Stay focused anywhere, at anytime

More than a year has passed, the number of COVID victims continues to rise, and the majority of people have abruptly transitioned to working at home.

Working remotely is not a new phenomenon, and the current pandemic has brought further awareness towards the possibility of making it permanent. But many find it difficult to stay plugged into their work mode in an environment of comfort – packed with all sorts of distractions.

No worries, as I will share some tips that could help you maintain your focus throughout your work and make it a tad more enjoyable.

Prepare a List

Lists are a classic when it comes to work ethic 101, and knowing what to do for the day can provide insight for those who have trouble recalling what they need to do, especially as you start to get older.

Writing down your to-do list 15 minutes before you finish work has many benefits to your mental well-being.

This will keep your mind at ease for the rest of the day and keep you on track for the next day. You can also make one for your chores at home to keep them out of your head, and keep you more focused during working hours.

One task at a time

Do not multi-task!

Multitaskers tend to get distracted more than mono-taskers. This is due to their habits as multitaskers, who constantly jumble around different tasks, refocusing on each task – making them lose their train of thought on previous tasks as they return.

This leads to slower results during your work. Psychologists have coined the term “task switch costs” to describe this, which are the negative effects you reap from switching between tasks.

Negative effects include higher mental demand needed to work on more than one task at a time, leading them towards mental fatigue.

Work hard, Play hard

Keep yourself driven during your job by taking breaks.

What exactly you do in those breaks will set the mood you need to stay motivated once you plug back into your work. Recent studies suggest that employees who played video games reported feeling much better and less stressed.

So what kind of games can you play during your short 5-10 minute break? Stardew Valley is a game that you can play for those who reminisce about their time of wandering around outside pre-pandemic, allowing you to do all sorts of activities such as farming, fishing, cooking, etc.

You can find more games by clicking here.

Listen to your work playlist

Working at home can make things too comfortable for you, making your mind constantly wander around the room.

This is due to the change in your mindset, caused by the environment you are currently in. Unlike the traditional office, where you hear keyboard tapping nearby, phone ringing and other background noise, home is empty – you are not mentally prepared for work as you sit down at your desk alone.

That’s why listening to music can help you focus!

Research has shown that certain types of music can promote productivity and analytical thinking, especially among adults. So what type of music can help you focus? I’ll spare you the details, and give it to you straight – Lofi hip hop.

Simply type it in your youtube search bar, find one that you like and begin typing away. Not only will you feel your stress and anxiety drain away, but it will also take you one step closer to cloud nine. 

Keep Distractions out of reach

Smartphones are the biggest culprit that rob us of our time and attention, and you have to change that!

Every time you hear and see a notification pop up, it will immediately trigger your curiosity. This can preoccupy your mind until you give in and check your phone. Scrolling through your social media looking at superficial images of your friends’ lives can make you feel depressed and demotivated.

To stop this from happening, start by enabling “do not disturb” mode and try to keep your phone in the next room or your drawers – out of sight, out of mind!

If you’re the type that habitually takes out their phone to click on certain social media apps, it’s time you kill this habit by installing an app called “Lock me out”. This app will lock certain apps for a certain number of hours, and whenever you try to open them, you will immediately go back to your home screen with a pop-up message.

The Bottom Line

Now that you possess the knowledge of how to perfect your focus during these trying times, it’s time you start applying them and move towards a better tomorrow.

Maybe, this is your chance to start working anywhere around the world and start saying goodbye to early and late-night traffic jams. Maybe, you can finally get to enjoy your work in any environment you desire.