4 Common Obstacles Remote Workers Experience and How To Overcome Them

Remote working is a term we have all become familiar with throughout the last two years. What was once a flexible working option offered to a handful of individuals has become something that most office workers are doing. With the recent news that introverts have thrived in these environments, and with companies big and small expressing an interest in continuing to work remotely, we have every faith this is something that is set to continue as we make our way into the new year and beyond. 

While remote working has certainly enabled companies to continue working as normal, it would be naïve to smooth over the obstacles remote workers face when adapting to this new way of working. As briefly mentioned previously, some people have thrived in this environment, but there will undoubtedly be some others who have found themselves struggling at varying points. 

Much like in the office workspace, there are obstacles at home to overcome to complete your job to the fullest extent. Interested in finding out a little more about these obstacles, but most importantly, how best to overcome them? Read on for more. 

1. Being Comfortable When Working

This is sure to be up there at the top of the list of obstacles that remote workers face in this day and age. When working from home, you want to ensure you are as comfortable as possible; having a numb butt or legs is sure to be distracting during one of your many zoom calls!

While nothing stops you from working at the coffee table or using the sofa as your workspace, this is not something that is suitable as a long-term solution. Sitting on something like this is sure to cause a twinge in your back, which could cause more problems over time. At the same time, it is important to distinguish and uphold a separation between the working space in your home and the areas in which you relax.

Creating an at-home office filled with suitable furniture and equipment will ensure you can complete your job to the fullest extent while remaining as comfortable as possible while doing so. If you find yourself without a specific room in your home, in which you could turn into a home office, using room separators and the likes is an ideal substitution. 

2. Remaining Productive Throughout The Day

We feel right in saying there are more distractions around you in your home than there would be in the workplace. From other family members being at home – whether through working from home or online schooling – to the precious family pet being needy, you might often find yourself drawn from your laptop screen and workload at various times of the day. 

Creating an area in the home for your office is one way of minimizing the distractions around you and is recommended by many who have been working from home for some time. Creating a routine and sticking to it is also something you should be thinking about when working from home. The temptation to work in your pajamas is sure to remain high but quash this habit as soon as you can; if you feel the part, you are sure to execute it as well.

Productivity at home is something that we feel most people have struggled with at some point or another. While most employers understand their employees will be slightly more distracted than they usually would be, remote employees must take it upon themselves to find ways around this. Finding what works best for you and fits into your routine will go a long way and ensure you continue to complete your job to the best standard.

3. Feelings Of Loneliness and Isolation

Social interaction is a key part of the workplace model. This includes chatting with your remote team members throughout the day and collaborating in person on projects you are working on. Remote working throws a metaphorical spanner in the works. Socialization and human interaction levels are reduced significantly when working from home, even when using video conferencing and messaging platforms to stay in contact.

While there is no doubt these means of team communication make a bit of a difference in how one might be feeling, it is not a full substitute for chats with colleagues around the coffee station. When experiencing feelings like these, it is important to make it clear to your manager or superior; they will be able to work alongside you to combat them while referring you to any resources that might prove helpful.

At the same time, there are measures you can take as an individual to tackle these feelings of loneliness and isolation, including setting aside a section of your day to talk with your colleagues, not just about work, but about in your personal life too. Doing what you can, both individually and collectively, will ensure that the wider team feels connected.

4. Technology Troubles

We have all been victims to our laptops deciding to update at the most inconvenient moments, and it often feels like it is when we have the most to do! Experiencing technology problems is something that was commonplace in an office environment but is something that extends to the home working environments too. From the likes of poor broadband speeds to loading speeds remaining low, these are obstacles that many workers face, which can be challenging to tackle.

Should you find you are experiencing slow broadband, consider getting a Wi Fi extender for your home or connecting your device manually using an ethernet cable. On the other hand, you could consider contacting your provider and negotiating for a different package, including faster speeds. 

Regarding your laptop updates, checking whether there are any updates at the end of the working day before logging off is always recommended. It would prevent the laptop from updating during crucial parts of your day. Not to mention, these updates are often released as a means of securing your device from third parties while also ensuring your laptop can use any software or programs relevant to your job. 

Many obstacles crop up throughout the working day; some will disrupt your working rhythm, while some will not. Knowing how best to tackle and overcome them is the best way of navigating this process and ensures you remain a motivated and exemplary member of the team when you work from home!

Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!