Meta — Remote work is exciting, but since you are away from the office, it presents a set of challenges that might leave you overwhelmed. Smart planning backed by some cool hacks can help you in making a truly great experience.
The rise of remote work means greater flexibility and convenience. There have been several reports too which show that remote work makes employees more productive and result-oriented than office arrangements. Backed by all this, remote work is in great trend. Just a year ago, in 2023, 28% of workdays were worked remotely, which is a significant increase from 7% in 2019. That’s a 4x increase to be specific.
With such a rise in the popularity of remote work, you might also want to go for it. In case you are already working remotely or wish to do so soon, these expert tips on how to overcome the typical challenges associated with remote work and be successful in your career will help you tremendously.
Technology problems
Glitchy internet connection, software issues, and hardware failures (phone or laptop) can disrupt your workflow and cause unnecessary frustration. To make matters worse, there is no physical help available, and remote support might not be able to solve the problem. To overcome this challenge, you should invest in a reliable internet connection that offers sufficient bandwidth. Regularly update your software and have backup plans for hardware malfunctions. Use cloud-based apps for easier access to data security. When you work remotely, keeping your tech in good health and ensuring data security should be your number one priority.
These typical problems with equipment contribute to a decrease in productivity, and your manager might hold you responsible for that. To ensure that there is no unwanted situation due to this, you should learn basic DIY hacks. Simple things including Mac turning off, battery not charging, screen flickering, and more can be easily handled with the help of online guides. There are simple tutorials on the link to help you gain knowledge of common Mac issues and other technical problems. So, even without any help from the technical team, you will be able to manage these issues on your own and save a lot of precious time while doing so.
Feeling isolated
Working remotely can lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection from colleagues. You keep working in some corner, away from everyone, and this can lead to mental issues like declining morale and motivation levels.
How to not feel isolated when working from home
To overcome this challenge of feeling isolated, you should schedule regular video calls with colleagues, both for work-related discussions and sometimes casual chats. Use project collaboration tools with a video conferencing feature. Take part in virtual team-building activities and online communities. Consider co-working spaces for occasional in-person interaction so that you get the much-needed change that everyone needs in a week or a month.
Working too much
The blurred line between work and personal life can lead to overworking and this slowly takes the form of stress. This is a situation that can lead to burnout and your productivity level will touch a low.
How to avoid overworking
Set clear boundaries and establish a consistent work schedule. Communicate your availability to colleagues, and avoid checking work emails or chat messages outside work hours. Always use time management tools so that you can track your progress to stay focused. Take breaks throughout the day and schedule time for relaxing and pursuing hobbies like boating, some outdoor sports, fly-fishing, etc. — anything that can keep you outdoors and give you an adrenaline rush.
Interruptions
Family members, pets, household chores, or courier deliveries can easily disrupt your focus and productivity. They set you off-track and might lead to missed deadlines.
Create a dedicated workspace that is free from distractions. Use noise-canceling headphones or work in quiet spaces during important tasks. Consider using time-blocking techniques to dedicate specific periods to focused work.
Security risks
Remote work environments can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks. This happens because there are less secure networks and personal devices compared to an office setting.
To overcome security risks, you should use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all work accounts. Use a secure VPN connection when working on public Wi-Fi. Implement data encryption for sensitive information. Ensure your company provides adequate cybersecurity training and resources.
Bad health habits
Sitting for long periods, neglecting exercise, clinging to a phone or laptop for unnecessary long hours and unhealthy snacking negatively impact your physical and mental health.
Set up an ergonomic workspace that encourages good posture. Take regular breaks to move around and do some stretching exercises. Schedule time for physical activity, even if it’s just a quick walk around the block. Plan healthy meals and snacks to avoid unhealthy temptations. Or the best thing could be to keep some fruits and nuts on your workstation so that every time you take a break, you pick them up because of their close reach.
Work-life balance
The constant accessibility of work can make it difficult to switch off and truly enjoy your personal life. Since travel time is cut down, you have more spare hours and there might be a temptation to spend those on doing office work. Online tools like generative AI for branding, text-to-video, and AI avatars are some of the new trends besides videos on social media that might keep you hooked to the laptop.
To overcome this remote work challenge, set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Avoid accessing your smartphone to check work emails or taking calls outside of work hours and install only the necessary apps. Communicate your boundaries to colleagues and respect the boundaries of others.
Conclusion
The pandemic gave the idea of remote work the much-needed boost and since then it has become the top desire of every corporate professional. The chances are that you either work remotely at present or like many others are planning to talk to your boss about it. If you have the option from your company to work remotely, the ways to overcome the typical problems and sudden issues that arise should be known to you. This will keep you highly productive and based on this, your boss won’t mind extending this work arrangement for a longer time.
