If like me you work from home you know the number of distractions that can stop you from getting anything done, they can range from email that’s always coming in, to the ‘phone constantly ringing, to the washing up and house cleaning that beckons out the corner of your eye, to the dogs wanting to be let in and out (our family considers this to be the most annoying and loudest distraction in our house, whoever taught them to ring a doorbell).

Distractions in general are hard to escape, whether you work from home or go to the office and, yes, they can turn an otherwise productive day into a total disaster. But ( and here comes the phrase everyone will remember), there are studies out there that suggest some distraction is good for you, even increasing your creativity The problem is how do you limit your distraction time?

Here are some tips and tricks for the next time you are working on a report for the board and you look at the wilting plants around your office and remember they need watering: don’t jump up and do it right away make a conscious decision to work for another 20 minutes and then water them. Write it down, add it to your to do list, but by acknowledging the thought, this simple method takes the distraction out of your head and allows you to continue to concentrate on what’s important. You also have given yourself a scheduled break allowing you to recoup and reorganize your thoughts. This creates a win-win situation; you get a break to collect your thoughts, a task gets completed (plants watered) and you didn’t break your concentration you focused on the report taking you closer to completion (actually a 3-way-win).

This form of distraction control can be used at night to help with a good night’s sleep. I get to bed at night and suddenly my mind starts to think of things that need to be completed tomorrow, or the title and plot of a great novel to be written in the near future, but I know I won’t remember it in the morning, so it goes over and over in my head not letting me get to sleep and I still forget it in the morning. Solution, keep a pencil and paper beside the bed and write down your thoughts and ideas. The thought leaves your head and lets you sleep peacefully. You’ll see the information in the morning and can act on it in the rational light of day.

Result: less stress and a more rested, happier person. As a bonus, because it is easier for you to become distracted during the day when you are tired, more rest at night can increase your productivity during the day. There are other tricks for getting to sleep and having a good night’s rest but I’m not giving away all my secrets at once.

Some distractions are all about the need to take a break, maybe you have been working for too long and the “little grey cells” are exhausted. This applies whether you are working from home or if you work in a cubicle or sealed office all day. A walk outside in the fresh air may be all they need to re-charge, I have some of my best ideas out walking in the fresh air.

I challenge you try these solutions for a week and see what effect they have on your creativity and productivity.

Bye for now

Amanda