The New Normal: 3 Ways to Stay Focused When Working From Home
No matter how much you love your job and co-workers, there are some days when it’s hard to stay focused. Add in the distractions of working from home, and those days can become even more challenging. But staying productive doesn’t have to be impossible. Below are a few tips to help you keep your head in the game and kick procrastination to the curb!
Set Boundaries and Stick to Them.
Set boundaries with yourself and your family. Define when you will work, such as 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and stick to it--you must not allow the boundaries of your job to creep into your family time or vice-versa. One way is by putting your work laptop away when your work hours are done (unless there's something urgent).
Strategies that may help you stay focused at home are:
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Creating a comfortable space where you can have enough privacy for phone calls if needed;
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Taking some time in the morning before you start working (read some news or meditate) so that you are centered before starting the day; And lastly,
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Once you're done working, taking some time off at night so that your brain can relax (watch tv, read, take a hot bath, etc).
Get Outside When You Can - Even If It’s Just For A Little Bit.
You gotta get outside. Nature is good for you, and so is exercise. You're thinking "I'm not going to take a break and go for a run." No, it doesn't have to be that extreme! It can be as simple as stepping outside your door, or going down the street to see what the weather's like, or even just cracking open your window. Take the dog out. Grab some coffee with a friend. Walk over to the local park's playground and swing on the swings for fun—it'll make you feel like a kid again! Even if it's just five minutes of fresh air every day, it'll help keep you focused for longer when you sit back down at your desk in front of your laptop and start working again.
Get a Little Extra Help From Mother Nature (in the Form of Hemp CBD Oil)
Another way to stay focused while working from home is with the help of Mother Nature. One option might be Hemp Extract CBD oil, a cannabis-derived compound that's exploding in popularity thanks to its wide range of health benefits (and lack of psychoactive effects).
If your work schedule has you feeling overwhelmed by all the things you have to do, CBD can help by encouraging balance and stability in your brain chemistry. CBD helps regulate anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter involved in memory, motivation and reward processing—all skills that are important for getting through a busy day. Furthermore, CBD is often used to manage symptoms associated with stress, anxiety or depression as it targets serotonin receptors and other pathways linked to mental wellbeing. You'll get focused without feeling too stimulated or wired—in fact, you'll feel more relaxed and calm.
On top of its stress-relieving properties, broad spectrum CBD oil can also promote physical relaxation and help combat fatigue so that when you sit down at your desk in the morning, it's easier to feel energized.
There are many different ways to use CBD oil as well as other forms like CBD bath milk or CBD aromatherapy roll-ons; finding what works best for you may include a little trial and error (luckily it's hard to go wrong here).
Whether it was the global pandemic of the past few years, economic uncertainty or political unrest, life is still not "normal".
The past few years have been a lot to handle. When you have to carry so much on your shoulders, it feels like everything is out of your control. But the truth is, there are some things that you can control. Here's how to navigate working from home to maintain focus and productivity:
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Take care of yourself first: You can't give what you don't have. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself so that you can be at your best—and make sure to take breaks!
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Ask for help: When in doubt, ask for help or guidance. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but we're all here for each other.
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Adjust expectations: As much as we'd love to go back to the way life was before 2020, that may not happen just yet. If the previous "normal" was working from the office with a team nearby, a new normal could be alone and working remotely—and both of those scenarios are great options!