How do you deal with work-related distractions and interruptions at home?

My research in the book The Flexibility Paradox, I show how those of us who work from home tend to work harder and longer. This is partly due to the widely held bias that homeworkers are slackers (evidence shows us they are not!). Homeworking can help reduce commuting time and preparation time, allowing workers to work earlier and later than when working in the office. This doesn't mean you SHOULD! It is important for productivity and for the company for you to work focused, short hours. So do not feel obliged to be always on. Rather set clear boundaried time for focused work (without family distractions), with clear targets for yourself. You will find that this makes homeworking much more effective, especially in the longer run.

You can create schedules, routines, rules, and practice self-discipline to help manage distractions. Start by eliminating whatever distraction you can by removing them from your office or workspace. It's also important to communicate with family members and set household expectations. Finally, you can work in time blocks with scheduled breaks and invest in noise-cancelling headphones to limit noise pollution.

Dealing with work-related distractions at home? Set a schedule and stick to it! Establish a consistent routine to signal your brain when it’s time to work and relax. Define clear work hours and communicate them to those around you to minimize interruptions. Prioritize tasks each day, allocate time slots for them, and include regular breaks to recharge. Flexibility is key—adjust your schedule when unexpected interruptions arise.

Identify your daily “no distraction” time. Is your calendar “open” all day, every day? If so, you are sending two messages: • “I am always here to help!” I understand! We want to be available! However, it leads to: • “I will prioritize everyone and everything over myself.” We need to evolve past this self-perception that we aren’t doing our jobs if we aren’t available all the time. Setting boundaries will not only improve your health and well-being, it will show others that you are creating a standard for them to follow. I recommend blocking off at least 30-60 minutes every day that can’t be used for meetings. Find the best time that you can benefit from no distractions.

If you do not put it on a list, and then create the space for it in the diary, it won't happen. Developing the habit of using a tool as simple as a calendar to organise the day in full is a great starting point. Put it simply, you want to the gym, put in the diary, you want no distractions from work for 30 mins, put it in the diary. Then, of course, use technology to your advantage, leveraring the numerous tools to turn off distractions.

Here are a few ideas to make this work for you: Dedicated Area: Choose a specific spot in your home solely for work. This helps create a mental boundary between work and personal life, enhancing focus. Organize Regularly: Keep your workspace tidy by regularly decluttering and organizing. A clean environment reduces distractions and increases efficiency. Essential Items Only: Equip your workspace with only what you need for work. Limiting items to essentials can help maintain a streamlined and productive area. Personal Touch: Add a few personal touches like a plant or motivational quotes, but keep it minimal to avoid creating distractions. A well-organized workspace can significantly boost your productivity and reduce interruptions.

A clutter-free workspace is a must for sure. It does not have be tidy all the time, as long as it works for you. Some corners of my workspace are messy and used to plug ideas on post-its for instance. But I am not exposed to these when I do focus work. What's missing is the ritual you need to get into a focused session. The workspace is important but your environnent as well. Before geeting started on something, have you got water and snacks, did you go to the toilet or get a break, do you need music?

You need to have mental/physical detachment away from work after working hours to ensure not only your mental and physical well-being, but also ensure that you are more productive during your working hours. To do this, you should try to set a specific workspace, maybe ensuring that you also do not see your "family/domestic work" so it doesn't get in your way of work, and put it away when your work day is done. This could be putting work stuff in a dedicated box to put away at the end of each day, or if you can afford to, having a separate work station which you can't see during your family time. Even having a blanket to cover your work station may help. Just make sure to keep your boundaries!

In my experience, the best way to keep work 'at work" is to have a separate space whatever that looks like for you. I have the privilege of using our spare bedroom as an office. It's a space away from our living space like kitchen and family room. I can also close the door. I leave my computer and cell phone in that room and walk away. If you don't have the extra space, put your computer and phone in a bag and put it in a closet or under a cabinet/bed. Out of sight can help to put it out of mind!

Create your own space in your space. This would helo you to avoid distractions and continuous interruptions. You can choose a separate room or corner with flexible and comfortable environment and sitting. Keep the place minimalist and decluttered. Make the place cozy and well lit

Define Work Hours: Clearly establish your work hours and share them with family members or roommates. Create Physical Boundaries: Use a dedicated workspace to create a physical boundary between work and personal life. This separation helps signal when it’s time to work and when it’s time to relax. Set Expectations: Communicate your needs and expectations to those around you. Let them know the importance of minimizing interruptions during work hours. Use Visual Cues: Consider using visual cues like a “Do Not Disturb” sign or closed door to indicate when you’re in work mode. Communicating clear boundaries can greatly enhance your productivity and create a more focused work environment at home.

Technology helps you communicate boundaries in the form of status updates and turning off notifications. However that is not enough when you work with others. It is important to give context as to why you may not be available, and equally communicate when you are available.

