5 Common Remote Working Challenges And Tips To Overcome Them
Alex Oshunloye, MBA, PIM
Digital Marketing Professional, Mentor & Assessor | ICT Project Manager | Author | Innovator | Google & Microsoft Ads Certified | AI Enthusiast | CyberSecurity Trainee
Remote work has long been a common choice for professionals all around the world. Many people wished they could operate remotely and vowed they would not let this moment pass them by. Since the Covid-19 pandemic allowed many of us to work from home, We have to admit that remote working is simply too appealing, particularly when you want to spend more time with your loved ones. There are also other advantages of working from home like no more driving hassles, no more stressing about what to wear to a client meeting, and no more nibbling on junk snacks at the workplace cafeteria.
But, despite all the perks remote workers enjoy, there are a number of challenges that arise from working out of the office. Here are some common challenges that remote workers are facing every day and find tips to overcome them:
1: Technology Hiccups:
When you are at work, the odds of a power or internet failure are very slim, because even though there is a technological problem, no one can blame you. Furthermore, you are not liable for resolving any technical issues that have arisen. When you work remotely, If your internet service isn’t running properly or your machine is acting strangely, you’ll have to take over to get things back on track.
Tip- Before making the switch to remote work, you can first decide what you need in terms of technology to help your work. You should also consider whether the new internet access is adequate for the job or whether you need to update it. It is important to have a computer advisor by your side that you can contact if you encounter a technological problem that you are unable to fix on your own.
2: Team Communication:
Another issue that may arise for remote workers is a lack of effective contact among teammates. Obstacles such as overlapping plans, lengthy delays for feedback on projects, and a lack of teamwork resources make it much more difficult to exchange thoughts with peers.
Tip- One way to solve these challenges is to engage with your peers across the right channels. For example, special networking methods such as Skype, Slack, and GoToMeeting; if you manage a team, schedule a weekly recap date on which you can speak with your team about mission success, future priorities and expectations, and any other work-related issues. Also, using apps for remote teams, such as RemoteCamp, to help you track your team’s work and progress.
3: Staying Motivation:
It is common for remote workers to work in an environment where no one is pressuring them to take their daily tasks more seriously. As a result, you always need to motivate yourself and manage your work in accordance with time constraints. Otherwise, you will spend most of the day procrastinating and lose track of your deadlines.
Tip- To stay motivated, set goals for yourself on a regular basis and create to-do lists to keep track of your activities for the day. It’s also a smart practice to reserve the most difficult tasks for certain hours of the day when you are most active. You can also start a cycle of trying and identifying items that help you stay inspired and giving your best at work.
4: Distraction:
Getting used to a new workspace can be difficult, particularly if it includes children, pets, TV, couches, snacks, or some combination of the above. Without an organized workplace atmosphere to make you feel like you’re in “job mode,” it can be difficult to get in the groove and stop distractions.
Tip- The best scenario for working from home is to have a separate space where you can focus exclusively on your job. This makes you equate the room with working, and it frees up the remainder of your living space for relaxing throughout the evening. Try to update the news only once or twice a day, at predetermined hours. Set a timer on how much time you’ll be reading up on news headlines. Do not update your newsfeed between set hours, and when your timer goes off, put your phone aside and try to concentrate on something important. While keeping up with trends is clearly vital, it is also important to protect your own mental health from anxiety overload.
5: Overworking:
Switching off becomes difficult when you combine your personal and professional lives under the same roof. The reason is that it is difficult to draw a hard line between when to start working and when to finish. Also, the value of taking breaks while working from home is not usual.
Tip- If you do not wish to pass out as a result of overworking, you must be proactive when working from home. This will be done in simple ways by following small changes in your routine like turning off phone and screen alerts that can tempt you to work after hours, setting up reminders to take breaks, being certain that all meetings on the calendar are scheduled until the end of the day and creating physical barriers between yourself and your home office.
Working at home provides a variety of benefits in addition to control. This provides, among other things, the freedom to work in your ideal environment, experience versatility, and achieve higher efficiency. The information provided above will assist you in overcoming the challenges of working from home in order to maximize your time.
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