Struggling to Focus Working from Home

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  TheBird on 05/03/2021 - 16:10

  +3

  I am just getting so overwhelmed and distracted

  I'd guess it's probably the former leading to the latter.

• 

  whooah1979 on 05/03/2021 - 16:14

  +1

  Work at night when the neighbourhood is asleep with a bowl of chips and pot of hot coffee.

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  Mokr on 05/03/2021 - 16:26

  +3

  time to offshore some of your work

  • 

    duchy on 05/03/2021 - 16:28

    +3

    time to offshore some all of your work

    …I fixed that for you

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  fossilfuel on 05/03/2021 - 16:49

  +1

  Do you take excercise / walk breaks during the middle of the day or go for walks before work or anything

  This 100%. Take frequent walks if possible. If not, stand up and do some stretches.

  When I was WFH, I took a short walk every 20-30 minutes unless I have meetings. Doesn't have to be far, it could be to the kitchen to make a coffee and back. Or it could be walking to the front of the yard and back inside.

  If you don't want to walk, try some qigong exercises. We had an instructor come teach us and it made a world of difference. Some of my colleagues practice it during breaks and it helped them concentrate better.

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  bdl on 05/03/2021 - 16:50

  +3

  Schedule morning tea, afternoon tea, lunch, proper start and end times just like you would if you were working onsite. Make sure you take them, get up and make a cup of tea, go to the dunny etc.

  End of every day make a todo list for the day coming up

  Rewards yourself with watching tv/movies/playing games/reading after your working hours

  Did you normally take walks etc at your previous role/employer? If so, do so now. Even a 5 mins walk with a cup of coffee during one of your breaks will help clear your mind. Also gets you away from the toddler for a bit :)

  Try not to get overwhelmed with all of the above, small wins each day will help. Happy to help via PM if you had any particular questions too.

  PS: You are Erlich tho, maybe get Jian Yang to help :) Just don't buy one of those fancy Internet connected fridges or a flammable palapa

  • 

    Crow K on 05/03/2021 - 17:32

    +1

    Another trick that can help with this is actually dressing for work (suit, for instance) - it will subtly inform your brain it's not in "home time".

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  pharkurnell on 05/03/2021 - 17:01

  +3

  What do people find works best for them to focus?

  Went back to working in the office.

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  bargain huntress on 05/03/2021 - 17:14

  think about your days in your previous work environments and try to recreate them

  what was it that used to keep you on track in the workplace?

  if you're getting bad interuptions https://www.amazon.com.au/Kichwit-Privacy-Disturb-Meeting-Co…

  if you need another person working there are zoom things for that, it's called virtual coworking or body doubling. i think this is a place https://www.focusmate.com/

• 

  star-ggg on 05/03/2021 - 17:53

  Have you had procrastination issues before?

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  Quantumcat on 05/03/2021 - 17:53

  +2

  I struggle with this too. The thing that helps me the most is having a to do list. I knock off a task and then have a break, which could involve getting a cup of coffee and sitting in the couch to look at my phone for 5-10 mins, or putting on a load of washing, etc. Just the act of writing the to do list the night before helps me be thinking about what I'll need to do the tasks, and leads to asking people questions near the beginning of the day that have the info I need instead of leaving it until like 4pm before I realise I need the info. Also having to finish a task before getting to put on washing etc means I don't start thinking about household tasks like that while getting bored or frustrated with something hard and do it and then have to start over thinking about the hard task. Like Bernard Black and his socks or the handsome jacket made of tax receipts.

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  Godric on 05/03/2021 - 18:05

  My work keeps me focused ;p
  I do gave my gaming PC next to me which does get used in some of my down time but it my works enough to not distract me.

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  nubzy on 05/03/2021 - 18:19

  You need to break up your day. I've worked from home for years, procrastination takes up a lot of my time but I also make a point of getting out to do grocery shopping or go for a long walk/drive to clear my head and change up the scenery. I bloody hate being stuck behind the computer, can only take so much of it. But as long as the work is getting done on time and to an acceptable standard, don't feel guilty about not being behind the desk 9 to 5.

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  SydStrand on 05/03/2021 - 18:46

  +1

  Don't worry, you just need to get past the wanking phase.

• 

  SF3 on 05/03/2021 - 21:02

  I am procrastinating and struggling to focus as much as I should

  Ok, you posted this during your “work” hours? This already answers a reason why you aren’t getting your work done.

