office

Dealing with technical problems or missing items is the most annoying thing there is. It is infuriating and inefficient to have to interrupt your job to go purchase paper, go to a print shop, or troubleshoot a malfunctioning computer.

Make sure you've made the investment to set up your home office in the same manner as a traditional business. Make sure all of your necessary equipment is current and functional before attempting to improvise due to a lack of equipment or dealing with outdated technology, since these situations may be quite distracting.

5) Remain Focused and Avoid Email

Everyone has engaged in it. After working for five minutes, you receive an email. You glance over it, read it, and perhaps even quickly respond to it. It will take you a few minutes to return to your original assignment.

That's not how productivity is achieved.

Turn off your alerts to ensure that you are remaining focused on your job while you are working. Never leave them on your computer or phone for anything, including social media and email. After that, designate certain times of the day to read and respond to emails.

Although batching your conversations at once may appear to be less efficient, it really saves time and keeps you focused on the task at hand. Another well-known growth hacking tactic for companies is batching. Once you've broken out of your mindset, it takes longer than you anticipate to get back on target.

Read Also: Common Mistakes By First Time Startup

6) Ensure Socialization

To quote John Donne, "No man (or woman) is an island," and you are not an exception. You'll likely go a bit stir-crazy if you don't spend some time with other people, which will lead to distraction.

Make sure you're not just sitting in a chair all day without moving, but that you're actively getting out and talking to others. Maintaining a social life can help you stay grounded, no matter how that manifests itself—attending client meetings, going to lunch with friends, or spending time with your partner and/or kids.

7) Observe Rest Periods

As studies over the past few years has revealed, working through to the end isn't really the greatest option. 52 minutes of work followed by a 17-minute break was shown to be the most effective time, according to a DeskTime research from a few years ago.

This does not imply that you should get out a stopwatch. However, you should schedule time off from work so that you may be more productive and less prone to become sidetracked.

For businesses, working from home may be quite beneficial, but you must ensure that you are prepared for success. Make the most of your home office and push yourself to even higher productivity with these recommendations.