Work from home challenges and how to cope

Working from home was an idea in the past that employers were hesitant to implement. They were comfortable with seeing employees on site. However, when the pandemic started they all had to adapt and figure out how to work remotely. When the world has slowly returned to normal life, people have realized that it's truly possible to work from home. There are many advantages to it that's why a lot of employees would prefer to have this option.

Nevertheless, just like everything, it also has its own disadvantages.

What are the challenges?

Here are the challenges I personally experienced when I transitioned to working from home.

1. Being disconnected from the team

Working from home also means not being able to have that physical interaction with your colleagues. There is a big difference between being together physically and virtually. There is no quick chit-chat during coffee breaks or having lunch together. These are moments when you could talk about work and discuss some situations with your colleagues. You could have solutions to problems during these moments. When you work from home, you could only send a quick chat or an email to communicate with your team. There's no sense of being a team and work is more individualized.

To manage this, I communicate with my colleagues a lot. If I need to vent, I send them a chat and they are kind enough to reply. Sometimes, I express things to my Team Leader. Keeping an open line of communication is very important when working from home.

2. Feelings of isolation

Facing that computer all day could be really isolating. We are social creatures so it's normal for us to seek that connection with people. This could be a struggle for extroverts, however it is for introverts too. Furthermore, if you live alone, the feeling of isolation is even more.

I work at night too, therefore, I have no time to socialize after work. What I do is I try to hang out with my friends and family on weekends. I have set in my mind that Monday to Friday is work mode and Saturday to Sunday is for socializing.

3. Overworking

Contrary to what employees believe, people work more when they are at home. It's more difficult to switch off that laptop and stop working. There are no clear boundaries between personal and professional life. This could lead to burnout.

To prevent this, set a fixed time to finish work. You don't have to finish everything on that day. When you have switched off your laptop, stop checking emails on your phone and leave everything for the next day.

4. Distractions at home

Since we are in the comforts of our home, it's so easy to get lost in distractions such as social media, television, or children if you have them.

Get a dedicated space for work. Avoid working on your bed or couch. Invest in a good desk and chair, and only do work in your dedicated space. Get away from your phone if you need to focus.

Here are more tips to help you cope

1. Establish a routine

Having a routine is very important. Wake up at the same hour every day, exercise, and take a bath before work. My routine is I wake up, eat breakfast, do yoga, take a bath and finally prepare for work. I won’t advise waking up really late, like 15 minutes before your work starts. It’s really tempting to sleep more since you don’t have to commute however, give yourself time for self-care.

2. Manage your time

There are only 24 hours in a day and it's so complicated to fit everything into your schedule.

What I do is block specific hours on my calendar. I listed all the things I need to do during the day and find a time slot when I could do them. I also set aside time for myself and my hobbies. This way I'm not too overwhelmed with my personal and professional life mixing together at home.

3. Adopt a pet

If you are alone, it’s good to have a pet. They can give you companionship. I hug my pet cat whenever I feel stressed out and It’s really comforting. According to the CDC, They can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels.

The takeaway

Everything has its own advantages and disadvantages, the key is balancing and weighing them. If you could manage the disadvantages then it's worth sticking to it. I found liberation and newfound freedom in working from home. It was difficult to handle things at the beginning but with the tips I shared, things have become easier.

Related topics:

1. Why I have chosen to work from home permanently.