Working from home is something that many people are now doing. It has been a growing trend in the past few years, but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic more people than ever are now calling their house their office space.

While remote working has all kinds of great benefits and perks, it also has its downfalls. Being at home in an environment that you are comfortable in, and that may be filled with distractions can really hurt your ability to concentrate on work.

5 Ways to Increase Your Powers of Concentration When Working at Home

For those who have seen a drop in their powers of concentration while working from home, we’ve got some tips that you can use.

Each of these will help instantly boost your level of concentration, allowing you to be much more focused and productive.

Work on Your Time Management Skills

A big tip when it comes to increasing your powers of concentration is to improve your time management skills.

When working from home, it’s easy to get into the habit of just working whenever you want, or whenever you have time – which isn’t necessarily the typical work hours.

This is why time management skills are so important, or perhaps even more important when at your home office.

If you happen to be a work from home mom who is juggling work and the kids, which is more and more common these days, time management becomes even more of a priority in order to get everything done.

So, what’s the solution? The solution is to create a daily schedule and then do your best to stick to it.

Although things may come up that are urgent or need your immediate attention, in general, your schedule should be adhered to.

Having a schedule will help you to stay on track, stay focused, accomplish all your daily tasks, and ensure that you’re making the most of your time.

Don’t Get Sucked into Distracting Websites and Apps

Here’s a question to ask yourself: how many times have you starting surfing online or playing on an app only to find big blocks of time go by where you are completely distracted and unproductive?

It’s a common problem that people have, and when you’re working from home without any direct supervision, it’s easy to just check your social network pages, play a quick game on an app, and maybe do a little online shopping.

What starts out to be a quick and innocent distraction almost always snowballs. Suddenly your powers of concentration have been completely interrupted and it can be hard to get back to what you were working on.

If you want to turn off the distractions of specific apps and websites, you can check out BlockSite, which is aimed at helping people to become more focused and productive. If you can’t access those sites, it’s impossible to be distracted by them.

Remove All Physical Distractions from Your Work Area

Then there are the physical distractions like the television, a common space where others in your household tend to congregate, near the home phone, and so forth.

Your home office really needs to be in a quiet area of the house that allows for privacy. This could mean an extra bedroom, a nook, a basement, or an area that isn’t always used.

At the same time, it’s important that others in the house understand that when you are working you can’t be disturbed.

You need to be able to focus on your work and not be distracted by conversations and questions.

Take Frequent Breaks Even When Working from Home

While this may seem like a counterproductive tip, in reality, taking frequent breaks will help you to stay focused. Sitting at your desk, staring at your screen, and working for eight hours straight each day is neither practical nor wise.

Just by taking a break from your screen, going to get yourself a drink or snack, and stretching your legs, you can instantly improve your mood and your focus. When you sit back down, you’ll feel refreshed and energized, allowing you to tackle your next task.

So, how often should you take a break from your desk? Experts typically recommend that you opt for frequent short breaks rather than long breaks but in a less frequent manner.

This means getting up for a 10-minute break at the end of each hour or even doing stretches at your desk. After doing this for a few days in a row you should start to see a real improvement in your focus and concentration.

Revel in Your Improved Powers of Concentration

Although it can be distracting to work from home, especially if there is a lot going on in the house while you try to work, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be productive and focused.

Each of these tips is designed to help you get control of your workday and improve your level of concentration and focus.