Working from home has become increasingly common in recent years, with 44% of workers working at home some or all of the time. While remote work provides many benefits like flexibility and no commute, not to mention being able to do chores between meetings, it also comes with its own unique challenges. Here are some of the most common issues employees face when working from home and tips to overcome them.
Lack of Proper Workspace
One of the biggest struggles for remote employees is not having a proper home office setup. Many people don’t have a dedicated workspace in their home and end up working from their sofa, kitchen table, or even their bed. This can lead to distractions and discomfort that make it difficult to be productive.
Having an improper work environment at home can cause various problems. Without a proper desk and chair, employees may experience neck, back and wrist pain from poor ergonomics. Working on the sofa or in bed promotes bad posture and makes it harder to focus on tasks. The TV or pets in the background serve as distractions. Not having the necessary equipment and supplies also hampers productivity.
Tips:
- Set up a dedicated workspace, even if it’s just a corner of a room. Having an office chair, desk, and basic supplies helps create separation between work and personal time.
- Invest in ergonomic equipment like monitor stands, wrist rests, keyboard trays and a quality office chair. This improves comfort and makes long work hours more bearable.
- Declutter your workspace and remove things that could distract you like the TV or clutter. Use storage solutions to keep the area neat.
- Ensure you have all the tech and supplies you need like chargers, printers, notebooks, pens etc.
Poor Internet Connection
Unreliable Wi-Fi or a slow internet connection is one of the most frustrating parts of working from home. Video calls freeze up, files take forever to upload, and simple tasks become difficult. This directly impacts productivity as work gets disrupted.
Internet issues like bandwidth limitations, signal drops, latency problems and outages are extremely common when working remotely. Even minor disruptions like laggy video conferences hinder collaboration. Upload and download speeds may be insufficient for transferring large files. Spotty connectivity prevents employees from accessing online tools, apps and software needed to perform their work.
Tips:
- Position your router in a central location of the house to maximise signal strength.
- Connect your computer directly to the router with an ethernet cable which provides faster, more reliable speeds compared to wireless networks.
- Test your internet speeds and upgrade your broadband package if needed. Look for fibre broadband deals to enjoy faster speeds and bandwidth.
- Have a backup 4G internet dongle or tether your mobile phone as a workaround for Wi-Fi outages.
- Contact your ISP if you continue facing frequent disconnections or slow speeds.
A professionally installed home Wi-Fi network installation is worth considering if your connection is patchy or unreliable.
Lack of Social Interaction
Humans are social creatures and working remotely can quickly lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Spontaneous interactions with colleagues to discuss projects or having lunch together are sorely missed when working from home. The social aspects of work life provide a sense of connectedness and belonging.
Being deprived of these social work experiences can negatively impact motivation, focus and mental wellbeing. Struggling with loneliness and having no support system also causes anxiety and depression. Feelings of isolation are more pronounced amongst new hires who haven’t formed bonds yet.
Tips:
- Schedule video calls and virtual hangouts to maintain some face-to-face social interaction. Video chats feel more personal than just audio.
- Organise remote team building activities, quizzes, cook-alongs or other virtual events to build connections.
- Use collaboration tools like Slack for casual watercooler-style chats with co-workers.
- Allow time for casual socialising at the start of meetings instead of only discussing tasks.
Difficulty Unplugging
Without the natural work-life separation provided by commuting, employees may struggle to step away from work. When the office is just a few steps away, the temptation to overwork and burn the midnight oil is very real.
Working longer but not smarter leads to burnout. Remote employees may obsessively monitor emails well past working hours and constantly check task lists. Days blend together when there’s no set start and end time. Taking proper breaks also gets neglected which affects rejuvenation.
Tips:
- Create set work hours and stick to them. Resist the urge to multi-task outside your scheduled hours.
- Build little rituals like changing into casual clothes that signal to your brain that the workday has ended.
- Set up out-of-office email alerts during non-working hours.
- Designate separate spaces for work and relaxation if possible.
- Make time for breaks, both during work and after work. Stepping away boosts creativity.
Lack of Motivation
In an office setting, being around others focused on their work helps boost motivation. The buzz of activity and chatter creates an energetic environment. Without this when working solo from home, it’s easy to feel uninspired and unproductive.
Mundane home environments can make focusing on work tedious. There are also many distractions at home competing for attention. Setting and achieving goals is harder without colleagues for accountability and encouragement. Procrastination and laziness tend to creep in.
Tips:
- Dress like you’re going into the office to get into a work mindset. Avoid staying in pyjamas!
- Create and stick to a daily routine and schedule to provide structure and focus.
- Schedule demanding tasks for when you have the most energy and motivation.
- Set up regular check-ins and accountability systems with managers and colleagues.
- Use productivity tools to track tasks, manage time and meet targets and deadlines.
- Reward yourself after reaching milestones or completing difficult tasks.
By being aware of these common remote work challenges, employees can take steps to create a productive home office environment. While working from home provides flexibility, it requires adjustments to mimic effective work structures. Implementing some of these tips can help overcome the most common issues faced when working remotely.