It’s not about self-discipline. If it was, I’d have no hope.
I’m not a Navy Seal nor a Buddhist monk. I’m not disciplined enough.
If I’m not on my game, I’m like Dug the dog in the movie Up. There are squirrels all over the place, and I can’t stop chasing them. Next thing I know, it’s the end of the day and nothing got done.
However, I found a great tool that helps me avoid distractions when I’m working from home. That tool is creating an environment that inherently heads off my triggers of distraction.
The great news is that it’s not difficult to create your own environment that addresses your triggers and helps you avoid distractions when working from home.
3 Steps to Create an Environment To Avoid Distractions
Step 1 is to stop beating yourself up about a lack of self-discipline. Instead, take a breath, acknowledge it, and know that you can build an environment that will help you.
Step 2 is to become aware of your internal distraction triggers.
Is it the dishes in the sink or the lawn that needs mowing? Is it the email popup, or the text message buzz, or the Facebook messenger ding? Is it the kids walking in and asking what’s for lunch? Is it the incessant barking of the neighbor’s dog?
Or maybe, like it is for me as I write this, it’s the ungodly smell emanating from the fresh manure just spread in the field across the street.
Step 3 is to dive in, work with what you can, and start to build an environment that will address those triggers. Try stuff, test it, and adjust. It may change over time, and that’s perfectly OK.
Here are a few that I’ve implemented that may help you as well.
Create a Physical Space
A physical space may be the most important thing you can create to help eliminate distractions.
Walking to, and then sitting down at that space helps your mindset switch into work mode, and signals to the others around you that you are now working. It’s worth giving up some area of your home to create this (semi-) permanent space.
Don’t bring non-work related devices or distractions into that space. For example, if you have an iPad that you use for reading, or games, or browsing, don’t keep it within an arms reach in your “workspace”. If you wouldn’t have it in your office, don’t have it on your desk at home.
Either before you start the day, or at the conclusion of your day’s end, make this space conducive to your personal needs.
For example, my wife requires a level of cleanliness in her space. If it’s a mess, she’s totally distracted and can’t get started. She must start the day with her space neat and tidy.
For me, it’s continuity from the previous day. When I sit down to start working, I want it to be like it was when I finished yesterday. That helps me jump right back into where I left off.
Set Boundaries With Your Family
You gotta have the conversation, even if you have little kids.
“When I’m sitting here, between these times, I’m working. Unless the house is on fire, or someone is bleeding, please don’t interrupt me.”
Start there. Make sure everyone has been told about your working hours, and your working space, and the expectation of no interruptions.
Of course, there will still be interruptions. They are inevitable, even if the house isn’t on fire. When this happens, learn the phrase “Yes, but how about this evening or later today?” Or, “Yes, I would love to hear about that, but can we talk about it later?”
Here’s the key to using those phrases: you MUST follow through. Don’t let them be an empty promise, or you lose trust, and the phrases lose their power. Even 4-year olds (especially 4-year olds) will hold you to the fire on this.
Unlike in an office where you are physically separate, your home and work lives are now integrated. Realistic boundaries have to reflect that. In the office, you get 8 hours. At home, maybe you get chunks of 1-3 hours. Find what works.
Give yourself and your family members grace, and a period of transition. But set those boundaries.
Prioritize Your Day With A Clear Head
Create a morning and/or a night-before routine.
As part of that routine, plan out your priorities for the day, especially the #1 priority. If all else goes to hell, you want to make some level of progress on the #1 priority.
The power in doing this planning with a clear head is that it helps you control your reaction to the inevitable interruptions.
I recommend a system such as the Eisenhower Principle for prioritization. Simply being aware of Quadrant 1 distractions has helped me avoid them and stay focused on what matters.
Schedule Dark-Mode Periods During Your Day
Go off the grid for 1 or 2 periods during your day.
These are intentionally scheduled time periods (30-90 minutes) where you turn off all notifications from your devices, including work-related notifications.
Those notifications are like crack. I love them, you love them. Nobody has the discipline to ignore them, especially when we’re in an easily distracted state to begin with. So just turn them off, and that solves the problem.
I picked this up from Darren Hardy and his Insane Productivity method. It’s applicable in any work environment, but it’s been especially helpful when working from home.
Scheduling dark-mode periods helps you create time-blocks of intention, and a virtual “door is closed” for others who may distract you.
Work Socially
Stay hooked in with your colleagues and team throughout your day.
If your work is mostly solitary, find a work-from-home or other solitary worker community to which you can connect.
The feeling of isolation creates the perfect mental breeding ground for distractions. The more you stay connected, the less easy it is to become distracted.
You Can Do This
You don’t need the self-discipline of a Buddhist monk or Navy Seal.
You just need to create an environment, built around your own triggers, that helps you avoid those distractions. To do so:
- Create a space
- Set boundaries with your family
- Prioritize your day with a clear head
- Schedule dark-mode periods during your day
- Work socially
You can do this.
