The ability to work at home is a godsend for many professionals. Whether you regularly work from home or only use the option when something gets in the way of heading into the office, working from home can give you more control over your schedule. However, there are interruptions at home that aren't typically issues while in the office – here are 10 distractions to try to overcome in your home office:
1. Pets
Furry friends are wonderful, but unfortunately they're also often needy and demanding. If your cat or dog desperately needs your attention when you're home, work in a room away from it with the door closed.
2. Inconsistency
This is a particular problem for people who only work from home on occasion: Everything you need is on your desk at the office. You can handle this by carrying your documents or notepads home with you when you know you'll be working from home, or by keeping important notes saved online so you can access them from home.
3. Television
It's sitting there, taunting you. "Just one episode," it whispers, and before you know it, the day is over and nothing has gotten done. Resist the temptation by not even acknowledging it as an option: When you're working, the TV is off.
4. Dirty Dishes
For some reason chores become suddenly interesting when you're faced with your least favorite work task. Although it's easy to drop what you're doing and tidy up the living room, it breaks up your productivity. Stay on task, or actively schedule a time during the day you'll work on cleaning: Don't jump from one to the other.
5. Your Bed
It's tempting to log in cuddled in a blanket leaning against a pillow, but it's a terrible idea. You're never going to be as productive lying down as you are sitting up, and according to The Journal of Sleep Research, it can mess up your sleep schedule. Working in bed makes it harder for your brain to shut down at night, so save the reclining for when you're ready to doze off.
6. Food
There are two food-related problems for the working-from-home crowd. For some people, working so close to a fully stocked kitchen can be a struggle. If you're constantly snacking when you work from home, you're probably breaking up your workflow to get snacks: The odds are good it's bad for your health, as well.
Alternatively, some people forget to eat when they work from home. Without being prompted by an office full of people using the microwave all at once, meal times slip their mind. This can lead to crashing mid-afternoon. Schedule your meals when you work from home so you're eating when you ought to.
7. Music
Your co-workers can't keep you down now: You can blast Nickelback as loud as you want at home, and no one can stop you. However, music with lyrics can be really distracting, as can loud noises. Stick to instrumental music.
8. Housemates
It doesn't matter whether they're roommates or kids, having people in the house when you're trying to work can be a struggle. Set clear, firm rules with anyone who will be home when you're on the clock. Make sure loud noises are kept to a minimum and that you're not bothered unless it's an emergency-level concern.
9. The Internet
Although you have the Internet at work, at home you're infinitely less likely to have your boss walk in as you're watching videos of cats wearing harnesses. However, these kinds of distractions can be just as productivity-destroying at home as they are at work. Use a different browser for work than for play so that your mind keeps them separate.
10. Freedom
Though flexibility is arguably the point of working from home, don't let it get out of hand. If you don't work well in the evening, don't fool yourself into thinking you can just log back on later. Set a specific schedule and stick to it to make the most of your homeworking experience.
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