5 challenges of remote working and how to overcome them

While the benefits of remote working can be great, it often comes with challenges alongside it. If you or your team are experiencing problems with remote working, never fear. There's always a solution.

Here are some of the most common challenges of working remotely and working from home and solutions to help you overcome them.

1 . Screen fatigue

Since the pandemic began, it's been video meeting galore. Constantly having your camera on can leave us feeling exhausted, frustrated, and tired. Not only this, but staring at a screen all day, in general, isn't great for our wellbeing. Blue light from screens can interrupt our sleep, exacerbating eye strain and resulting in longer-term problems.

What to do if you've got screen fatigue

If conducting the meeting via video isn't necessary, propose the meeting to be done over the phone instead.

It's easy to think we're taking a break from screens when we stop looking at our laptops and instead look at our phones. Be sure to look after your eyes and give them a break from the screen. Find hobbies that don't need technology, such as reading, painting, or exercise.

Try taking notes by hand instead of typing them out.

You can dim the screen on your phone and your computer - Most phones do this automatically, but you can use an app like f.lux to do this with your computer.

2 . Loneliness

You may well miss the buzz of being around people while you work, hanging out with your work friends and socialising during the day. Loneliness isn't just a problem for people working from home. It's a widespread issue for people all over the country.

The world is more connected than ever in a technological sense, yet it's easy to feel alone in all of it. Ongoing feelings of loneliness can lead to both physical and mental health problems.

What can I do if I'm feeling lonely while working remotely?

There's no shame in admitting you feel lonely and you're craving social interaction. If you're experiencing loneliness, the best solution is to reach out to people, like your colleagues, friends or family. Even something small like saying "Hello" to people in the supermarket will release endorphins and oxytocin, our happy hormones and bonding hormones. Recognising you're not alone in feeling lonely can also help.

Being proactive if you're feeling lonely might seem like a slog, but it's the best way to get out of the funk. Reconnect with people you know, or meet new people by joining a club or networking group.

Ensure you're also looking after yourself by taking part in regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and not drinking alcohol too often. All of these things help to contribute to a healthy body and mind.

3 . Distractions

Did you know it takes up to 23 minutes to re-focus after being distracted? Family, pets and mobile phones are great sources of distraction and can all hinder our productivity when working remotely.

What to do if you're getting distracted while working remotely

This seems obvious, but find a dedicated place to work. If you have space you can use as an office, use that has your work area. Shut out the cats, keep your phone on silent, and let your kids know you can't be distracted while you're in your office space. It's best if your workspace is separate from your relaxing space and sleeping space. This will help with your focus and also will help your relaxing time to feel truly relaxing.

If you prefer to work with white noise in the background, try working from a co-working space or a cafe. If you can't make it to a sociable space, you could simulate white noise with some gentle music.

There are also apps such as Freedom, Daywise and Focus Booster to block certain websites or notifications for an allotted time.

4 . Lack of motivation

It's easy to feel unmotivated while working from home. Without supervision, there's much less pressure to do things to a particular time scale. When you're not surrounded by others, there's not as much excitement when working on a project or to a deadline.

What can I do if I'm not motivated?

You could try setting yourself mini goals or tasks to do within a time frame. Set yourself a timer to get a particular task done and see if you can beat the clock.

Plan rewards for yourself. Once you've completed a task, you could give yourself a 10-minute reward to watch a YouTube video or go for a short walk.

If you're struggling to get your head into a task, change your focus. Do a task you know you'll find it easier to concentrate on first. Then once you're already in a steady workflow, you can come back to the original task.

Some people work better under pressure. Set yourself a deadline and make yourself accountable for it. Tell someone in your team you're going to send them the task at a set time, and then that will help you make sure you do it.

5 . Feeling disconnected from your team

Staying connected while working remotely is sometimes tough. Emails aren't always the friendliest method of communication. You might not want to interact with other colleagues, and this could affect your work.

What do to if you're feeling disconnected from your team

Be proactive in speaking up if you're feeling disconnected. Communication is essential to finding a solution. If you don't tell anyone how you're feeling, they can't help you. It may feel a bit scary at first to say you're feeling disconnected, but this will result in better relationships long-term.

Using a chat platform such as Slack or Microsoft Teams encourages people to socialise. If you don't use something like this already propose it to your team.

Bring your team together by enabling meet-ups, even if they're virtual. For some quirky ideas, check out the Time In This Time remote experience generator.

If you're on the hunt for a remote, or part-remote role, check out our latest opportunities. Use the filters to find your perfect remote options.