In this article, we will explore some major problems that a remote worker might face and solutions to help get the most out of your remote work experience.
1. You Crave Social Interactions
Loneliness is one of the main drawbacks you might need to overcome when remote working. This is especially true if you’re not used to working alone all day long.
While working in the office, you could turn to your colleague for a quick question or randomly run into someone in the hallway to have a casual conversation. But that’s not possible for remote workers. Here are some solutions:
Even though you can’t have those physical run-ins with colleagues in your home, you can leverage technology to create a virtual water cooler. Stay connected with your coworkers through communication tools like Slack. You can go further by adding fun Slack integrations like tic-tac-toe, Icebreakers, or ChessBot, just to name a few. Stay connected with friends and family by calling or texting them whenever you have the opportunity. This will help you feel more connected to the people you care about. If you’d like to take a refreshing break from work, you can start a virtual book club to exchange ideas and experiences with other book lovers. Get involved in online communities. There are plenty of online communities where you can connect with like-minded people. Join a forum, chat room, or social media group related to your hobbies or interests. Don’t stay in the house all the time. Even if it’s just for a quick walk around the block, getting some fresh air can help make you feel more connected to the outside world.
2. You Are Working Non-Stop
Many people who work from home often struggle with maintaining a good work/life balance. This is because it can be easy to blur the line between the two, especially when your workplace is in your living room, bedroom, or in the palm of your hands.
There’s that temptation/expectation to respond to every notification from team members, causing you to work longer hours. However, it is vital to find a balance, as it can harm your mental health and productivity. Here are some solutions:
Make a commitment to establish and stick to specific working hours. When you have a set schedule, it’s easier to stay on track and avoid working too much. Try to schedule your work hours so that they correspond with the times you’re most productive. You can use time management/tracking apps like Clockify or Timely. Take regular breaks to allow your body and mind to relax, and improve your focus. Get up and move around your compound, take a walk outside, or just sit down and relax for a few minutes. You’ll come back feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to tackle your work again. If you’re overworked, delegating tasks is a great way to simplify your workload and take the pressure off of yourself. Unplug yourself by pausing work notifications when you are done for the day.
3. Excessive Zoom Meetings
Although Zoom meetings can help you stay connected with coworkers and get tasks done, they can also be disruptive and overwhelming and lead to Zoom fatigue. Here are some solutions:
Try to schedule Zoom meetings in advance whenever possible. This will enable you to avoid being caught off guard by an unexpected call and allow you to prepare mentally and emotionally for it. If you find yourself too distracted by a Zoom meeting or video call, don’t be afraid to ask the other person if you could talk another time. Use a headset or earbuds when participating in video calls. This will help reduce any background noise and make sure that your voice is clear to the person on the other end, thereby reducing the time spent in each meeting. Leverage asynchronous communication to reduce distractions and increase your productivity.
4. Continuous Distractions and Interruptions
Your home is probably a breeding ground for interruptions and distractions, so making it your workspace can be a significant challenge.
You have to deal with your kids when they come back from school, your pets roaming around, or your workspace being your bedroom, eating space, and gaming space. Here are some solutions:
Set some ground rules for yourself and your family members about when it’s okay to talk or interrupt you. It’s essential to create a designated workspace to focus on your work without distractions. This might be a separate room in your house, or even just an unused corner. Finding ways to reproduce your office at home can be helpful, for example, adding picture frames, desk/floor plants, or academic/work awards. Declutter your workspace and remove items that can be a source of distraction. Leverage productivity tools like Freedom, RescueTime, or Forest.
5. Work From Home Burnout
Working from home definitely has its perks, but it can also be a stressful experience. Work from home burnout is a cumulative effect of the challenges we mentioned above.
This happens when you continuously feel exhausted, anxious, lack motivation, have headaches, or have difficulty sleeping. Here are some solutions:
An effective outlet for work-from-home burnout is meditation. If you don’t know how to start, you can leverage digital solutions like Calm, Insight Timer, or Headspace. Take a break from work when you can to focus on your hobbies. Try to exercise every day and get enough sleep. Practice gratitude every day to focus on the good things in your life and work. Get an app like Diarium to write down what you are grateful for to regain your motivation and bring back a more positive mindset.
Improve Your Remote Work Experience and Productivity
There are definitely some office activities you will miss, and won’t be able to replicate at home, like rubbing shoulders with colleagues. However, whether you are new to working remotely or have been doing it for years, there are things you can improve to make it better.
The solutions above should help with the most common remote work issues and make your experience more enjoyable and successful.
