Working from home is the most advantageous practice that opens up a whole new suite of possibilities for employees. Due to the shift in work culture, remote jobs have increased, and work from home has taken the place of most 9 to 5 jobs.
Home working has improved the work-life balance of employees by assuring flexible working arrangements. But remote working also has some distractions. You have to prevent distractions from family members and other things. Let’s check these disturbing factors.
Family Members
Your family members, including kids, can be the main distraction while working from home. There would be silence only when your children are at school. But, after school time and on occasions when they’re at home, they can cause great disturbance.
Children running around, screaming and talking loudly, and watching TV may not allow you to focus on crucial tasks. The same is true with your spouse, who tries to come and interact with you regarding various things.
Noise Disturbances
Not just the sound of your kids and spouse but outside noise is also the top distraction. There might be the harshness of bulldozers from the closest construction building or the sound of jackhammers. The noise of street sellers and boisterous neighbors is quite disturbing.
Moreover, there could be the sound of doing household chores like a loud dishwasher. Making concentration becomes almost impossible regardless of what the reason is. As a solution, you can try changing your work schedule or buying premium quality noise-canceling headphones.
Computer Slowdowns
While working from home, you would not be able to better optimize your computer system. An irregular working schedule will not allow for checking CPU usage, clearing cache, and other things that slow down a computer.
The slow computer performance leads to the non-stop spinning wheel and distracts you from work. To keep your system performing properly, take out some time to work on the tips mentioned on this page to solve problems and speed up your device. As an alternative, you can also check the video below:
Household Responsibilities
Your household duties that you have to perform are also the key distractions when working remotely, i.e., from your home. You might have to drop by and pick up your children at school or look at the dishes overflowing in the sink.
Although you can avoid some of these tasks during working hours, it is very difficult to stop yourself from doing that. You can prevent this distraction by performing the household chores before your working hours start. In addition, schedule your office work and household tasks.
Social Media & Online Entertainment
Social media notifications, news alerts, texts, emails, and other messages move your attention away from office work. Constant pings on your smartphone will make you willing to pick it up and check on notifications. Or, you develop a habit of constantly checking your phone.
Once you get your smartphone in your hand, you will get sucked into exploring social media posts. To avoid engaging in these distractions, keep your phone on DND (Do not disturb) mode, turn off the TV, and silence pop-ups.
Guests & Visitors
Working from home without any distractions becomes difficult due to regular visits of relatives, neighbors, or online deliveries. You may have to stop the work in between or miss something during meetings to get the package.
To avoid interruptions during phone calls, conference calls, or completing important tasks, avoid answering the door. Let your spouse or another person pick the order. Let your near and dear ones know your strict working hours.
Pet and Child Care
Taking care of your sick child may not allow you to focus on your work. In case of emergencies, it’s a perfect choice to let your manager or other senior know about it. Try to take routine care of your child while working from home.
Not just your children but pets can cause a lot of distractions. Your cat or dog may come near you to play with you or for some food. It’s good to let your pet engage in playing with their toys or get so many exercises.
How to Keep Distractions Away?
To avoid distractions while working remotely, create barriers by organizing a dedicated workspace in your home. Keep your cell phones on silent and turn off the television. Create a strict working schedule.
Separately keep your personal and professional duties. Let your family members, friends, relatives, and neighbors know about your working schedule. Take a short break to have lunch or refresh your mind. Exercise regularly to ensure good health.
The Conclusion
Remote working is an excellent way to get your office work completed while maintaining social distancing. Employees are more willing to work during flexible hours with no talkative colleagues or sounds from the computers of other employees.
But the truth is that working from home can be challenging, especially when you are living with your family. To stay productive and avoid getting distracted, follow the tips mentioned above.
