Focus, Girlfriend. Being more productive when working from home.

So, I'm going to be honest for a hot minute. ⁠

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I have recently noticed that... ermmm... I have been getting way more distracted than I should. On my allocated work days. Oops. ⁠

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(*gasps* ooooh, would you look at that butterfly flapping outside my office window! 🦋) ⁠

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Yes, as I was saying. I am easily distracted. ⁠

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I mean, working from home has meant so many incredible things. It has meant that I have (for the first time in my life) had the flexibility to create a life of my choosing. ⁠

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It has meant that I get to be there for my kids whenever they need me, whilst still getting to work with the most incredible clients who challenge and stretch my mind and creativity in a wonderful way. (You know who you are, legends!) ❤️⁠

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But it has also meant that I feel I MUST put on those extra 17 thousand loads of washing that stare me in the face every time I enter the laundry. Just because I am at home, and I can see them.

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And it has meant that I feel like I can just nip out to grab myself a nice, new (and let's be honest, probably unnecessary) facial cleanser at 11:30 am in the morning instead of waiting until after work.

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Yes, I have been giving myself way too many reasons to be distracted for too long now.

But you know what my friend? I have decided that it's time for those pesky distractions to just bugger off.⁠

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It is time for me to focus like I have never focused before. Mmmm-hmmm.

And focus I shall do... after putting on this last load of washing of course. 🤭 ⁠

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And to help my very unfocused self (that is, until now) , here is a helpful list of things that we can do to keep our focus more on the work and less on the random stuff that we do not need to do. Honestly.

1. Put your phone away.

Bloody simple, and yet crazily effective.

Because, let's be honest - no phone-y, no check-y. Right?

And if you are struggling to keep your phone away from your eyeballs, then turn off your notifications, switch that eyeball magnet onto "silent", and hide it under your to-do list (you know, so you aren't tempted to eyeball every teensy notification that flicks up).

Oh, and set your alarm for some "phone checkin' time" - maybe for 5 mins every two hours.

2. Do the "home" or "life" stuff outside of work hours.

You may feel the need to roll your eyes at the obviousness of this one... but there is something about being at home near a dishwasher that you know needs to be emptied, or an overflowing laundry basket, that sends us into a tail spin and is IMPOSSIBLE to ignore.

Impossible, I tell you.

But, if you were in a physical work place, then you wouldn't be able to empty the dishwasher, or do the laundry, would you? You would do it when you got home, whilst sobbing into the laundry liquid about how it would be nice to have just one night off from chores.

So, if you couldn't do it when you were at work at another location, then don't do it when you are working from home.

It will still be there tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. I promise. #Annoying

3. Block out chunks in your calendar

If you do need to juggle work and life stuff, because let's face it - sometimes you just have to... then block out chunks of your calendar to make sure that you are being as efficient as you possibly can with your time.

For example:

6 - 7am: Work it girl. Focused AF, while no-one is awake.

7 - 9am: Get everyone fed/dressed/washed and dropped off to where they need to go.

9 - 9:30am: Go for a walk, get some fresh air (exercise = focused brain).

9:30 -10am: Play with the kid(s) still at home. Start a load of washing.

10 -10:30am: Check/answer emails.

10:30am -12pm: Work it girl. Focused AF.

12 - 12:30pm: Have lunch with the kid(s) who is still magically there. Read 'em a book. Sing 'em a song. Start another load of washing.

12:30 - 3pm: Work it again girl. Focused AF.

3 - 4pm: Collect everyone from wherever they are, give them snacks and force them to do their homework.

4 - 5pm: Work it girl. Focused (and probably frazzled) AF.

5 - 7pm: make dinner, eat dinner, wash kids and throw them into bed with glee.

Then work more, or don't. It's your day.

Do what you have allocated in those hours. Ignore what you haven't. Except the kids that are home - you kinda can't ignore them. Just do your best.

4. Put on some mood music.

This really works. Having some soft background music on while you work, can be both relaxing and inspiring. It takes away the quiet, soothes the mind and helps you to focus without the usual distractions.

If you have a spotify, you can listen to my favourite chill-out-while-working playlist here.

Hint: It's a bloody good one.

5. Write yourself a daily to-do list.

It can be overwhelming when you have a list of eleventy billion things that need to be accomplished for your business. I know when my to-do list is too long that my brain implodes and I start to do a little bit of everything, which means that in the end I get absolutely NOTHING achieved.

Instead, narrow your list down to 2 or 3 things that you want to (and realistically know you CAN) accomplish for that day.

Having a smaller list will save you from the overwhelm, while helping you focus on those things that you really need to do.

6. Breathe.

Say what? But I am breathing already! I can't actually not breathe without dropping dead thanks.

This is different my friend.

Take 5 minutes out for yourself every 1-2 hours and just breathe.

Eyes shut. Brain quiet-ish. In the sunshine if you can. But anywhere will do.

Taking that time out actually gives your brain and your body a rest/recharge and leaves you awesomely focused on what you have to do next.

There are so many more tips. So, so SO many.

But start with these simple ones, and see how you go.

Who else struggles to focus on work when they are at home?

What are YOUR best tips for staying focused? Share with me! xx