Remote work challenges and tips on how to overcome them
Remote work has gone sky-high in recent years — no doubt about that.
In fact, by 2025, a whopping 36.2 million people in the US will be working entirely remotely, according to an Upwork study.
Even though remote work is beneficial in so many ways (such as making your own work schedule, etc.), #distance working may bring along certain hiccups on the road.
To get more insight into the topic, we contacted some remote workers who shared their biggest challenges while working remotely.?
Furthermore, they provided thorough advice on how to sidestep the said challenges, so read on to get more info!
Remote work challenge #1: Isolation
Lack of human interaction seems to be the hardest burden to take on when working remotely. What some might take for granted (spontaneous office chatter or face-to-face interactions, for example) others would describe as one of the biggest things they miss about working on-site.
How to overcome remote-work isolation?
Most of the remote workers we contacted agree on several things:
Remote work challenge #2: Poor work-life balance
Another huge challenge when working from home is finding the right balance between work and life.?
Many interviewees told us they find it difficult to draw the line between work and non-work hours. Some of them have trouble committing to work (especially parents with children), while others find themselves constantly working.
Brian Nagele , the CEO of a remote digital marketing company, claims that working remotely can impact your biological prime time:
“Working from home means having to divide your attention between personal matters and business in the most unexpected moments. The impulse to complete all personal tasks before anything else results in spending late nights up at work and throwing off your circadian rhythm.”?
??Stick around and read the following blog post on surviving long work hours: How to cope with working long hours?
How to maintain quality work-life balance
Most of the tips on finding the right work-life balance, which our contributors shared with us, come down to:
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Remote work challenge #3: Distractions?
Noisy neighbors, kids running around, dogs barking — they are everywhere. Staying in ‘work mode’ can be quite a challenge.
How to beat remote work distractions?
Our interviewees gave some really valuable advice on dealing with remote work distractions.
Most of them come down to setting up your own workstation where you will isolate yourself and feel the most comfortable while working.
??Don’t miss out on this amazing article on workplace distraction statistics: Effects of workplace distractions in 2023: Crucial statistics
Remote work challenge #4: Working across time zones
Quite often, remote or freelance work includes working for foreign companies. Such work conditions pose yet another challenge — having to adjust to different time zones. Consequently, remote teams have a hard time staying in touch and providing support when there’s a large time difference.?
We sat down with Kirill Sajaev , the founder of a digital marketing agency that employs remote-based teams, who stresses the importance of attending meetings no matter the time zone:?
“Global teams are at risk of falling behind and having to reschedule brainstorming sessions and catching up. The presence of each member is crucial to the success of many.”
How to work across time zones
Kirill gave us simple yet effective advice — agree on a shared working time zone and create a team calendar. What’s more, try using a project management tool like Plaky — great for managing teams and projects across time zones.
Treat remote work the same as any other “regular” job?
Even though it comes with its share of challenges, remote workers should treat their job just as any other out there. Sure, some adjustments need to be made, but by incorporating the remote work tips we came to know — it can be a walk in the park.
?? Remember to:?
?? How do you deal with remote work challenges??