After a period of holiday, it can be difficult to the home worker to find their focus. By following these tips, it is possible to regain motivation and focus and to restore productivity.
Keep Work and Home Life Separate
Where possible, the home worker should have a designated space for work activities and keep these apart from home and family life. This enables them to have a sense of purpose within that area, as it is not a place for relaxation.
Work on Something New and Exciting
If the first item to be worked on after a break is a new project, the home worker will have more enthusiasm and drive, as they deal with the excitement of a novel idea. This allows them to think creatively and outside of the usual work routine, but within their employment environment and structure, thus easing their way into the day to day of work.
If the worker has been well-rested during their holiday, there is a chance that they will have many ideas for new projects. This is great, but can lead to many things being started, but few finished. The trick is to focus, to find something that can be completely quickly, giving a sense of satisfaction. The other ideas can be jotted down, and dealt with at a later time.
Avoid Distractions
A post-holiday mind can have a restless quality to it, turning rapidly from one thing to another. It is important that the environment is as work-focused as possible. For example, temporarily removing internet access is a good way to avoid the long periods of browsing which can easily follow the checking of a single fact.
By work off-line and making a note of the things that need researching, they can be checked in a single session, later. This may not be the most efficient way of working, but when thoughts are easily diverted, it can often be the most effective.
The same is true of only answering emails at set times. This prevents the worker from being drawn into electronic conversations which eat into the day.
Plan the Day
By adding times to a “to do” list, the worker can focus on what is most important and be realistic about how long tasks will take. If an item is not accomplished at the designated time, they can make a quick decision. Should they re-work their to do list and carry on because the item can be finished quickly, or is it more realistic to add it to the next day’s list? It is also important to factor in times for breaks and the research noted during the working tasks.
Stick to the Plan
Some days feel more productive than others, but by sticking to the plan that has been made, the worker can see where their time has been spent, and work out how to improve their efficiency as they get back into a working frame of mind.
Lesley Arnold-Hopkins - Lesley Arnold-Hopkins is a freelance writer whose work and hobbies have given her areas of expertise in a number of fields. She has an ...
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