Top Remote Working Challenges and Solutions

At this point, you understand that remote work is hardly sunshine and flowers. But you may not know these problems, let alone make efforts to solve them.

Below is a rundown of the most common remote working challenges and how to handle them:

Problems with time management

That remote work saves time is beyond doubt. You don’t have to travel miles to get to work and spend precious hours on busy roads. It increases the time available to you and makes completing tasks easier. The problem is, having too much time on your hands can make time management difficult. Of course, this might sound counterintuitive, but it’s a fact backed by countless studies.

Working from home gives you the illusion of having more time, so you indulge in distractions like binging on TV shows. In reality, remote work gives you more time to do other stuff, such as cleaning, cooking, and exercise. Poor time management will lead to missed deadlines, which will strain your relationship with your boss. Believe it or not, getting berated during video meetings hurts like it would if it was in person.

To solve time management issues, you should:

• Take stock of all the activities that need your attention. Only then will you be able to create a realistic schedule to control your time.
• Creating a to-do list is also great for achieving better time management.
• Time tracking tools are another recommendable resource to monitor time spent on activities.
• Finally, leaving your home for a public workspace can reduce distractions and lessen misuse of time. While some public workspaces may be expensive, you can get affordable ones and watch your productivity grow.

Technological difficulties

Nothing defines remote work more than its reliance on technology. Besides the usual equipment like a PC, you need a stable Wi-Fi connection and technological aids. But devices can break down, and that’s where the problem lies. Your PC may fail and wipe every file stored on it. Your network connectivity may drop and make it difficult to maintain an online connection. These technical difficulties can frustrate your remote work efforts. Some, like power outages, can even make remote working impossible.

Nevertheless, you can manage these difficulties with good preparation. For instance, backing up your files to a cloud-based storage will protect them from getting wiped in a system crash. You can also make contingency plans for handling connection problems. For example, you can pay for Wi-Fi plans from two providers. If one malfunctions, you can switch networks.

To cope with power outages, invest in a solar inverter or any device that can power your devices in the absence of regular electricity supply. Doing this is important if your work requires a constant online presence.

Lack of interaction

When remote work became widely accepted in companies, many were elated to be away from their co-workers. According to them, remote work removed the burden of dealing with unpleasant colleagues and engaging in endless squabbles. However, the same individuals would rue the days when they weren’t facing a computer screen without having people to interact with.

What many fail to realize is that interaction is a human need, regardless of dislike for people. Working remotely removes channels of interaction, which may cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Taking “social breaks” can help remote workers overcome feeling lonely. A social break means pausing work to participate in a social activity where you can interact with others.

Your social break could involve lunching with friends, visiting the local park, or even heading out to get a cup of coffee. Better still, you can organize a virtual Happy Hour and invite your colleagues. If your need for interaction is strong, working at a remote workspace or coffee shop may do the trick. There, you’d find fellow remote workers and strike up conversations with them.

Communication problems

True to the name, everything about remote work is indeed remote, including communication with colleagues. Instead of meetings, you have to make do with e-mail and other remote communication tools.

Remote communication won’t likely pose problems if you’re a natural communicator. However, individuals who have issues expressing themselves may find it difficult to handle this mode of communication. Even natural communicators may have issues. Take, for instance, a colleague who misinterprets your statements and throws an online fit.

Solving communication issues that come with remote working is easy if you’re committed. First, invest in resources such as videos, courses, and books that can make you a better communicator. Second, cross-check your statements to avoid appearing overbearing, critical, or condescending. Also, take care to clarify always to prevent misinterpretation.

If you are a team leader, mandate periodic virtual meetings to discuss tasks, goals, projects, and other work-related issues. Encourage everyone to participate in these discussions, as it improves communication and team-building efforts.

Low levels of motivation

No matter how some deny it, remote work lacks the motivation found in shared working spaces. There are no coworkers to praise you when your project wraps up successfully. And there’s no boss to keep you on your toes until the task is completed. These things contribute to the low morale that remote workers experience. Something as simple as leaving bed to work may take extreme effort owing to inadequate motivation.

A good way to keep yourself motivated is to schedule periodic check-ins with your boss. Receiving positive feedback can increase your willingness to perform and improve performance. Say, you head a team and discover morale of members is low. You can organize virtual sessions to celebrate major achievements and encourage employees.

You should also make a habit of dropping in to remind co-workers of their tasks. Having the boss remind you of a looming deadline is often enough motivation to start on a task.

Poor work-life balance

Remote work makes it harder to maintain work-life balance. Even when you finish your tasks, there’s the urge to turn on the PC to tweak a small detail in the project. Unsurprisingly, many remote workers often fall into the trap of overworking, which is exacerbated by the lack of defined work hours. Overworking, or poor work-life balance, can lead to increased burnouts.

Striking a balance between life and work while working from home starts with taking breaks at intervals. Taking a break from work might sound simple, but it requires an extreme level of effort.

Here’s how to make break-taking easier:

• Set reminders on your computer and device(s) to pause work briefly.
• Ensure you turn off your devices to prevent temptations to indulge in work during your break.
• Leave your work area during the break. If you remain next to your PC, the urge to switch it on may be overpowering. Hence, exiting your workspace or office when taking a break is advisable.
• Another way to hit work-life balance is to define your work hours. Without a definite schedule, it is easy to get caught in an infinite loop of work without breaks.

A good tip is to treat remote work like your office work in terms of work hours. If your regular office work runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, try to stick to this schedule while working remotely.

You might need to tell your coworkers to avoid bringing work-related issues during your “off-hours”. That said, turning off your device’s notifications can prevent anyone from luring you into work.

Increased interruptions

Interruptions are a constant when working from home. Your kids might hound you to set up a meal just as family members may pay unexpected visits. These distractions can be frustrating and reduce productivity.

Mitigating interruptions begins with separating your workspace or office. Ensure that your family and friends understand interrupting you while in the “office” is prohibited. Also, you can get a daycare for your kids if they interrupt you constantly.

If you have extended family members always dropping in unexpectedly, then you should explain that this is affecting your focus. Communicate your work hours and say, “I’ll appreciate if you only visit me outside of my work hours.”

Be strict about your work hours. Friends and family members may pay your talk no attention unless they see that you’re serious. If someone visits while you’re at work, turn them away kindly. Do the same if someone calls during work.

Whether you are looking for jobs with more flexibility or looking to enjoy work-life balance, remote work offers several advantages over traditional workplaces. To get the best out of this arrangement, it is important to identify remote working challenges and how to resolve them for optimum performance.