The Biggest Work From Home Challenges and How to Combat Them

The Biggest Work From Home Challenges and How to Combat Them

Forget long, traffic-filled commutes to the office, clocking in and out, quick lunch breaks at your favorite spot around the corner, holiday parties, and Christmas packages. Slowly but surely, remote working has become a mainstream practice for businesses and entrepreneurs alike which have started to utilize technology to their advantage.

Although there are many benefits of teleworking, millions of people worldwide can also attest to its challenges. Below we’ll take a look at some of the biggest complications that can arise.

Defining your office space

Hands down the most talked-about issue with working from home is the struggle to draw the line between your job, the space needed to work, and your life and the space needed to live it comfortably. With teleworking, those lines are blurred and clouded. You no longer have the option to leave your home for a building that is designated solely for work. To overcome this challenge, employees and business owners must find a way to cultivate that space within their home in a way that makes those lines more clearly defined.

work from home - office space
Nowadays with the digitization of business, remote work is becoming commonplace in a variety of industries

For example, transforming a spare bedroom into an office, or purchasing the right accessories to make your living room more work-friendly; no matter how big or small the change is, will benefit you significantly in the long-term.

If by chance you struggle with the concept of being at home Monday-Friday for work, consider going to a quiet café or restaurant two days a week where you can experience a different work environment. Sometimes the best work is done in an entirely new space. In fact, talented strategy player Charlie Carrel won a huge real-money competition in 2017, all while playing on a laptop inside a Starbucks equipped with just a Wi-Fi connection and his own skill. It just goes to show that whether you’re in the office, at home, or in a coffee shop, your ability to perform well largely depends on you and what you make of your space.

Managing frequent distractions

The doorbell rings, the sirens of an ambulance scream out, the dishwasher turns rapidly, and one thousand other tiny noises vie for your attention. A common occurrence when working from home, it can be difficult to manage the ongoing distractions that an office space normally does a better job of blocking out. However, your work time is valuable and focusing during work is crucial.

To combat interruptions, notify people in advance that you will be unavailable for deliveries or personal calls/visits during your work time. Also, utilize focus applications to help you stay committed to your concentration. Available for both Android and iPhone users, their goal is to get you into the habit of getting things done so that you have the opportunity to take those much-needed breaks in-between sessions.

work from home - distractions
Taking your laptop to a café or outdoor space can be another great way to switch up the mundane work week and socialize with others in the process

Normalizing working in pajamas

A common habit that is quite easy to fall into, but one that is actually detrimental to productivity, is working in pajamas. While it may be convenient to roll out of bed and connect to Slack in the same clothes you wore to sleep, that practice may be affecting your daily routine more than you realize.

Instead, lay out your clothes the previous night and slip into something casual, yet stylish, even if you won’t be leaving your house for the majority of the day and have no video calls. Because the common concept “dress for success” is actually backed by science, you’ll be surprised by how getting fully ready for your day can make it so much better. Also, dressing as you would for the office while at home helps you to mentally define your house as space where work is done.

Issues with technology

Since working from home relies on the constant connection of Wifi and stable internet activity, there’s no doubt that there will be some issues along the way. If you’re nervous that you will experience technological problems, one easy way to overcome this is by always having a plan B. Perhaps your mobile device can serve as a hotspot, or maybe you have a neighbor within walking distance who doesn’t mind you working from their place.

Also, make sure you are doing everything you can to prevent security threats that become more vulnerable through remote work. Whether you are a business owner or remote employee, your data is valuable, and you want to make sure it stays in your computer’s hands.