- [Narrator] With the coronavirus pandemic
continuing to wreak havoc
on businesses around the globe,
many people have been forced to work from home.
In fact, statistics show that
nearly a third of the working population
in many countries are currently working from home.
more than ever recorded in history.
And while it comes with obvious benefits,
like zero commute time
and a more relaxed dress code,
after a while,
it doesn't seem like the best thing.
People have been increasingly
reporting their struggles
with working from home,
and it seems like many companies
are adopting remote work permanently
after they discovered the amount of money
they can save through reduced working space
and less usage of utilities.
But, don't worry.
In this episode,
we're going to talk about
seven struggles of remote work,
and how you can deal with them
before they start affecting your productivity.
Number one, the 24 hour workday.
While you may be required to work
for only eight hours a day,
you may feel compelled to make up
for your absence in office
by being available to do things
like answer emails or phone calls
throughout the day.
Even if you have a fixed schedule,
it can be quite difficult to switch off
and stop thinking about work
if your workplace is now
your living room or bedroom.
This is a particular problem
for managers and entrepreneurs
who can't easily turn off
their work responsibilities.
That being said,
it is absolutely essential
that you completely disconnect from your job
for a part of every day and every week.
Otherwise your performance,
your mental and physical health,
and, ultimately, your company will suffer.
If it's possible,
separate your working space
from your living space.
Dedicate a study room or an indoor office
in which you do all your work.
And once you're out of that room,
don't do anything related to work
until you're back in.
If you don't have a spare room,
you can use a specific part of your living room.
A particular table, chair
and position in which you work.
And after you're done,
make sure to remove any paper
or material related to your job,
and maybe even sign out of your email
or shut down your laptop.
Communicate with your customers, employees,
and anyone else you work with
to let them know that there are some times
when you just won't respond to business demands.
Number two, procrastination.
While working from home saves a lot of time,
getting dressed up
and commuting to and from your workplace,
finding self-motivation to start work
can be much harder at home.
It's just plain easier to get down to work
when you're in a buzzing office
surrounded by busy colleagues
and a lurking boss
than when you're home alone
with a TV screen or a gaming console
just a few steps away.
There are many approaches
to fight procrastination
and get things done.
Again, try to set up a dedicated working space.
It'll help you get in the zone
once you're inside it.
Even if you have the luxury
of flexible working hours,
try to set up a fixed schedule and follow it.
It'll help you avoid the
"I'll start in an hour" syndrome.
Discuss progress with your colleagues
and give yourself small daily goals,
it can give you just the motivation you need.
And remember, be kind to yourself.
Don't stress too much
and don't overwork yourself on a particular day
so you don't feel exhausted on the next.
Keep in mind that procrastination
often results from anxiety,
which is something we're all
feeling in these hard times.
Number three, interruptions.
It can just drive you crazy
if you're trying to finish up
an important sales email or if you're in the middle of
an online business meeting
and you keep getting interrupted
by your spouse, partner, roommate, or children
who don't fully grasp that
even though you're home,
you're still very much at work.
Working from home while
caring for little children
is a particularly difficult challenge
which requires extra support
from employers and family members.
But when it comes to adults and older children,
you need to set appropriate boundaries
so that they know when it's acceptable
to talk to you or enter your workspace,
and when it's not.
Establish do not disturb hours
that are interruptions free,
so you can focus on your work.
Number four, never leaving the house.
With infinite streaming services
and everything we need
readily available by delivery,
it has become too easy to simply
stay in our houses all the time.
And although it may seem safer
to stay indoors with
a global pandemic on the loose,
it's not necessarily healthy.
You need to be exposed
to sunlight and get some fresh air,
and the chances of contracting the virus
are lower if you are physically healthy
with a strong immune system.
Also, you can only do so much exercise
in such a confined space as the house.
So, if it's possible,
make sure to get out,
at least for a walk or a run,
several times a week.
Or, ideally, every day.
Number five, the fear of missing out.
It's one of the main reasons
why many of us tend to overwork
when we work at home.
Even if everyone else at your company
is also working from home,
it's hard to overcome the nagging feeling
that there are things going on
and conversations being held
that you don't know about.
That feeling can be even more intense
if some people at your company
are working in the office
while you're working at home.
The best antidote to the fear of missing out
is increased communication.
Pick up the phone frequently
and call a colleague
just to check in or say, "Hello."
If you're wondering about events or meetings
that might be happening
without your participation,
just ask your co-workers what's going on
with important projects
and if there's any information you're missing.
It'll give you comfort that nothing major
is happening if they don't mention anything.
Number six, lack of tech support.
If you're used to calling the IT guy
whenever something's not working properly,
facing a technical issue
can cause severe frustration.
If your home computer, software
or internet connection fails,
you'll either be able to get remote support
from whomever would have helped you
back at the office
or you'd be on your own.
The best way to avoid
this problem is forethinking.
Give it some thought before it happens.
What would you do if your system fails?
Always have a Plan B at the ready.
For instance, have both a laptop and a desktop.
And have hotspot ready to go on your phone,
or with a separate router.
This can save you your precious working hours
if anything goes wrong.
And, realistically, something is bound to.
Number seven, loneliness.
You might not realize it,
but the truth is your workplace
is a huge part of your social life.
Those little conversations
you have with colleagues,
or a simple, "Good morning"
and a welcoming smile from the doorman,
can really make a lot of difference.
The sudden disappearance
of the hassle and busyness of the workplace
can leave you feeling lonely and spiritless.
In this case,
it's important to make sure
you don't become isolated.
As difficult as it sounds in these days,
try your best to make
your social life a priority.
Meet a friend or a colleague
for a socially distanced walk.
Or schedule a virtual meeting with friends
in which you can watch a movie or simply talk.
Socializing, even if by video or chat,
is much better than spending
all your time alone,
or relying solely on your family
for all your social interactions.
So make sure to put the time and effort
to keep up as much social interactions as you can.
Your productivity, your health,
and even your mood will all benefit from it.
That's it for this episode,
hopefully it helps you all lead
a happier, more productive work life at home.
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Good luck, and see you in the next episode.