6 Unconventional Methods for Staying Focused While Working From Home | Brafton

There are tons of great, practical tips out there about how to stay focused while working from home, and I’ll even mention a few here that I think can be particularly valuable. But I’ve also discovered an interesting array of my own techniques that can shake away brain fog and get me focused again. Many of these ‘methods’ may seem counterintuitive at first, but hear me out!

Here are a smattering of tips — some strange — to try next time you’re falling out of focus in your home office.

Why Can’t I Focus?

There are a Seawise Giant’s worth of reasons why getting focused on any given day can be exhausting. For me, just about anything can do it, including anxiety — work-related or not; usually not — heat in the hotspots of summer or even just being too lax about the day ahead in general, which can make it easier to get sidetracked.

Whatever the case is for you, I hope there’s something in this mix of traditional and odd tactics that can help you find your focus again.

First — the Obvious Tactics

Before discussing some of the less obvious strategies I use to focus up, here are 4 reliable ones that everyone can benefit from:

1. Take Scheduled Breaks

Breaks are necessary, even when you’re working from home. They allow your brain to rest and recalibrate, and for you to re-approach your work with a clear head. I enjoy taking my breaks at the same time every single day (or as close as possible) if my schedule allows. I find that — especially on more difficult days — knowing I’m only X hours or minutes away from turning it all off for a short while helps me push through.

2. Manage Distractions

Another obvious tip, but alas: If you don’t want to get sidetracked, limit distractions. Move your phone away, close unnecessary tabs and handle distracting household tasks before sitting down to work. If I’ve left a few dishes in the sink overnight, it’s all I can think about the next morning, so I wash them up before I start my day and the thought is gone forever (or until tomorrow morning).

3. Get Up & Move Around

It’s easy to get antsy sitting at a desk all day. Get up, walk around, eat a snack, look out the window, pet the dog/cat, refill your water bottle, pace around the house. Any movement is good when you have a desk job. If you have a pet that could use a walk, that’s the easiest excuse in the world to stand up, take a walk and soak up some quick sun outside. Oftentimes I can work out whatever I was hung up on while out with the dog, and come back to my desk ready to tackle it and move on with the day’s projects.

6 Not-So-Conventional Tricks To Stay Focused

OK, now these are some unique ones that I sometimes use when things aren’t going my way on any given day. Some are strange, others counterintuitive, but trust the process… right?

1. Take a Midday Shower

What superficial ailments and conditions can a hot shower not cure? On those days I just can’t put pen to paper and make meaningful progress with something, a hot shower helps wash away the unfocus and puts me at ease. When I sit back down at my desk, it’s as if I’ve done a hard reset on my mind and body, and can suddenly get going again.

2. Talk to Your Coworkers

Remote work is isolating. If you have a hard time focusing, try taking a brief break to chat about something off-topic with your coworkers. Messaging apps like Slack or Google Chat are great, but if you can hop on an informal coffee call to shoot the guff, that’s even better. Nonchalant chatter can help break up monotony and maybe even inspire you and the stuff you ought to focus on when the conversation wraps.

3. Listen to Brown Noise

Where are all my white noise sleepers at? I don’t have one of the fancy machines, but I do fall asleep every night with a fan going. It’s a must.

Similar to white noise, brown noise is a tad deeper in tone. It sounds like a distant ocean or busy highway — a supremely comforting hum that you can feel settling your brain in real time. Find a quality loop on YouTube or Spotify, put your headphones on and feel your pupils lock onto the task at hand.

4. Re-Read Positive Feedback You’ve Received

Harsh criticism — even constructive criticism, at times — can hit you where it hurts on your bad days and make it more difficult to focus on new projects. I like to keep tabs on positive feedback I’ve received over the years, whether from clients, bosses, coworkers or family, and reread it on days I feel like an imposter. On such days, my brain ramps up its overthinking instead of focusing. Re-reading praise is a mood booster that often reinstates the nice-to-have confidence when you’re trying to home in on an important task.

5. Stick to a Routine

When you commute to work, you adopt a natural routine. Wake up, brush teeth and get ready, walk the dog, drive to the office, etc. When you work from home, it’s very easy to do away with any semblance of a habitual schedule. Rolling out of bed at 8:00 when I have to sign on by 8:30 just doesn’t give me enough time to wake up and mentally prepare, which makes focusing harder.

So, as much as you’re able, build and stick to a WFH routine that sets you up for a good day. For me, that means waking up about 2 hours before work (which might be overkill for many; maybe just an hour early is better for you), cleaning myself up, making coffee and reading a book. It’s a great way to ease into the day that facilitates smoother sailing throughout.

6. Switch Between Projects

This is another strange one, but it’s worked for me. If you have the pleasure (or pain) of multiple projects piled up in your queue, and you just can’t focus on the one you planned to do today, try another. Then another. Then another — if deadlines allow, of course. Eventually, one will stick, and you’ll feel good about focusing on it. Make solid progress there or even finish it up, and after that, you may find it easier to go back and focus on your initial goal or project.

Finding Focus at Home Is a Trial-and-Error Game

Not everyone has a hard time focusing, and not everyone who has a hard time focusing will find these tips useful. Everyone is built differently with their own strategies for overcoming distractions and brain fog.

To summarize: Set yourself up for success early in the day by easing into your work, make sure to move around lots, try different projects until one sticks, talk to your coworkers and maybe even take a shower.