It’s an important question to ask.

Maybe you were late this morning because of a traffic jam at the coffee pot. Maybe you claimed issues with your camera for that video conference this morning in hopes of sheltering your coworkers from the truly unhinged maneuvers your hair had made throughout the night. Perhaps the only other colleague at your new office is your dog; and he’s going to need a full report on playtime within the hour.

At first, working from home can sound like a walk in the park. Nobody can steal your lunch (or at least there are fewer culprits to interview in the investigation). You don’t have to leave the house, and heck, it’s day two and you just realized showers are now rendered obsolete. Unfortunately, while it can initially sound like a dream come true, working from home quickly presents its own array of challenges.

The Trouble with Focus

Transitioning from going to the office every day to working from home presents a shift in perspective. We’re mentally comfortable with leaving the house each day, and our commutes, both physically and psychologically, separate our work life from our home life. Working at home obviously negates this change, and the prospect of mentally adjusting yourself to being productive in an environment of relative leisure is no easy task.

Ironically, when working from home, you lose a measure of control over your work environment. Maybe you have family calling you throughout the day, assuming you’re available and not really working. Perhaps your pets are harassing you constantly for attention as they try to make the most of their favorite people being nearby around the clock. Or maybe you’re finding it hard to recognize your home office as a “workplace”, and you find Netflix is accounting for large portions of your 8-hour shift.

It would be impossible to detail all of the possible distractions that can inundate a remote employee during their day. But even these few examples begin to illustrate the reality of remote work.

Though, distractions alone fail to describe the full picture.

It can be difficult to form or maintain fruitful relationships with colleagues when all correspondence is done through messaging software of weekly Zoom calls. Projects become harder to undertake without the constant updates and face-to-face debriefings that might take place in an office. It may become difficult to take a break or call it quits for the day – this becomes especially true if you’re working on a large project.

Alone these might sound like small inconveniences, but when working remotely and dealing with the full scope of challenges imposed by the setting, you soon come to realize just how difficult it can be to be both happy and effective in your position.

Re-evaluating Remote

We don’t mean to make the situation seem bleak but are instead interested in observing and highlighting the obstacles – all in hopes of coming up with potential solutions that can help to mitigate our remote stressors.

First of all, one of the most important things a remote employee can do is to stop thinking of your new work setting as only temporary. Whether this is your first week working from home, or you’ve been at it for months, it’s important that you do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable now. Even a few small changes can help you reset your remote space and get back to being happy and productive.

• Establish your space.
  If possible, try to set up your workstation in an area away from where you spend large parts of your leisure time. This will not only help you avoid unwanted distractions but will also offer some form of work-life separation. Give yourself a small post-work “commute” from your work area to your leisure areas and you may find it easier to stay focused, and step away when you’re done for the day.
  
  
• Use your weekend.
  While working at home, it can be tempting to put things on hold and start tackling chores or home projects that you need to get done. Use your weekend to freshen up the house and get yourself ready for another week.
  
  
• Get ready for your day.
  It may sound like a great idea to log into the computer in sweats and a t-shirt – but sometimes taking the time to get ready as usual can help you feel prepared for the day. If you haven’t been, take the time to get ready! You’ll have more free time when you step away from work, and it can help stem some of the cabin fever working from home can sometimes present.
  
  
• Realize the benefits of your situation.
  Remote work isn’t all bad. For some, it’s completely refreshed the way they consider their job. You save money on gas, can eat at home rather than eating out, and can often still see your coworkers through video meetings. It can be easier to compensate for time lost to doctor’s appointments or other obligations when your office is only a room away. See what kind of strides you can make in your work while you have the opportunity and prove to your team that you can adapt and overcome the challenges set before you!
  
  

Remote work isn’t all bad. For some, it’s completely refreshed the way they consider their job. You save money on gas, can eat at home rather than eating out, and can often still see your coworkers through video meetings. It can be easier to compensate for time lost to doctor’s appointments or other obligations when your office is only a room away. See what kind of strides you can make in your work while you have the opportunity and prove to your team that you can adapt and overcome the challenges set before you!