It can be really hard to create boundaries, especially in the age of hybrid working. From experience, I've noticed that keeping work and home life separate is key, even if it feels impossible when working from home. For some, that might mean setting up a separate space to work in. If you don't have the luxury of a home office, you can consciously use signifiers for your body to associate with 'work time'. One example of this could be using specific essential oils when working (something like peppermint is good for focus). You could also try listening (with headphones) to binaural beats (apps like The Zensory are full of them) to create a focused work environment too. By creating distinctions in environments, you can separate work and life.

My book the Flexibility Paradox, shows evidence around it is especially women who are expected to be able to do housework, childcare, pet and elderly care when they are working from home. This is because our society still believes the household is the women's remit. We need to ensure that working from home is just that. WORK. YES you can be flexible sometimes but it is sometimes more effective to have clear time and space boundaries between work and family life to ensure that you can enjoy both. It is important to ensure that children, partners, parents understand what you need to ensure that you don’t feel conflicted all the time when working from home.

Agree ways of working with your colleagues, make them visible for everyone to refer to. Agree modes of communication for emergency situations, and what constitutes an emergency. Set slots in your calendar for time slots where you can be interrupted and time slots where you will not be available to contact while you focus on deep work or simply getting your work done. People can see your calendar, and check. Also set your status to reflect whether you're available or not in whatever messaging technology you use.

Scheduled Breaks: Incorporate regular breaks into your daily schedule. Short, frequent breaks can help maintain your energy levels and improve focus. Move Around: Use break times to stretch, take a walk, or do some quick exercises. Physical activity can help clear your mind and boost productivity. Unplug: Step away from screens during breaks. Use this time to relax, meditate, or engage in a hobby to recharge mentally. Healthy Snacks: Keep healthy snacks on hand to fuel your body and mind. Eating nutritious foods can help maintain your energy and concentration throughout the day. Taking regular breaks is essential for sustaining productivity and avoiding burnout. Make time for yourself to recharge and return to work refreshed.

Identify your daily “walk and talk” time. I recommend auditing the next five days of meetings that are scheduled. Identify one meeting per day that you can take as a walk and talk meeting, vs. sitting at your desk or conference room. Some of my walk and talks are for business, however many of my walk and talks are family time with my family to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. We only cancel or postpone in case of an emergency. Your walk and talk meeting — whether it’s virtual or in-person — should be planned for and scheduled during the day.

It’s easy to lose track of time and work 4-5 hours straight without a break. I like setting an alarm on my phone as a reminder to take breaks every 90 minutes. I recommend staying consistent and taking breaks around the same time every day. For example, I like to work out at noon so I’m intentional about blocking my calendar to make my class. Being intentional with your time ensures you accomplish your daily tasks while taking care of your mental and physical health.

To handle work-related distractions at home, it’s crucial to recharge your nervous system regularly. Instead of the Pomodoro method, try the 90/20 rule: work in focused 90-minute blocks, then take a 20-minute break to rest your mind and body. During these breaks, engage in activities like walking, breathwork, or stretching to help reset your nervous system and maintain focus. This rhythm not only helps manage stress but also enhances your ability to stay on task, making it easier to handle interruptions without feeling overwhelmed.

Les pauses sont nécessaires pour etre performant. Utiliser par exemple la technique Pomodoro, et prendre 5minute de pause toutes les 25minutes permets de se consacrer a des taches de façon significatives. autre possibilité, sachant que le temps de concentration maximal ne dépasse pas 1h30, prendre 10 à 15minutes toutes les 9à minutes. vaquer à autre chose, se faire un café, bouger, faire du yoga assis ... tout est possible, mais il faut se déconnecter pour mieux se reconnecter !

Task Prioritization: Start your day by listing your tasks and prioritizing them. Focus on high-impact tasks during your peak productivity hours to ensure they get your best attention. Delegate When Possible: If you have a team, delegate tasks that others can handle. This allows you to concentrate on more critical responsibilities. Break Down Projects: Divide larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks. This makes it easier to stay focused. Use Tools: Utilize task management tools and apps to organize and keep track of your priorities. These tools can help you stay on top of deadlines. Effective prioritization and delegation can enhance productivity and reduce stress, helping you stay focused on what matters most.

Il est important de planifier ses taches à l'avance. délimiter le temps à attribuer à chaque projet afin de ne pas etre dépasser. Faire de même avec tut autres taches liées à la vie personnelle qui serait effectué dans la journée. Une bonne planification passe nécessairement par la priorisation.

Work-life harmony is an ongoing process. It means being clear about your priorities and staying flexible to the demands of family and business. I'm happy to support clients on the weekend and in return I might balance that with a long lunch with my partner during the week.

Work life balance has to be flexible. Sometimes, it can be unbalanced and it's ok. Priorities and urgency can make you work more, or spend more time with your family. The essential thing is well-being. if you feel well it can be not 50-50 all the time.