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Published Mar 20, 2020

How to Actually Get Work Done at Home | Rasmus Hougaard & Jacqueline Carter

Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter delve into mastering remote work by sharing practical tips for effective virtual collaboration, managing distractions with mindfulness, and balancing family life during challenging times. Discover strategies to enhance communication, maintain focus, and foster meaningful connections while working from home.
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  • Distractions

    and explore the pervasive issue of distractions in our daily lives, especially in a work-from-home setting. Jacqueline highlights that our brains are naturally wired to be distracted, which can be beneficial for responding to environmental threats. However, the current overload of distractions can lead to mental paralysis 1. Rasmus suggests adopting a mindfulness practice to manage distractions and enhance focus, emphasizing the importance of turning off notifications and avoiding multitasking 2.

    Mindfulness practice is really the practice of learning to let go of distractions and stay focused on what we want.

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    adds that finding the right balance of background noise can also aid focus, as it varies individually 3.

       

    Mindful Breaks

    Taking mindful breaks is crucial for maintaining focus and managing distractions while working from home. advises being intentional about breaks, suggesting that activities like folding laundry can be beneficial if done mindfully rather than as a distraction 4. recommends using structured time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro method, to ensure breaks are productive and not disruptive 4.

    Download the Pomodoro app or just use a normal timer and put it at 45 minutes. This is when I work, and then there's 15 minutes for folding laundry or doing other things.

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    Dan also emphasizes the importance of mindful news consumption, suggesting that limiting news intake can reduce anxiety and improve focus 5.

       

    Self-Compassion

    Cultivating self-compassion is essential for managing distractions and maintaining mental health. stresses the importance of setting intentions and being kind to oneself when distractions occur, as mindfulness is a practice, not perfection 6. highlights the role of self-care and social connection in overcoming isolation, suggesting that reaching out to others can enhance personal well-being 7.

    The more we can set the intent and execute on bringing compassion to our actions and reaching out to others so they're not feeling isolated, the happier we'll be.

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    Dan reflects on the concept of "wise selfishness," where focusing on others' well-being can lead to personal happiness 7.

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