Ask HN: How do you stay focused while working from home?
14 comments
We desperately look for ways to force ourselves to stay focused. What that tells me is that we don't like our jobs. What it shows is that our work culture is toxic. The job should be interesting and even exciting enough that staying focuesed is the base line. We should be forcing ourselves to take a break from it. Of course, it's small wonder in a society where 85% of the jobs is just an alibi to produce the numbers that the establishment of free market demands, and where we don't do 95% of the jobs that we should be doing to future proof a liveable civilisation.
It's so much easier for me to stay focused working from home as opposed to in the office. An office is filled with nothing but distraction, stress, interruptions, noise, etc.
But I do have habits I've developed over decades of working from home. I have a room dedicated solely to working. If I'm in there, I'm working. If I'm not in there, I'm not working. I get up, get ready for work, and "commute" to my office in the morning just as I do when going into an office. It's part of of the mental shift into work mode.
But I do have habits I've developed over decades of working from home. I have a room dedicated solely to working. If I'm in there, I'm working. If I'm not in there, I'm not working. I get up, get ready for work, and "commute" to my office in the morning just as I do when going into an office. It's part of of the mental shift into work mode.
I use interesting trick - I dress to work. Basically when I start working I put on one of my favorite tshirt and shorts. So I have this feeling like I'm on the work.
Also I use intervals, I have basic analog timer, but I don't use pomorodo technique. If I'm in the flow state I can work much longer then originally intended without interruptions
Also I use intervals, I have basic analog timer, but I don't use pomorodo technique. If I'm in the flow state I can work much longer then originally intended without interruptions
There are two different circumstances here:
1. You are your own boss and aiming to create something worthwhile. If you can't focus get a job. See below.
2. If you are being paid for your time you might consider not focussing as theft.
1. You are your own boss and aiming to create something worthwhile. If you can't focus get a job. See below.
2. If you are being paid for your time you might consider not focussing as theft.
Coffee and music, good view. Ideally - home office that's a bit isolated from everywhere else
Looking out the window with hot mug of latte in hand while mild melody plays in background. Sounds like focused, not distracted :)
I work in intervals using my own app called Black Screen for Windows.
Boredom. Don't enjoy video games / movies anyway.
Once inertia is created it's easier to keep the ball rolling. You have so much context loaded in your brain you don't want to stop as you know how slow it is to reload into cache.
I'm not a fan of pair programming, especially for things requiring deep thinking. But it does seem to jump start momentum in a painless way.
Don't forgot to have a Zen like coffee break and walk. We are not robots. Squeeze too hard, for too long and no more juice comes out.