You’re a GIS professional working from home. How can you avoid distractions and stay focused?

1 Set a routine

One of the benefits of working from home is that you have more flexibility and control over your schedule. However, this also means that you have to be more disciplined and organized with your time. Setting a routine can help you establish a clear boundary between your work and personal life, and create a sense of structure and consistency. Try to follow a regular pattern of waking up, getting ready, starting and ending your workday, and taking breaks. You can also use a calendar or a planner to plan your daily and weekly goals, tasks, and deadlines.

2 Create a dedicated workspace

Another way to avoid distractions and stay focused is to create a dedicated workspace for your GIS projects. This can be a separate room, a corner, or a desk that is comfortable, ergonomic, and well-equipped. Make sure that you have everything you need for your GIS work, such as a computer, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, a scanner, and any software or hardware that you use. You can also personalize your workspace with some plants, pictures, or other items that make you happy and inspired. However, avoid cluttering your workspace with unnecessary or distracting things, such as your phone, TV, or snacks.

3 Communicate with your team

Working from home does not mean that you have to work in isolation. Communication is essential for any GIS project, as you may need to collaborate, share, or consult with your colleagues, clients, or stakeholders. Therefore, you should use various tools and platforms to communicate with your team, such as email, phone, chat, video conferencing, or cloud-based GIS applications. You should also set clear expectations and boundaries with your team, such as when you are available, how you prefer to be contacted, and what you are working on. This can help you avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or delays.

4 Minimize interruptions

Even if you have a dedicated workspace and a routine, you may still face some interruptions from your family, friends, pets, or neighbors. While some interruptions are unavoidable and may even be beneficial for your mental health and well-being, others can be disruptive and frustrating for your GIS work. Therefore, you should try to minimize the interruptions that you can control, such as by turning off your phone notifications, closing your browser tabs, wearing headphones, locking your door, or putting a sign that says "do not disturb". You can also inform your family, friends, pets, or neighbors about your work hours and ask them to respect your privacy and focus.

5 Take breaks

Working from home as a GIS professional can be mentally and physically demanding, as you may have to deal with complex data, maps, models, or analyses. Therefore, it is important to take breaks throughout your workday to recharge your energy, relax your mind, and relieve your stress. You can use the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break, or any other method that suits your preferences and needs. During your breaks, you can do some stretching, breathing, meditation, walking, reading, listening to music, or anything else that makes you happy and refreshed.

6 Reward yourself

Finally, one of the best ways to avoid distractions and stay focused is to reward yourself for your achievements and efforts. Working from home as a GIS professional can be challenging, but also rewarding, as you can use your skills and knowledge to create, manage, and visualize spatial information and solve real-world problems. Therefore, you should celebrate your milestones, accomplishments, and successes, no matter how big or small they are. You can reward yourself with something that you enjoy, such as a treat, a hobby, a movie, a game, or a nap. This can help you boost your morale, motivation, and satisfaction.