Many employees, especially Filipino virtual assistants, favor working from home for many reasons, like being able to control your overall work environment. You do not have to deal with talkative coworkers that might stop by at your desk at all hours, no impromptu meetings in the conference room, or beeps from electronic devices that are not yours. Furthermore, you do not have to wake up so early and deal with the heavy traffic.
All these things are just some of the things that make remote working advantageous. However, this does not mean that you would not have any issues. Working from home does not guarantee freedom from distractions.
These distractions can come from the people you are living with or your surroundings. Either way, these disturbances can cause you to slow down with your work. That being said, here are some tips on how you can beat distractions while working from home.
- Do not multitask
When you are at home, there will be a lot of distractions – the pile of dishes, Netflix on your phone or computer, and your devices that keep buzzing with notifications. While it seems tempting to multitask, this will only cause you even more confusion, eventually leading to you not finishing your tasks properly. So instead, these distractions should not matter when you start your work. Learn how to focus on one task at a time. You can also create a to-do list to help you identify the things you need to prioritize.
- Set boundaries with the people living with you
One of the most effective ways to ensure a successful work-from-home experience is to set boundaries with your family members, including your spouse or children. Create a sign or signal to let them know you are working in your home office or dedicated workspace. For example, you and your family could agree that a closed room door means that it is office hours and you are busy and unavailable.
- Put your phone on do not disturb
Getting notifications from time to time is inevitable, especially if you are active on social media. And even if you put your phone on silent mode, your phone will still continuously light up whenever there are new notifications. To help you stop yourself from using your phone while it is still work hours, you can put your device in a do not disturb mode. If you are worried about missing out on important alerts from a workmate or client, you can fix your phone’s settings and give the necessary contacts an exception.
- Change your clothes
The number one thing that can make you distracted is comfort. You do not necessarily need to wear jeans or formal work clothes, but get out of your pajamas. You can still wear something comfortable but not something you would wear to bed. This transition may seem simple, but it will help you shift your mood from relaxation to work mode.
- Stick with your work schedule
Working from home does not only let you control your work surroundings. This setup also allows you to enjoy a flexible work schedule, especially if your company is like most virtual assistant companies in the Philippines that are not that strict about this. While this is tempting, refrain from changing your schedule and just stick to what you were used to when working on-site. Sleeping in or doing household chores before clocking in can make it more challenging to transition into work mode. Keeping a regular schedule and routine can help you stay focused.
Learn how to work more effectively even at home with OVA Virtual
OVA Virtual is an organization that offers virtual assistant services in almost all aspects of a business. Moreover, they give tips on how one can still work effectively and efficiently even within the comforts of your home.
If you want to know more about us, you can check our website at www.ovavirtual.com.
Sources:
https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/dealing-with-distractions-working-from-home/
https://www.fastcompany.com/90502236/8-tips-to-beat-distractions-while-working-from-home