Finding It Difficult

[Julie Thompson]

Hey

Lately as i am working at home more due to the virus situation, i find my motivation lacking. I exercise in a morning, i have tried working 25 minutes and taking a 5 minute break. I have tried reading positive quotes and listening to music. I shut my blinds and have my own office space, which is quiet.

However i always find myself doing personal tasks like ordering from Amazon or being very unproductive. I know there is no set formula or magic boost to staying focused, but does anyone know anything that can help me to just drill down and get on with my work ignoring everything else please?

I am finding this so difficult over the last 2 weeks, i cannot really change my environment such as going to a coffee shop due to the lockdown. If anyone can help or share some tips it would be appreciated, particular if you do anything that helps you?

 

[alan1302]

Try following the tips you already have:

https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/threads/sticking-to-routine.405425/#post-3004080

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Accept that you can't work full-on for prolonged periods and go with the flow. If you don't feel like working then don't; come back to it later and you'll be surprised how stuff just flows.

The worst thing you can do is sit in front of screen when you're not motivated or focused. Get up, walk around or go outside instead.

After a while you'll realise there are times in the day when you're productive and when your not. You'll also find that you may be more creative in the morning and more methodical in the afternoon, or visa versa, so adapt your routine to fit.

[Disclosure - recovering, serial procrastinator.]

 

[Andy Harris]

This may seem a bit off the wall Julie but turning the day into a 'game' sometimes helps - effectively randomising what you're going to do next. Say for example, you have this list of things you could potentially do in the day ahead:

1. Respond to emails.
2. Business development activity 1
3. Business development activity 2
4. Learn something new that would help the business.

But you've also got things that make it a break/bit of fun/a treat. For example:

1. Tea break
2. Watch 30 mins tv
3. Amazon surf

For some people using a phone app (there are many available, but Tiny Decisions is free and great for such things) to enter categories (e.g. 'Business Development', 'TV', 'Learn Something New').

Then you use the app to randomise the next thing for you to do.

It does of course go completely against the grain of having a structured day that pushes you forwards, but when you let the app dictate your next 'thing', it can work for some people.

Andy

 

[tony84]

I hate working from home. I tend to just leave things until the last minute and then I have no option but to do it. Its really not ideal, but it does work for me.

 

[Alison Moore]

I've worked from home for about 50% of the week for years and it does take discipline. Ordinarily I keep to quite a strict routine, but even I'm finding it difficult with the current situation. Also trying to homeschool whilst concentrating on work is hard. Don't forget there's a lot of worry and uncertainty at the moment, so that won't be helping with your concentration levels either. I try to stick to set times - i.e. start work by 9am, (at the moment though it's 9.30 as we do Joe Wick's workout every morning) break at 11am. Lunch at 1pm and copious amount of tea in between. However I don't beat myself up if I don't stick to this, plus if I have to work in the evening as I've been unproductive during the day I don't beat myself up over that either. Every helpguide is saying to not put yourself under too much pressure at the moment and maybe if your work allows then maybe give yourself a day to two off on actual leave to reset?

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Working at unusual times can help. A long time ago I started doing what I called Undertime. I would start at 4:00am or 5:00am and get twice as much done as if I had worked Overtime after 5:00pm.

And round here you get the most beautiful music to work by. Its called The Dawn Chorus.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

@Julie Thompson I have a book which gives a lot of advice and guidance about working from home. I normally charge for this but am giving it away for free at the moment, during lockdown:

http://workingfromhomeguide.co.uk/

NOTE: there is an option to get some additional support but you do not have to take this option. It is totally free!

