What do you do if you're struggling to maintain focus while working remotely?

If you struggle to maintain focus, the pomodora technique can help. You can get an app on your phone for this. Typically this involves setting a timer so that you work for 25 minutes then have a 5 minute break. Repeat etc. You would be amazed at how effective this can be for productivity and focus.

A dedicated space is essential. It doesn't have to be a separate room but if you work from home regularly you need a work desk and area dedicated to work. But make sure your desk set up is pleasant and, where possible, you have daylight. Have something on or near your desk that brings you joy. I have my desk tucked away in the corner of the dining room, next to patio windows. I have a couple of monitors and a laptop. On the wall, I have my vision boards. Underneath the monitors I have some crystals and a mini salt lamp. I have a beautiful fountain pen to write with and I use lovely notebooks. Keep your desk area clean. As much as you can, make it a nice place to be.

Many people suffer from insomnia during the Covid 19 pandemic as we were required to work from home. Suddenly our boundaries blurred. People are answering emails and working with their laptops on the bed. This habit disrupts their sleep as they've associated their bed with work and stress! Some of us could be working 24/7 without break or we could be lazing around all day and nothing gets done. Both situations are not good. Therefore , a designated space and scheduled time are essential in drawing the line. We need to observe sleep hygiene so that our body can be conditioned to sleep at the right time in the right space. Same goes with work.

Prioritising tasks always start with the goals we want to achieve. I ask myself 3 questions regularly: 1. What do I want to accomplish? (monthly basis) 2. What do I need to do to accomplish that? (weekly basis) 3. Who do I need to see to accomplish that? (weekly basis) Review daily. Adjust , postpone or cancel certain tasks as I progress. Then plan out my weeks and months accordingly, lining up the appointments and meetings necessary to achieve that goal.

Sometimes when I'm in the zone, I would forget the time very easily. So I rely on gadgets like my phone or smart watch to notify me "it's time to stand". I'll refrain the urge to continue working and stand up, stretch, fetch a drink, take a break and come back 5 minutes later. It helps me prevent burnout as well as sitting too long. Sitting too long is very detrimental to our muscle mass and health. So, why not kill 2 birds with 1 stone? Taking a break is beneficial for my mind and as well as my body.

When we focus for long periods of time, our brains become overwhelmed and focus becomes more and more difficult. When we were in the office you might have time between meetings where you were walking from one location to another, or took a moment for water cooler talk. Although they might not have seemed important at the time, those short breaks allowed your brain to cool and rest. In (for many) pur new remote world, those transitions have disappeared. For many it is jumping from one phone or video call to the next all day, as such the brain never has a chance to cool so our focus disappears quick as the day goes on. So look at your schedule or calendar for the next 2 weeks and schedule in breaks so you can take back your break time.

Science confirms that breathing conscious before taking an important decision, increase the outcome and your focus of the decision. The advice is to breathe for 2-4 minutes slow, low and deep. Pure focus

Working from home suits some people but not others. It all depends on your home curcumstances and personality. If you share your house with others or have children then it's not always easy to work from home. There are now lots of co-working spaces that you can rent for quite low prices and these could be an option if working from home is problematic.