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Environmental Associations
Environmental associations are cues from your working environment that tell your brain "I'm in the office, so it must be time to work." Most of them are assimilated subconsciously (for example, your office space, the draft you always feel coming from the air duct next to your desk, and the view as you look out your office building's window.)
But when you work from home many of these associations are gone and your brain receives a confusing mix of "work time" and "relax time" cues.
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MORE IDEAS ON THIS
Create a To-Do List the Night Before
This is necessary because it helps you avoid mental fatigue and clutter. Ans more importantly, it helps you stay focused despite all of the "relaxation" and "non-work" environmental associations that you have within your home.
Whenever you feel yourself getting distracted...
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Punch In and Out
This is perhaps the most important physical trigger for your work day association. It gives your brain a simple but very clear signal that it’s time to focus.
Even if you’re a salaried employee, get in the habit of punching / clocking in and out throughout the day using an app on your...
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Fake a Commute to “Work”
Your commute is a very important physical trigger to your brain that your work day has begun. So, after you complete your morning routine, whatever it is, find a way to physically commute to your home… from your home.
Literally leave your house. Walk up ...
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Designate a Working Space
When you’re at work you probably have your own office or cubicle; this is an environmental association.
Pick one specific spot in your house to work from each day. Avoid areas that are already associated with relaxation like your bed.
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Utilize the “Double Whammy"
The "Double Whammy" refers to the practice of wearing earplugs and then noise canceling headphones on top.
Sustained focus is at a premium when you work from home, the double whammy ensures that you stay focused for as long as possible.
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Physical Triggers
Physical triggers are the literal actions you take that tell your brain "the work day is about to start." For example:
- Spritzing a small amount of cologne on your wrist.
- The sensation of picking up your keys and putting them in your pocket or purse....
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Environmental Associations
Environmental associations are cues from your working environment that tell your brain "it's time to work."
Most environmental associations are assimilated subconsciously.
For example:
- Your desk and office chair.
108
128 reads
More like this
A lack of boundaries
When work and personal activities are occurring in the same space, there are no cues for you to behave the way you do at work while you are outside your physical office.
Those who work well from home create boundaries in a work-life world without them. Then, once these parameters are estab...
When meetings fill the workday
The ease of scheduling meetings in the office without consideration for their bigger impact is precisely why they’re such a threat to productivity.
While porting over office culture to remote work can cause the same meeting culture to arise while people work from home,
Work structure
Develop a reserve of cues that tell your brain it’s time for work and outline a structure you can tap into whenever you need to get down to business.
For example, work from the same place (and do nothing but work there) or listen to the same music or background noise.
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