Can distractions really be useful you ask? Yes, if it's something used in order to take a break from work. While many might argue, not taking breaks or eating properly will catch up with you and for all the benefits remote work provides to you, they will be negated if you don't practice good work habits.
We all need to take breaks from our work and here are some good reasons:
- To eat
- To stretch and prevent injuries such as RSI's, eyestrain or backache
- Perhaps most importantly, to prevent burnout
Losing yourself in your work isn't such a good thing, for remote workers it's especially difficult at times to get up and away from the desk, whether that desk is in your home office or a hotel room. There's the attitude of "just one more thing before lunch" that seems to crop up. Without co-workers to remind us that it is time for a break or lunch, we just continue working even though we know we need a break.
During the day I'm lucky that I have my own personal distraction agents to keep me on track so that I don't miss meals and take breaks. I do know that if I did not have children I'd be very guilty of losing myself in my work. There are nights when it does happen, and before I know it it's dawn and I wonder where the night went.
Allowing yourself to use a distraction to take a break may not be an easy adjustment and you might wish to use an alarm clock as the trigger. Making a list of what you plan to do can also help you.
Here are some "useful distractions" that will get you out of the home office and keep you a more productive telecommuter:
- Do a load of laundry - you don't need to spend a great deal of time, perhaps for the morning break through some clothes in the washer and then for the afternoon put it in the dryer or hang it outside if that's an option
- For lunch -leave your office and don't return with your food, eat it in another room or outdoors - don't rush either if you worked onsite you're not likely to rush your lunch
- Schedule a meeting or luncheon with co-workers to get yourself out and also use the time to catch up on office happenings
- Have a co-worker or your Supervisor call you at a specific time to catch up on office news or for progress reports
- Go for a walk if the weather is appropriate
- Do some exercises - again leave your office
- Read a book - preferably not a work related book
- Go outside or at least, go into another room
- If you like listen to an audio book or music, you can even do that while out walking
- Allow yourself a non-work related phone call, just be sure to keep it within a specified time, don't let it become an out of control distraction
If you get in the habit of taking breaks and getting yourself out of the office during the day, you'll find yourself more refreshed and able to work more comfortably. You'll probably find that you are less stressed and happier as well. Just don't allow yourself to fall into the trap of making your useful distractions a means to avoid work.
Just because you are a remote worker, doesn't mean you have to become a prisoner of your work. Create your own list of "useful distractions" and put them to work.