The benefits of remote work are numerous. You can save heaps of time because you don’t have to commute, you get to spend more time with your family, and it is proven to improve productivity. On top of that, your office can look just like you want it to, you can have your favorite music blasting in the background, play free bingo in your breaks, and work in pajamas if you wish. Surely, that sounds fine and dandy. However, like with most things, there is also a darker side to remote working at home. While it is better than having to go to an office, it comes with a particular set of challenges. After you are done with the relaxing phase, you will most likely understand that some revelations are rarely talked about. In this article, we would like to give you an overview of the various remote work challenges.
7 Hidden Truths About the Remote Work Experience
Managing Yourself Can Be Hard
When time management is all on you, things can get difficult. The best thing about working remotely is also the hardest – being free. Having the freedom to self-manage your work routine comes with a big amount of responsibility. Having no one to guide you is liberating, as there is no set routine. However, work still needs to get finished. Setting your work schedule is easier said than done if one struggles with being disciplined. How does one get around it? Firstly, keep your work area clean at all times, as it helps with keeping your mental space clear. Create a routine and have a daily to-do list. Writing it down helps greatly.
Dealing with Distractions
Dealing with distractions is something that every remote worker will have to face. There are so many things that can get in the way of your work. Social media is always a few clicks away and can suck you in with you barely even noticing. Notifications, e-mails, housemates, pets, children, street noise – many potential distractions can hurt remote work productivity. One has to make a strong effort to stay focused on his tasks. It is a constant battle, and one simply has to get better at managing attention. Try playing low-level music in the background, it is said to help to be productive. Keep your files and space organized. Set intervals of 30 minutes in which you work, then reward yourself with 5-10 minute breaks of something fun. That is also known as the Pomodoro technique of time management.
Loneliness
In case you live by yourself, you may find that you don’t get enough healthy distractions. If you stay in and work all the time, it can become monotonous. Introverts will take it differently than extroverts. However, all people need to get some healthy time off work to vent one’s head. If you just constantly work remotely, burnout can become a real risk. Becoming stuck in your head and feeling isolated are things to look out for. To avoid it, make sure to regularly go for walks, keep in touch with friends, and reach out when things get too much. Also, consider getting a pet to avoid loneliness, or buy more plants. Studies show that people feel less lonely when surrounded by greenery, so consider it to keep remote work depression away!
Network and Technical Issues
An internet outage is a nightmare for any remote worker. The same thing goes for technology. If you have a deadline you need to hit and something impedes your progress, it can be incredibly frustrating. Depending on where you live, an outage could last days. If you live in an area prone to harsh weather conditions, make sure to complete your deadlines a week early, so you don’t run into such risks.
In any case, it is always a great idea to be prepared for such potential issues, from making sure that you have the best internet possible from something like these Frontier internet plans, to knowing who you will be able to call should something go awry with your computer. Even having slow internet on your phone could save you by using its hotspot. The same goes for having a tech backup, like an old computer, in case of a hardware failure.
Bad Nutrition
Remote work can be stressful if your workload is high. Many cope with stress by eating junk food. Others simply don’t look after themselves. Pressure could make you miss meals. Make sure to eat at least one nutritious meal a day. Also, use vitamins and supplements. Herbs such as Reishi and He Shou Wu are known to have incredible benefits for your health and focus. If you are skimping on your nutrition in other areas, consider taking in some superfoods to balance things out to keep you sharp.
Unhealthy Habits
Remote work and health care should go hand in hand. There is an anecdotal notion going around that remote workers work sleepless nights, don’t go out much, and so on. While that is not true for everybody, it is certainly possible to slip in and out of unhealthy habits. When you have piles of work in front of you, crutches such as sugar, caffeine, and nicotine use can go overboard. Over long periods, that may not be an ideal way of life. Make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Also, schedules and efficient time planning can go a long way in avoiding getting overworked to finish things last minute.
Not Being Able to Switch Off
When work and play all happen in the same space, it can get difficult to separate the two effectively. Office workers have clear boundaries where work ends and personal life starts. When working from home, the lines can begin to blur. That is a challenge many remote workers struggle with. Ideally, you want to have a space in your house where you exclusively do work. That can help to establish a mental differentiation. If you are not so lucky to have a separate office space, then a symbolic activity can do the trick to separate the two areas of life. Going for a walk, changing sceneries, doing some push-ups, and the like can be of benefit to get your mind out of work-mode, and ready for relaxing.
Conclusion
All in all, the freedom that defines remote work comes with a lot of responsibility to use it wisely. Establishing a routine that works for you, keeping to-do lists, and taking regular breaks can significantly help in dealing with the challenges of working remotely. Also, make sure to invest in a good chair so that long hours seated don’t impact you negatively. Not all remote workers have ideal spaces to create an office, so one has to do with what one has available. Becoming efficient and smart about the way you work from home comes with practice. It is a skill honed over time, so be ready for some bumps in the road.
However, even though there are challenges in remote work, it is crucial to remember that the freedoms far outweigh the alternative of having to sit in an office. What are some tips that help you make the best of remote work? Is monitoring health a priority for you during stressful periods?
We would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below!
