If you Work From Home ....

[WFH]

What do you do on those days and times that you really cannot focus and stay attentive to a task?

I try to plan my day so more difficult tasks are completed when I am most focussed.

Sometimes though after lunch I just cannot get back into the swing of things. I can't keep my focus and go from job to job without really completing anything.

I may take a break but this tends to just delay the day as I still can't really stay on task.

I may cherry pick easy stuff or sort out a to do list for the next day.

What do you do?

Can you relate to the above or do you find generally you can always stay focused on doing something?

I get up as early as I can stand and work efficiently all morning. Then I have a 20 minute nap after lunch and start again. Any more than 20 minutes and I'm sluggish, but a short nap works wonders.

I do the compulsory training (has to be done quarterly). I attempt to sort the chaos that is my inbox (frequently unearthing something I need to deal with but isn’t urgent to add to the to do list). I make a cup of tea, have a snack and then attempt to refocus.

Pretty much what I’d do in the office, really.

I go on Mumsnet 😅

Seriously though, I don't beat myself up. If I need an hour or an afternoon off, I take it. I always try to do something if I decide to take time off though. There's nothing worse than taking time off work but also then not committing to doing anything else.

So I'll either decide to watch a film, read a book, tidy up a cupboard, cook a meal, head into town. Whatever. That point is that I make a really active decision to do something non-work.

Like PP said, if I don't want to full take time off, I'll see what dumb admin I need to get done and bulldoze through that when I'm not feeling very productive.

I think I'm a bit hard on myself at times like I think I have to be going at 100% at all times and any less is not good enough.

Those small admin tasks still need to be done so I should go east and allow myself a bit of time each day to do that.

Masturbate

I try not to sweat it. I know the work will get done eventually (by which I mean, by the deadline, I've never missed one yet!)

I work best first thing, and am useless by about 3pm. So I tend to be at my desk early, and bang through stuff knowing that as the day progresses my attention will wander.

A good to-do list keeps me on track, plus some background music - it's amazing how much more focus I have with some ambient, lyric-free music on. And inbox sorting, like a PP, is a good 'ugh, can't be arsed' activity imo.

But if it ain't happening, I go and do something else and don't beat myself up. Some days are just more productive than others, and it all gets done in the end.

I wasted a lot of time in the office, tbh.

I think I have to be going at 100% at all times and any less is not good enough

That's totally unrealistic. You're not a robot.

I work for myself so I know that’s a little different but I make the time up on other days or in the evening. Or I work in hot-desking place which really makes a difference

I go for a quick 20 min walk around the block, get myself a cup of tea, then sit down and work up a to-do list, broken down into smaller tasks. This is all easier than doing the actual work, which eventually lures me back in.
I also put on my noise-cancelling headphones, even if its just me at home, that usually gets me back in the zone.

I think I'm going to be considerably more productive come September when I'm on my own in the house again! DH just wandered in, bored, while I was in the middle of something and he got rather short shrift I'm afraid...

Another thing I sometimes do is set a timer for 25 minutes so I can focus on something for that short while and then have a 5 minute break after.

I give myself breaks and do something I'd rather be doing like scrolling through mumsnet or lying in bed. Then I go back and do some work and decide what I'll do after work to reward myself- a nice dinner or pick a film to watch. I do usually work best in the morning so I cram in important things then, then do the rest in front of the tv if needed

I often get this in the afternoon (that's why I'm on Mumsnet...) I usually either go for a walk, or if I really need to get work done right now I set a timer for 25 minutes (Pomodoro timer) and do something mindless like filing emails. Usually I find something I actually need to do and work past the 25 minutes because I'm engaged again.

If I really can't focus I do whatever I need to do that evening - so housework, put clothes away, make some food etc. That way I've done some jobs and can log on again in the evening when I'm usually much more able to focus.

I take regular breaks throughout the day. Honestly I should request flexi working as I get loads more done between 5-7 when I've slobbed about between 3-5.

If I need to get something done that I just can't focus on, I put some instrumental music on to help. I like the Interstellar soundtrack at the moment.

I work like a trojan in the morning. It's quiet, kids in school/bed (older and self sustainable). I then go for a walk for an hour with ddog as my lunch break. We always meet fellow dog walkers whom I've gotten to know well. This always seems to reinvigorate me for the afternoon but on saying that I still wouldn't work as hard as I do in the mornings. I usually leave the monotonous brain numbing crap for the afternoon!

Wow, time to work from home then!!

Im so pleased to see this oost - I thought it was just me!

When I used to work in an office I often struggled to care after lunch. In the office when this happened I pretended to work and also spent a lot of time walking to the drinks machine. Not much different now I WFH to be honest!

I just chill for a bit sometimes. In the office and with others you might have a chat or go and get a drink together. It's the same thing really

What do you do on those days and times that you really cannot focus and stay attentive to a task?

It's not clear what working from home has to do with the problem. Does this only happen when working from home?

If anything, I think it should be easier to concentrate when working from home.

I go for a 10 min walk. Fresh air clears my head. Just to the end of the street. And back. I usually feel more focused then. Alternatively I find a podcast or one of my lists on Spotify and that helps determine a set amount of time to finish a task.

I have a short nap or go for a quick walk. If there's no time for that, I sit with my feet in a bucket of cold water.

Go onto YouTube and listen to Mozart Study Music.

you eventually won’t hear it in your ears but will be very productive. Never fails me, I’ve used it for 15 years

I go and do something else - put a washload in, hoover the bedroom, call my business partner and just check in to say hi, walk to the shop for milk.

Then I come back and set a Pomodoro timer, see if that helps.

We're more focused on outcomes than time worked, so some days I do a week's work in 8 hours and others I get sod all done but it all evens out!

This is a really reassuring post. My concentration goes through phases and sometimes simply writing a good, actionable to-do list will make the difference but other days there's nothing for it but to go outside, walk round the block before getting back to it or getting through some admin tasks.
Some days, pomodoro technique can be useful, noise cancelling headphones and music without vocals or an unmind 'soundscape' to regain focus. Other times there's no saving me.