Three Simple Ways to Stay Focused During Your Workday


If you work from home, it’s a completely different world than if you have a 9-5 (trust me, I’ve done both). There are pros and cons to each one. In a 9-5 you have set hours and most of the time get to leave work at work. You have a separate space apart from the personal place you live. People tell you what to do and when. When you work at home–everything changes!!! If you’re not disciplined, you can work literally the entire day! (Also done that…I don’t advise it! Check out this post!) There are benefits to getting to spend the whole day in your pajama’s editing from your couch but hello! I wouldn’t be helping you if I didn’t let you know there are downsides too! Lines between business and personal are blurred. When you own your own business, you are the only person responsible for if things get done or not. And what I’ve learned through all of this is FOCUS IS ESSENTIAL!

For me, there are practical ways that I can set myself up for a successful, focused work day. Trust me, this list isn’t exclusive, but here are three major things I do during my work week to create a focused environment.

  1. Know Your Routine
    Being a good student of yourself is a wonderful way to begin setting your workday up for success! Once I started understanding my weekday rhythms, my productivity dramatically increased! That included waking up around the same time, developing a workout system that kick-started my days, knowing what hours I was most productive, understanding my afternoon slump and what I could do during that time that was still beneficial and how to end my days in a way that prepped me for the start of the next day! Knowing how you tick is key in staying focused!
  2. Know Your Plan
    I’ve found that when you can establish a game plan for the day (sometimes even the week) focus comes a bunch easier! Know the things that you need to accomplish. List them from most important to least. Be sure to include different sessions or meetings you might have and list those out too. When thing float around in my head instead of getting them down on paper, I become stressed, scattered and disorganized.
  3. Know Your Downfalls
    Here’s the kicker for me. Somehow it seems that my fingers know how to open Facebook and Instagram automatically. Weird. I know. When I’m sitting at my desk and trying to think of the right words for an email or editing a wedding a stuck on the colors….strangely, those things pop up on my computer screen. All the sudden I’m sucked into a vortex of time. It’s a downfall. Probably the biggest one for me! When I turn my phone notifications on silent–sometimes even put my phone in a completely different room–I focus so much better! If it’s outside my reach, I have to make an effort to waste time and will usually catch myself in the act. Know where you get caught up then take proactive steps to avoiding it!