Telecommuting. Remote work. Working from home. Virtual job. Whatever you call it, this kind of work setup has certain realities you need to understand and embrace to be productive and successful in your career.
1. People may not believe you’re actually working.
If you’re new to working from home, you have to face the reality that many people won’t understand that you’re really working. Your family and friends might expect you to do some errands during mid-day. Or, they may not understand that you also experience such stress and difficulties in your job like any regular employee.
And while it doesn’t matter what they think, it’s better if you explain your situation to them. Change their perception about your work set up so you can establish clear boundaries about when you can’t be interrupted, especially during client meetings.
2. Distractions can be a huge challenge.
Yes, you’d have a lot of distractions that can interrupt your work and adversely affect your productivity. Whether it’s the kids, other family members, pets (dogs and roosters, ahem!), TV noise, your housemates or neighbors — you name it.
There are clients who may find it “unprofessional” to encounter any background noise while you’re in a meeting. If that’s the case, you will need to set aside your own workspace and invest in a noise-canceling headphone. However, there are companies who can ignore these interruptions because they understand that it’s only part of the work from home setting. They give more value to the employee’s efficiency, productivity, and output, so it’s all up to you to try and minimize these distractions and stay focused.
3. Household chores and other personal tasks may have to wait.
Because you’re “technically” at home, you might’ve thought you’ll have more time to do the dishes, pick up the laundry, or get some groceries. But these tasks will have to wait if you want to properly use your time during your work hours. Communicate to others about your schedule, and stick to it. However, this situation is understandable for many WFH parents who take care of their small kids and don’t have household help.
4. It needs a lot of discipline.
Distractions are all around you. There’s always a need to resist the gravitational pull of your comfy bed or stop midway through your tasks to see cat videos and answer Buzzfeed quizzes on Facebook. But keep in mind that you need to be more disciplined when you start working from home.
Since you’re no longer in a corporate 8-5 job, it’s up to you to decide how you will handle your workday. It’s all about productivity — to be disciplined enough and self-motivated to ignore distractions and focus on your tasks. You might struggle at first, but sooner you will know what works best for you so you can accomplish your KPIs.
5. You’ll have the tendency to be more productive — and eventually overwork.
Despite all the possible interruptions you need to contend with at home, remote employees are proven to be more productive. A 2-year study by Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom showed that there’s an astounding productivity boost among telecommuters because they are working a true full-shift (or more) compared to being late to the office or leaving early.
Remember that many remote workers are being evaluated on their output rather than on how many times they took their breaks, what time they arrived in the office, or how late they stayed. But since there won’t be any managers or workmates sitting across you who can see the burnout in your eyes and tell that you’d already accomplished a good day’s work, you could also wind up working too hard.
6. Setting up designated work hours is important.
If you want to achieve that work-life balance, you need to structure your day like you would in an office setting. Keep a fine line on when you have to work, and when you can enjoy some personal time.
If your client gave you a schedule (e.g. graveyard shift), then it might be easier for you to manage your day-to-day tasks. However, if your work hours are flexible, try to set up a strict schedule for yourself that you and your family can comply with. For example, if you have small children you may have to take advantage of their time in school to finish your work uninterrupted.
7. Cabin fever is real.
Regardless of your personality, the one downside of working from home is you may feel too much isolation. Cabin fever is real even if you’re the type of person who enjoys long stretches of uninterrupted time alone. There’ll be moments when you realize you haven’t been outside or haven’t talked to another human being (aside from those who live in the house with you) in days.
This emotional isolation can lead to social awkwardness when it’s time for you to interact with other people. Don’t make it to the point that you forget how to make small talks or behave in social events. Other remote workers even decide to work a few days a week in public places like coffee shops, libraries, and co-working spaces, because it helps to simulate a work environment.
Just remember that at the end of the day, you need to be honest with yourself, face these hurdles, and do what works best for you.
If you’re currently working from home, how are you coping with these challenges? If you’re thinking about shifting to remote work life, what do you think will be your biggest setback? Let us hear your thoughts! If you’re looking for amazing WFH opportunities, just visit our Recruitment Page for more details!