Remote work can feel lonely. Today, you’re not alone. Let the soothing sound of somebody else’s keyboard and soft Animal Crossing music put you into your flow.
Ramblings
Do you find it hard to focus?
I noticed this phenomenon fairly recently, but I can’t focus on one task without checking Twitter, email, Facebook, or Medium. For example, right now, I’m writing — which is something I enjoy a lot and that usually puts me in a state of flow.
But instead of focusing on this activity, I have to browse Instagram. Just to check… but to check what, exactly?
This never happened when I worked in an open space (peer pressure).
But now, my flow state has been increasingly rare. Days pass by and I’m not even able to focus properly for an hour. I bet I’m not alone in this case. Do you find it hard to focus, too?
Let me know what your best deep work tips are:
Reading — I impulsively bought Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport.
Also reading “How Does Attention Work?” and “How the Internet Destroys Your Focus (and How to Get It Back),” which contains 10 ideas to improve your concentration. Here are my favorites:
Have more in-depth, in-person conversations. And put your phone away.
Spend a longer period of time focusing on one thing.
Spend time working without the Internet. This one actually works very well — we often feel like we need the Internet to work, but sometimes we just need to use our brain 🧠
Make your own drink
It’s Halloween, so let’s make Harry Potter’s favorite drink: butterbeer.
Here’s a good recipe and this one is kid-friendly — in case you need a Halloween-themed activity to do with your kids/nephews this weekend.
Have a great weekend!
— Alicia
Fear.... "I gotta get this done and it has to be done by (insert short timeframe). It's not the healthiest motivator, but it's been that way since elementary/middle school.