 

[gpietersz]

I have been working from home for the last 15 years and have been home educating the kids for a good chunk of that. Welcome to my lifestyle. Things I find helpful:

1. A To do list for things that will otherwise keep getting delayed
2. Headphones and the right music or other audio. Something you can tune out when concentrating.
3. Do not expect to do the same hours as you are in the office for normally, but rather match your actual productive working hours in the office.
4. Try different break activities. I find video tends to send me to sleep: reading is a much better break
5. That said, sometimes a snooze can be a good thing.
6. if you are a natural night or very early morning person try adjusting your timetable.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I think your worrying about it too much
If you want to order a Gucci suit when your supposed to be working then order it ! You will be no different to the usual suspects on here who always claim to be working but are really playing Candy Crush

Working from home should be about enjoying both worlds without any worry
The one that makes me laugh the most is the person that puts their suit on to wok at the kitchen table
Ha ha ha

 

[Julia Sta Romana]

One thing that also helped me to be really productive when I'm working is to go offline when I'm not working. I log off my phone from the WiFi. The only thing that's connected is the TV, just so I can watch Netflix.

I have been working from home for almost 10 years now. I'm easily distracted by chores when I work and I can't stop thinking about work even when I'm supposed to be "done" for the day.

So in addition to having a closed door home office office, I make sure that I'm inaccessible to work once I step outside the office.

Even when I'm on break, I don't bring my phone. That's when I do my chores.

 

[Bob Morgan]

I think your worrying about it too much
If you want to order a Gucci suit when your supposed to be working then order it ! You will be no different to the usual suspects on here who always claim to be working but are really playing Candy Crush

Working from home should be about enjoying both worlds without any worry
The one that makes me laugh the most is the person that puts their suit on to wok at the kitchen table
Ha ha ha

Doc Martin!

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I have been working from home for almost 10 years now. I'm easily distracted by chores when I work and I can't stop thinking about work even when I'm supposed to be "done" for the day.

@Julia Sta Romana has not left her house for almost 10 years

 

[Bob Morgan]

@Julia Sta Romana has not left her house for almost 10 years

HMP Bronzefield IP Address!

 

[Michael Beaumont]

Everyone in business know about setting goals or tasks and aiming to complete them. There is the standard mnemonic/acronym SMART which stands for Specific- Measurable- Achievable- Realistic- Timely.

• Specific : objectives should be clearly and well defined. This definition can exist out of a scope description, stating what is included, how things should be done and why we are doing it.
• Measurable; to be able to determine if the goals are reached, the goals must be sufficiently measurable. Examples of what can be measured are eg. quantity, quality, time and cost.
• Achievable; the objectives need to be accepted by the employee and his team. It is important not to define goals that are considered as not being achievable.
• Realistic: "can it be done ?”. When the goal is not realistic, it works demotivating for the employees
• Timely; the goal should have a timeline during which the objective is supposed to be realized.

Managers/Supervisors, if you have them, should be setting the goals for the day according to this principle. If you are setting the goals, use this to help you achieve them.

 

[Mr D]

Work set times you come up with in advance. Take regular breaks.
My fun coach forces me to take exercise breaks - dog wants to go walkies or comes and wants a cuddle time so have to take a break. So we go have fun for 20 minutes or so. Then again later.
He insists on 8 or more sessions a day.


Keep a notebook by the desk. When distracted by something write it down so can do it later.
In a day you may end up with 200 lines in your to do list.
Keeping focused is easier when temptation to do something else is removed - hence the list.

Like Julia I have the mobile data and WiFi switched off during 'work time'. I do not even have email on it any more - will check emails a few times a day and read work ones in work times - others get added to ze list.
And ven ve haff von ze var ve shall consult ze list!

Admittedly my working hours can be a little erratic. Got a load of stock in today that will take about a week to list in dozens of segments.

 

[JoeR]

Loads of good advice mentioned above.

Don't worry about finding it difficult this early on, it's a big change to get used too.

A few things I found that helped when I made the change to working from home are:

- Getting ready for work in the same way you did before. Getting dressed smartly, shower, exercising whatever the routine was, do that.

- Have set work/home times. Tell the family that they need to leave you alone at certain times but also its important to log off from work and have time with the family.

- Light and airy workspace keeps you more awake.

- I have a 'distraction pad' basically a notepad that I jot down anything else that distracts me, then forget about it. I have a set time to go over this at the end of the day.

- Finally I have a warm down routine too, check last emails, write a todo list for the morning, tidy the desk, empty the bin and power down. Shut the door and I'm home from work.

I hope some of this helps a little.