Two methods for keeping the tempo up when working from home
Datum: 2024-10-09 09:04

Working from home is something very different from working at the office. For some, it is quite nice to for once be all alone and be in full control of what would normally interrupt and disturb your flow. To others (or to the same people, but in different circumstances), it is difficult to keep the tempo up and at their usual pace.
It can be hard since you have difficult tasks, really tedious tasks, or tasks that are related to discomfort or unpleasant somehow. When that is the case, there are suddenly loads of other things attracting your attention — especially the fun and relaxing things you usually do at home. Because that is where we are — at home — where we are used to being at our own leisure and able to do what we feel like.
For you who prefer listening to reading, this post is also available as an episode of the “Done!” podcast:
On and off in an orderly fashion
My working-from-home is usually limited to the time I have spent writing books and from these experiences, I can definitely relate to how slow and unfocused working from home can be. Considering how at ease I feel at my office (where I work alone without colleagues), one might wonder if I ever really work in anything but a home-like environment. However, when I travel (which I do a lot) I certainly work in the midst of lots of people in a very open and exposed manner, far away from the solitude by my desk.
When I have found it hard to keep up the pace and still have had to get things done throughout the years, the following two work methods where you work in intervals have helped me greatly. Allow me to share them with you.
Do this
If you need to keep up the pace whilst working in general, use the Pomodoro-method.
- The Pomodoro technique uses 25-minute intervals during which you work on either a specific, consciously chosen task or anything that is before you, rest for 5 minutes, and then repeat this pattern over and over again. Set an alarm for 25 minutes, work until it goes off, set the alarm for 5 minutes, and rest. Every other hour you give yourself a break for 15 minutes instead so that you get to relax fully before getting back to work. The method got its name from the Italian who invented it and the fact that the egg timer he used was shaped like a plastic tomato (since ”pomodoro” means tomato in Italian).
If you are truly struggling to get moving, keep getting distracted and your mind ”wanders off” to all kinds of other things except what you actually need to focus on, then work according to the formula (10+2)×5.
- I learned the (10+2)x5-method on the blog Lifehacker many years ago. Using this method, you work on the tedious task for 10 minutes (you can do it!) and then rest for 2 minutes. Loop this 5 times and you will have worked for 50 minutes and had 10 minutes rest for an hour. This method has had a way of ”getting me going” when I have found it hard to. After three loops I usually do not want to stop and before I know it, I am done with the whole task. Piece of cake.
More of what you do, when you do it
If you use one of these methods when working from home and are finding it challenging to do so, you will probably get moving faster and soon be up to the speed you usually are when at work, even if you do not have colleagues around to be stimulated by. You can get more work done in the time designated for work, which means you can let go of work completely once you have finished for the day and focus only on that and those you love.
What’s your way?
Do you have a trick or method that keeps the steam up when working from home? Or is this not even an issue for you? Feel free to share your thoughts in an email to me!
(By the way, have you figured out how to clearly show your colleagues that you intend to work from home?)
There's so much more where this came from!
If you want more tips on how to create good structure at work, there are many ways to get that from me - in podcasts, videos, books, talks and other formats.