Navigating the Challenges of Remote Work: Staying Distraction-Free
Ever since the height of the pandemic, most organizations have adopted fully remote or hybrid work conditions. While there are clear benefits, the long-debated question remains: how productive are at-home workers? The answer depends on who you ask.
An Owl Labs study of 2,050 full-time American workers found that 60% of managers believe their employees are less productive when remote, but 62% of workers say they feel more productive.
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) also conducted a study on remote work. It found that full-time remote workers were 18% less productive than in-office employees, taking longer to complete tasks and getting less done.
So, say it’s true. Say workers are less productive when they work from home. What next? In this blog, we’ll explore the common distractions faced by remote workers and provide actionable solutions so they can stay focused and productive while working from home.
Identifying Remote Work Distractions
Remote workers face new challenges every day—from household chores to outside noise to needy pets. Let’s take a look at some of the most common at-home distractions:
Interruptions from Family: Parents, kids, spouses; no matter who you live with, family members aren’t always the best about personal space. Boundaries will be your best friend. Just give them a heads-up when you’re working in your home office or designated workspace to let them know you’re busy and unavailable. It will help things run smoothly both at home and on the job.
Notifications: Aside from constant Slack pings and Zoom calendar invites, personal texts, phone calls, social media notifications, and emails can preoccupy us throughout the workday. Sometimes, we don’t even realize how often we check our mobile devices, but time wasted on digital distractions is detrimental to our productivity and efficiency.
Housework: We get it. There’s a stack of dishes in the sink ready to be scrubbed, a load of laundry that needs moving from the washer to the dryer, a carpet that needs vacuuming, and a chicken in the fridge that needs marinating before dinner. While multitasking might seem ideal, it can result in more stress and increased mistakes. Try to set a schedule for your chores outside working hours so that you can apply all your focus to your job.
Childcare: If you’re a working parent, it’s inevitable that you’ll need to take a few days here or there to care for a sick child or attend to unanticipated emergencies. But trying to balance both full-time will impact your productivity and focus. The more solid your childcare plan, the better your chances of success.
Pets: We love to love our animal companions, but the truth is, they can be needy. Your dog might require constant bathroom breaks or bark whenever a car drives past the house. The cat could be rolling around on the computer keyboard and clawing at the mouse toy nearby. That high-pitched squeak you hear on a call with your coworker? That’s actually their parakeet. Know what your pet needs to stay relaxed throughout the day so you can focus on meeting your deadlines.
Strategies for Enhancing Remote Work Productivity
It takes practice to thrive in a remote work environment. Luckily, we’re here to help you get started. Check out these tips to make working from home a bit easier. You’ll be rocking in your virtual office in no time.
- Find a Dedicated Workspace: Speaking of your virtual office…While it may seem nice to wake up from a restful sleep and power on your laptop from bed, a dedicated workspace will improve your focus and boost productivity. Separate your work and living spaces to create boundaries for a more balanced life.
- Set Strict WFH Hours: Some people struggle to stay focused throughout the workday, while others overcommit until they experience burnout. Create a strict schedule, communicate your online times with your coworkers, and enforce a hard limit at the end of the day.
- Use Task Management Apps: Stay on track to meet your goals with task management apps. They can help you organize your to-do lists, set realistic deadlines, and track your progress throughout the day.
- Take Short Breaks: The Pomodoro Technique supports the idea that short bursts of productivity followed by a quick break results in the best work. Learn more about it here.
- Avoid Digital Distractions: It may be tempting to answer a quick FaceTime during the workday or post a reel to Instagram, but it’s hard to come back from digital distractions. Take control of your habits and block apps and websites with Freedom.
Check out our article “5 Productivity Methods to Improve Your Daily Routine” to optimize your time and focus on assignments that matter most.
Freedom: Your Key to Focus and Productivity
At Freedom, we help people experience more distraction-free moments by blocking websites and apps. With customizable options, Freedom allows users to tailor their focus sessions to their specific needs and preferences, making it easier to stay on track and accomplish tasks efficiently, especially when working from home.
Join 3+ Million Successful Freedom Users
There’s a reason over 3 million people rely on Freedom to reclaim their focus and productivity. On average, users report an extra 2.5 hours of productive time each day—that’s a total of 10,000,000 hours in the past year alone. Don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some of our users have to say:
- “Since using Freedom, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my productivity. I no longer find myself mindlessly scrolling through social media during work hours, allowing me to accomplish more in less time.” – Sarah, Freelancer
- “Freedom has been a game-changer for me. By blocking distracting websites and apps, I’m able to maintain focus and complete tasks more efficiently, ultimately leading to a better work-life balance.” – John, Digital Marketer
Stay Distraction-Free With Freedom
Ready to tackle the hurdles that come with remote and hybrid work? Sign up for a free trial of Freedom today and navigate your focus and productivity from home like a pro.
