TL;DR
If working from home leaves you unfocused, tidy your desk at the end of each day so you start with a clean slate. Keep personal bills in a separate spot such as a kitchen counter corner, hire help with chores that tempt you to putter, set up a standing work surface and take ten minutes of exercise a day.
Kathi,
I work from home and can’t seem to stay focused. My desk and schedule are always overrun with items that don’t apply to my job.
Karine, Del Mar
Karine,
With the shorter commute time, you can tidy up your desk at the end of each day without worrying about rush hour. You will begin with a clean slate and produce results in a much shorter time each morning.
You might need to create a separate desk space or counter area for your personal finances. Set up a corner of your kitchen counter for bills and personal correspondence. This will help you focus on work when you are in your office. Keeping personal matters separate from business also makes your home office eligible for a tax write-off each year.
Hire someone to do the lawn, clean and other routine chores around the house. This will alleviate the tendency to putter about the house throughout the day instead of tackling the workload.
If long periods of sitting makes you lethargic, arrange two working levels so you can do some of your work standing up.
Get at least ten minutes of exercise each day. Decide to step away from your desk at regular intervals. This will reduce fatigue and increase your concentration for the task at hand.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner based in San Diego California.
Please submit your questions to: [email protected].
San Diego Professional Organizer
Keep reading
- 8 Dont’s When Working at HomeThe habits that quietly wreck a home workday.
- 10 Ways To Increase Productivity When Working From HomeThe must-dos for a home office that works.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stay focused working from home?
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Use the time you save on commuting to tidy your desk at the end of each day, so you start every morning with a clean slate. Hiring someone for the lawn, cleaning and other routine chores also stops you from puttering around the house instead of working.
Where should I keep personal bills if I work from home?
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Set up a separate spot for personal finances, such as a corner of the kitchen counter for bills and personal correspondence. It keeps you focused when you are in your office, and keeping personal matters separate also helps make your home office eligible for a tax write-off.
What helps if sitting all day makes me tired?
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Arrange two working levels so you can do some work standing up. Get at least ten minutes of exercise every day and step away from your desk at regular intervals to reduce fatigue and sharpen your concentration.
In your picture of the home office there is 4 boxes mounted on the wall. Wondering where these could be purchased. Love them!!
I am not positive but Plummers has modular furniture like the ones shown in the picture. Sorry that I could not be more informative!
Thanks for this question. I believe that Plummers offers shelving like these cubes. Check out their website for ideas.