There’s something powerful about the freedom in being your own boss, putting up a schedule to your needs or learning about new things you are truly interested in. No wonder, autodidact self-studies and the possibilty to work from home-office are becoming more and more common.
But with the freedom also comes the lack of outside pressure. For many of us working solely from home is a constant challenge of not being distracted by this hilarious meme your friend just texted you, leading into „I’m just gonna scroll through Instagram for a minute“, ending up with „What have I done with my day?“. No matter if you’re pursuing an alternative career or simply want to learn a new skill on your own, here are 5 crucial tips that improve focus and productivity.
1. Try studying with background noise videos
Subtle background noises like rain or sitting in a train calm the mind and help to focus. As a big-time Harry Potter nerd I love ASMR/ ambience sound videos reenacting the feeling of sitting in the Hogwarts Library or even Hogwarts Express (…Nerd Level 3000).
What is ASMR? It’s the abbreviation for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Simply said it is about noises that trigger relaxation and often a tingling sensation in the head. Those sounds often involve whispering, rubbing palms, turning paper pages and many more. Besides videos made to help with insomnia, there are many ambience sound videos that reenact sitting in a library and trigger deep focus.
Another option that is more well-known involves Binaureal Beats or Alpha Waves that are said to stimulate areas in our brain that help entering a productive flow. Both ears hear slightly different frequences which cause an overlap of sound waves in the brain. Alpha-waves usually range between 8 and 13 Hz and are perfect for studying or concentrated working. ➻ 6 hours of Alpha-Waves
Last but not least, there are many lovely videos on Youtube that provide you with crushing waves or forest sounds for over more than four hours. The sounds of nature relax almost everyone and can help becoming more grounded.
Extra-Tip: Use headphones to achieve the best results!
2. Find one spot in your room just dedicated to self-study
Ever sat at your desk and found yourself passing the hours while browsing through social media? For many of us the desk is already emotionally „occupied“, especially if we do other things there as well such as eating. If you need concentration for a long time it can be better to find a new spot. This doesn’t have to involve a different piece of furniture. I love to sit on a blanket on the floor at always the exact same spot. This is very unusual and quite cozy (but not too much) – just right for me to enter work mode.
3. Develop a ritual
Put up a timetable that works for you, don’t plan too much (you always need longer than you expect). If the timetable is too crammed you are more likely to procrastinate. I am taking part in a correspondence course at the moment that can be worked on whenever I find the time. So I always schedule one hour on my Wednesday and Thursday mornings, prepare myself a delicious coffee in my favorite cup and a healthy small snack and get comfortable at my work spot (aka the floor :D).
4. Which brings me to the next point – Make it a little more fun
Coffee and a few almonds or walnuts may not sound like much, but are soul-saving when facing an unpleasant task. Not only am I rewarding myself for getting stuff done, but also it fuels my brain for the work ahead. Maybe something else does it for you. Find something that motivates you and link it to your ritual.
5. Check the time
Give yourself a limited amount of time – let’s say just an hour. When the hour is over, stop no matter if you have achieved everything you initially wanted. This had a tremendous effect on my productivity: I stopped idling about the tasks and started to fully focus knowing I don’t have time throughout the whole afternoon. Then give yourself a well-deserved break!
➸ An additional disclaimer: I personally believe that being productive is not everything there is to life. At certain periods in our lives we just don’t feel like keeping up, so it can be freeing to simply be unproductive. Embrace this as well! Especially if you’re struggling with chronical illnesses, mental health issues or just having a rough time for no apparent reason, it is SO important to be kind to yourself. Sometimes, we need those doldrums to get back to our full power!
Take care, Frauke! ♥
