Work From Home? Eliminate Distractions

Picture this: You're sitting at your desk. You've just opened a work document. You're planning to proofread it before sending it off to your client. You hear a car horn blare. The dog starts barking. The phone rings. Before you know it, you're making lunch. How did this happen?

Distractions are a major obstacle when you work from home. Most of us don't have the ability to soundproof our offices and shut ourselves off from the world entirely while trying to work. So, how can you handle what can sometimes feel like an endless onslaught of distractions? These tips can help you manage the craziness and get some work done (finally!):

Keep only your business phone in your office. Turn off your cell and home phone if necessary. This will cut back on social calls interrupting your work time. Give your work number to family for emergencies only.

Treat your office as though it were not in your home. When you're working, you are “at work,” so door-to-door sales people be damned. Do not answer that door bell!

Take breaks. Everyone needs to give their eyes and brain a break when working. Take that time to do a load of laundry or organize your junk drawer. Give yourself a set amount of time for the break and stick to it. Fifteen or twenty minutes is plenty of time to relax without letting yourself slip in procrastination mode.

Pay attention to your posture. Every half hour or so, close your eyes for a second. Imagine there is string attached to the top of your head being pulled toward the ceiling. Sit up, pull your shoulders back, and get back to work.

Stretch your muscles. Throughout the day take time to give your muscles some much needed TLC. Stretching your legs, arms, back, hands, and neck will increase your productivity, limit your evening aches and pains, as well help deter later problems like carpal tunnel syndrome. The Mayo Clinic has an excellent slideshow of office stretches on their website.

Create an “I Need It” basket for your office. Get a small container to put on your desk or within reach of your work area. Fill the basket with all the things you find yourself getting up to get. Lip balm, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, hard candies, ponytail holders, reading glasses, and breath mints are all great items to put in the basket. With an “I Need It” basket, you can stop making excuses to walk away from your work until your official break time.