Writing From Home: 3 Tips to Help Remote Writers Find Their Focus

I’ve never felt particularly inspired to write while sitting at home. I always found my focus in a cubicle or conference room, zeroed in on the day’s topics. There, I was in “writing mode”.

I was visibly busy, sitting in the office, hunkered down with my headphones in. I was not to be interrupted by coworkers or other distractions.

But here we are, more than a year later, and I’ve been successfully writing from home, while managing constant pings and dings from my fellow remote coworkers, the loud and longing meows of my two needy cats and the chatter of my husband on a call in the room next door.

I’m not going to lie, it was challenging at first. I wasn’t sure how to get into writing mode when I was in the comfort of my own home — my sanctuary, where work stopped and my home life began. But, over time, I discovered a few simple tricks that helped me find my focus again, and I wanted to share those with others who may be struggling to write from home.

1. Set Boundaries

Full disclosure: I don’t have kids and won’t pretend that I understand the struggle of trying to write while simultaneously teaching, babysitting, troubleshooting and multitasking like an absolute boss.

That said, I can offer tips for writers with spouses and pets at home. First and foremost, it’s important that you set boundaries to help you manage distractions. For me, I found that if I simply say “I’m writing” to my husband, he knows to give me space and save his comments for later.

I’ve also learned when to close my door. If I’m clearing my inbox or working on non-writing-related tasks, I keep my door open. The cats and conversation can flow freely. However, when I need to get into writing mode, the door is closed so I can focus without interruptions.

While you may be able to close your door at home, don’t forget the myriad digital distractions all around you. What works for me is turning off email and Skype notifications and putting my phone on silent and face down on my desk. You can put your phone in airplane mode, too, or just mute notifications from specific people and apps.

Lastly, if you frequently order stuff online or use food/grocery delivery services, you might consider putting up a *friendly* sign on your front door or porch that asks people not to knock or ring your doorbell. Nothing kills creativity like your dog barking incessantly when your Amazon package arrives.

I used this tactic during the holidays, because my husband and I ordered most of our gifts online, and it worked so well that we’ve considered putting the sign back up!

2. Block Your Calendar

This one is hard, but if you can stick to it, you’ll discover a whole new world of writing possibilities.

For over a year now, I’ve blocked Wednesdays as my “heads down” days. It’s often the only time in the week that I can catch a breath and knock out those lingering writing assignments that I haven’t had enough time to tackle.

I will warn you: It’s not widely popular with colleagues at first and it can be easy to make exceptions — “Well, I really need to connect with so and so, and this is the only time they’re available.” Ask to reschedule. “My boss put this on my calendar and, even though it’s not urgent, she wants to brainstorm some ideas.” Ask to reschedule. “There’s a big group training at this time and I don’t want to miss it.” Ask if the recording can be sent out afterward.

Heads down days are only effective if you commit to them. If you’re always making exceptions, then you never truly have the uninterrupted time you need to find your focus and get into writing mode. But if you communicate your schedule openly and often, eventually people will remember to work around it. Then, you’ll have unlocked one of the true secrets to success when writing from home.

3. Take Breaks

It may seem counterintuitive now to suggest taking breaks, but don’t forget to come up for air every now and then and give your brain a rest, especially if you find yourself suffering from writer’s block.

When I was working in office, I would go for a walk on my lunch break to clear my head. I do that now, too, only I get to enjoy the company of my husband and our dog. I’ve also found that a quick midday Peloton workout can be just the motivation and energy boost I need to reset and get ready to tackle a big project.

And sometimes, my pets are a good distraction! When my door is open, my cats love to jump up on my lap and give cuddles. Unless I’m in the middle of something pressing, I pause to pet them before they lose interest and run away. It gives me just a few moments to de-stress and re-center, before I get back to business.

Let’s be honest: Writing is difficult enough, but when you’re learning to do so in a new environment, it can be particularly challenging. But by following the tips in this blog post, you can find your focus and get into writing mode with fewer distractions and more opportunities to crush your content.