Here are 5 challenges of working from home and how you can overcome them.

If the idea of not having to commute to work appeals to you, be warned, working from home is not for everyone.

Though it may have many advantages, either as a freelancer or a remote worker, it also comes with its fair share of struggles.

Where does where work time end and personal time begin?

Where does where work time end and personal time begin?
Getty Images

You may not look forward to your time in the office but when 5pm draws near, you’ll likely have a big smile on your face as you think about heading off for dinner and after-work plans.

However, if you’re living and working in the same place, it’s hard to draw the distinction and you may end up foregoing personal time.

Overcome it by: Setting very clear schedules on when you should stop working every day.

For example, if you prefer working in the evenings, set aside some personal time in the day.

Also, schedule non-work activities, such as exercise, daily so you will be forced to stop working at a certain time. Here’s how to squeeze in time for fitness.

No matter your location, you need to hone your job skills and forge alliances to keep your job, whether you work remotely or not.

Learn how to do it with our 10 savvy ways to become totally indispensable at work.

Advertisement

You are constantly distracted

You are constantly distracted
Getty Images

You can be very easily distracted at home by any number of things – your bed, the TV, the fridge, and even your pets!

It can sometimes seem like the universe is conspiring against you, especially when you have a deadline to meet.

Overcome it by: Setting up a room as your home office. When it’s time to work, close the door to minimise distractions.

If you don’t have a spare room, set up a work space at the dining table and make sure it’s not cluttered.

Use a desk and a chair and do not work from your bed.

Most importantly, you may need to learn how to take a break.

You lack discipline and end up missing deadlines

You lack discipline and end up missing deadlines
Getty Images

Working from home requires a strong sense of discipline because there are no supervisors sitting in the same office to keep you honest.

If you’re not careful, you could end up missing work deadlines.

Overcome it by: Sticking to a clear schedule as much as possible.

If you’re distracted and not able to work, take a short break and do something useful, like preparing lunch or putting some laundry in the washing machine.

Sometimes a short break is all you need to reset and get in the zone again.

Getting too distracted to make it work? Create an orderly home office with this handy guide.

Here are 5 challenges of working from home and how you can overcome them.

If the idea of not having to commute to work appeals to you, be warned, working from home is not for everyone.

Though it may have many advantages, either as a freelancer or a remote worker, it also comes with its fair share of struggles.

You end up working more than you would in an office

You end up working more than you would in an office
Getty Images

Office life comes with regularly scheduled breaks, like lunch and afternoon tea time.

Your work friends will also come over for a chat, which gives you a bit of a breather.

When you work from home, you won’t have these natural breaks and you may end up working throughout the day.

Overcome it by: Setting alarms to force you to take a break.

Apart from a couple of vision breaks every hour, you should also schedule a short break every 2-3 hours to grab a drink or healthy snack from the kitchen.

Working from home can be isolating if you dont keep an eye on your well being or reasons for doing so. So just how do you reach a goal, change your life or realise a dream?

You lose social connections

You lose social connections
Shutterstock

You may not like all your colleagues but there are likely a few people at the office with whom you enjoy spending time.

When you work from home, you lose that social connection as you’re alone for most of the day.

You’re not going to be able to talk about last night’s football match unless you phone a friend.

Overcome it by: Taking a social break every so often.

You can do a grocery run, catch up with a friend over coffee, have a walk or schedule meetings with clients.

Just having the ability to interact with other people will help ease the solitude.

Never miss a deal again - sign up now!

Connect with us: