Working from home is a dream for many people. The idea of earning a living from the serenity of your home where you can also take care of your family and yourself is comforting and exciting.
If this pandemic has done anything great for us, it has been the broadscale revelation that working from home can be just as efficient, productive, and profitable as going in to the office. Many of us knew it all along, and loads of companies now know it too. But just like the workplace has its unique challenges, so does working from home. There are things you must overcome to get the most out of your experience.
Here are 10 of the top challenges of working from home in 2022 and how you can deal with them.
Related: Remote Vs. Hybrid Work Models: A Complete Guide For 2022
1 Blurred Work-Life Boundaries
When you went to the workplace, you had clearly defined hours. There was a start and finish time, even if you worked a little overtime in a pinch. But when working from home, those lines can get blurred. You may start earlier, skip lunch, and work far later into the day than you usually would. You may even work some weekends. This can be because of the unrealistic expectations of your employer, or you're putting undue pressure on yourself. Either way, stress levels can mount.
Fix this by determining set work hours and only deviating in extreme situations. If the pressure is coming from your boss, consider talking with them (or your HR rep) about realistic expectations. And finally, remember that taking care of yourself is essential! Don't skip meals and include activity in your day.
2 Managing Your Schedule and Time
At home, it's easy to procrastinate, oversleep, and lose track of time. We all need structure, and the workplace gives us that. But you can recreate a structured environment with a schedule. Determine work hours for yourself, including meal breaks. These hours don't have to be the usual 9 to 5 unless your particular work demands it. You can decide to work your most productive hours. But once you determine a schedule, try to stick to it.
3 Communication and Coordination Challenges
A part of productive work is communication and coordination. Those things are challenging enough face-to-face, but online is even more complicated. All of the non-verbal communication we rely on is removed from the equation, and now it's all phone calls and video conferencing. These are good, but they can hinder productivity when there are too many of them.
Try to be as prepared for meetings as possible to avoid wasted time, and incorporate software to get you and your colleagues in synch on assignments.
4 Distractions
It can be hard to focus on your work when all your personal stuff surrounds you, or you could be watching Netflix, or your kids want your attention. We sound like a broken record on this, but this can be helped by a schedule that restricts your time, sealing out distractions.
Ideally, you should have a dedicated space for work. Then you can keep it distraction-free. If a separate area isn't possible (or even if it is), you can try noise-canceling headphones and set rules with your family.
Related: Don’t Just Support Remote Workers. Empower Them.
5 Unclear Performance Metrics
Working from home looks different than working in the office. This can mean that measuring your job performance becomes a challenge for you and your supervisor. Counting how long you sit at your desk isn't a good measure of productivity or quality of work. It's that thinking that minimizes the effectiveness of working from home. You and your supervisor need to determine new metrics of success. For instance, deadlines may help, or if you deal with customer service, maybe customer feedback can measure how you're doing.
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6 Motivation and Long Term Vision
It's easy to lose motivation and long-term perspective when isolated at home. You can lose your competitive edge without the input and interactions of coworkers and supervisors. But you can combat this by reminding yourself of your goals by writing, journaling, or trying the buddy system. Get together with a fellow remote worker or self-employed friend to encourage and motivate one another.
7 Social Isolation
Although we are social beings, some people thrive in a work-from-home environment while others suffer. Isolation can lead to mental health issues and poor work performance. It can also cause problems in team cohesion.
Fix this by creating a sense of comradery by using group communication tools so that you can talk to one another outside of work meetings.
8 Reduced Supervision and Direction
Reduced supervision sounds like a pro of working from home, not a con. But the truth is that some people need their bosses' supervision, direction, and feedback. Without it, they lose their way.
To avoid this:
- Keep in close communication with your boss.
- Ask for their feedback and direction.
- Talk with them about your progress, priorities, and challenges.
If you're self-employed, try to set weekly and daily goals that you review periodically throughout the day and week.
9 Lack of Professionalism
Whether or not your office is at home or in a more formal setting, you must be professional. Inappropriate jokes, neglecting deadlines or financial obligations, logging in late to meetings, or allowing your work quality to slide are all mistakes you can make working remotely. Just because you're in a relaxed environment doesn't mean that your work quality should dive. Be mindful of being professional in every way, so someone seeing your work, meeting with you, or reading a communication from you, can't tell whether you're at home or in the office.
10 Working in Your PJs
It's easy to let professionalism slide when working informally from home. Does it matter if you wear athletic wear or pajamas to do your work? It depends. There are times when it's perfectly acceptable to dress comfortably - you're at home, after all. But sometimes our clothing also affects our behavior and overall attitude. If your work means connecting with clients or customers, or having frequent business meetings, you should consider upscaling your attire. Dressing more professionally will affect your attitude.
Related: Your Guide To A Better Remote Work Experience
Final Thoughts
Working from home is a great opportunity. But there are many challenges for all the good that comes from it. These challenges aren't insurmountable. You can remedy them with a bit of forethought and creativity.
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