What a dream it seems to most to be able to work from the comfort of their own home. You get to choose hours best for you, work at your own pace, come to work in your pajamas, earn a considerable income, and save a lot of money on the cost of commuting and childcare. These things are all well and good, but there’s more to working from home than meets the eye.
Sure, there are a ton of perks to remote working, but like any job, there are some things that you’ll need to adjust to. Here are some things you may not have been aware of about working from home:
- There are a Lot More Distractions
Most job environments have distractions that can slow your productivity. However, when your office happens to be in the house, there are way more distractions to prepare yourself for. From the television and telephone to younger children and the fridge, you can easily get thrown off your schedule and fall behind.
How to avoid it: When you’re in an office or commercial building, there are supervisors to monitor your progress and rules that minimize distractions like internet browsing, social media, and personal calls or emails. Now that you’re home, you need to discipline yourself. Start by locating a space that is relatively quiet to work. Remove televisions, schedule eating times, send all personal calls to voicemail, and find activities to keep younger children occupied.
- You Will Get Lonely
You may not always enjoy your coworkers, but when you’re home alone, it’s pretty quiet. Sitting alone for hours at a time each day isn’t as easy as you might think. You may begin to long for social interaction and even become depressed as a result. For those who are working at home and also taking care of children, this risk is heightened as you begin to feel a lost sense of self. Some become so emotionally overwhelmed and down that they turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.
How to avoid it: If you’re loneliness has turned to depression or if you have started to rely on drugs and alcohol, you need to get help. You can look for drug and alcohol rehab centers in Georgia or any other state to kick your addiction or find a therapist that can help you deal with your depression. To keep from getting too lonely, it’s a good idea to find ways to stay social. Visit a local coffee shop where you’ll likely find other remote workers, schedule lunch dates with friends or former coworkers, or join an online social group with like-minded professionals.
- Your Health May Take a Dip
When you’re stationary for a better part of the day and you work from home, there is a high possibility that your health will decline. For starters, sitting for 8-10 hours a day can result in weight gain, eyestrain, back problems, and risk for certain diseases. When you add to that the fact that there’s a fridge loaded with food, it’s common to just snack all day long.
How to avoid it: Your health should remain a top priority. It is imperative that you take frequent breaks from the computer screen, take daily walks, set meal times, and eat nutritious meals.
There’s a lot to be desired as a remote worker, freelancer, or small business owner. Bear in mind, however, that with these perks comes some things you may not have been prepared for.
Distractions, slowed productivity, loneliness, depression, and declining health are all very common obstacles individuals who work from home have to overcome. Fortunately, many of these challenges can be avoided altogether. By utilizing the advice provided above, working from home can be comfortable, freeing, and beneficial.