I’ve been a writer and journalist working from home for more than a ten year stretch.

As more people play online bridge, I’ve seen a great deal of people saying that they focus better online than they would at a physical bridge table – but some people have also commented on forum posts and blogs to say the opposite.

Do you find playing online – and at home – more distracting than not? 

Here’s advice from a freelancer’s perspective for how to cut out distractions in online play.

#1: Sitting Comfortably? 

At home, we have different responsibilities than we do at work – or at a bridge game. Working from home is a potentially disastrous melting pot where all of these elements are thrown together at once, and you have to learn how to separate them without going nuts.

Step one means sitting comfortably. 

It means finding a place where you can be comfortable for long enough to focus on what you need to, whether it’s a 7, 000 word copywriting brief or a game of bridge.

Choose your spot wisely. Lock the doors if you need to.

#2: “I’m Busy.” 

The two words above are some of the most important ones you can say when working from home. 

Distractions are going to be everywhere – and in every form – but sometimes friends and acquaintances can mistake working from home for “always being at home” and the metaphorical line has to be drawn.

If you don’t learn how to say when you’re busy, you’ll never get around to anything.

#3: Everything Within Reach

There’s nothing like getting the atmosphere absolutely perfect for writing or bridge – only to realize you’ve forgotten something on the far side of the house. 

It’s a self-imposed distraction that can be cut out just by making a simple check-list before sitting down to play a game. Make sure that you have everything within reach (and that your devices are fully charged) before jumping into the deep end.

#4: The Sound of Music        

Hate noise? Play music. 

It’s usually that simple to drown out any background sound that takes your focus away from the game. It’s a technique that I’ve used a lot when having to write – in a variety of weird environments, and sometimes by hand.

Additionally, the right choice of music can do a lot for improving your in-game focus.

#5: A Tight Schedule 

If you don’t want to be overwhelmed by other responsibilities when sitting down to work (or play bridge), make sure that you’ve checked off everything on your schedule before sitting down in your spot.

Sometimes this means a tighter schedule, getting up earlier or working later – but it’s always worth it in retrospect, even if it feels like a drag while you’re doing it. 

#6: Working Ahead

Working from home often means the need to work ahead to ensure your responsibilities don’t become entangled with everything else you’re trying to do.