  Prevent yourself from surfing the internet and no social media during work hours (maybe lunch time only).

  There is usually more than what you can finish in your “todo”, prioritise maybe 3 things that you know you can finish that day, and if you are quick with doing the 3 then pick up other lower priority items. It doesn’t have to be 3, it can be more, but if your have items that are overwhelming, then break the task down into smaller logical parts to be completed separately (so it doesn’t feel like it never ends and feels manageable).

• 

  deme on 05/03/2021 - 21:49

  +1

  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aSn1g-6h1OQ

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  Sum-Ting Wong on 05/03/2021 - 22:18

  Install Cold Turkey

• 

  [Deactivated] on 06/03/2021 - 13:45

  +2

  I have run my business from my home office for 28 years, wouldn't have it any other way.

  • 

    bdl on 06/03/2021 - 21:11

    That doesn't help OP unless you can do his/her work for him/her. :)

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 06/03/2021 - 21:24

      Who said it was suppose to lol

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  GourmetFoodie on 06/03/2021 - 17:29

  Sounds like you my are just struggling to prioritise and the volume of working is overwhelming you. Figure out a way to be more structured in how you approach your work. As others have said, a routine is really important. Block out solid 2-3 hour periods where you schedule in getting done X,Y and Z. Then make sure you have a genuine break in between these long stretches where you eat or exercise.

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  SlavOz on 07/03/2021 - 21:31

  It sounds like you need some purpose and routine. Take pride in your work. Just because you can get away with it, doesn't mean you should slack off. Do your job like you're the best person in the world at it. Put your name on it and do it right.

  Make sure you get up and start at the same time. Create a to-do list and keep it in front of you at all times so you know exactly what you're currently working towards. And just like the office, make sure you a take a lunch break. Go for a walk, get a coffee and cake from the cafe, or just sit back and watch some TV for an hour. It's your time, you earned it.

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  geekcohen on 09/03/2021 - 14:49

  I have a dedicated office space with my 3 monitors for work, a speaker for my computer and all video conference equipment. It has my security camera screens as well. I have a sit-stand desk which helps from time to time when you need to get moving with a reasonably comfortable chair.

  You will have good days and bad days, but just work through it. I love my job and I enjoy what I do. Sometimes you have crappy days and then you will have awesome days!

  Do you listen to 'focus music' or have the radio on or anything?

  Sometimes. I will often have some music going on. I try to keep the music to my favourite or something I can feel upbeat too. I found sometimes watching a TV series has helped or something interesting on TV. Just depends on the day.

  I don't want to have soundproof earphones as we have a toddler at home and if there was any screams for help from downstairs I wouldn't want to not be able to hear that

  Fair enough, I have an 18 month old as know what you mean

  Do you use a wall planner or anything for set schedules of starting / stopping

  Not really. I start when my wife and daughter leave in the morning and then finish when they get home. Rarely do I work outside the hours.

  Do you write down daily tasks and tick them off, as well as weekly ones? I don't really do that and I'm starting to feel very disorganised

  I do daily, just works well with my job. I don't always get them done but it helps to keep on track.

  Do you take excercise / walk breaks during the middle of the day or go for walks before work or anything

  I got for a walk with my dogs before anyone in the house gets up. I had to because I wasn't leaving the house for days in 2020 and I was putting on weight. I got for a walk about 5am, headphones on and with the dogs. I walk for an hour and it has helped for sure. I rarely take breaks throughout the day unless I need to. I might do a load of washing or do the dishwasher but otherwise, that is about it.

  Do you have a plant on your desk or anything

  Nope. I have a small garden bed outside my office but otherwise the office doesn't have plants. The office is my own space which I do share with my wife, but she rarely uses her desk. It has posters of my footy team (the might tiges!) and a few other items, it isn't plain or boring.

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  Member 0230 on 30/09/2021 - 10:23

  Stumbled on this thread while looking for something else — OP, from personal experience, I strongly recommend something like Focusmate or The Work Gym by Ultraworking.

  Quote from The Work Gym:

  What’s it going to take to get to the next level of performance?
  …we focus on two missing ingredients for higher peak performance —

  1. Social accountability, and,
  2. Getting the mechanics of work consistently right.

• 

  jv on 30/09/2021 - 10:28

  +1

  I find I am procrastinating and struggling to focus

  Block OzBargain on your router…