The Challenges of Working From Home

These days, telecommuting or working from home is a very popular arrangement for employees. Many freelancers, as opposed to paying to rent for office space, also opt to work from home. But working from home is not for everyone. Some of those who try working from home find themselves faced with challenges they may not have expected.

Workspace, Distractions, and Noise

Having a quiet, secluded workspace is important when it comes to productivity. However, when you’re working in your own home, finding the space may be a problem. Another common problem is distractions. If your children are home, they may have difficulty ignoring your presence in the home, even if the office door is closed. Noise around the house could also serve as a distraction.

Increasing Work Hours

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is the one you’d least suspect: working too much. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that working from home actually makes it more difficult for employees to say “no” to work when they can do it from home. Those who telecommuted were found to work an average of 47.81 hours per week, compared to 41.11 hours per week among those who did not telecommute. The researchers found that the number of working hours increases to meet the employee’s need to do all the job tasks required.

Added Responsibilities

Some remote workers find themselves faced with added responsibilities when they’re home everyday. As a remote worker it’s easy to may get distracted by other tasks, such as emptying the dishwasher, taking out the garbage, or raking the leaves. Some spouses may have trouble understanding that working remotely doesn’t mean that you can take time off to do household duties or chores – for instance running to the grocery store – whenever you want.

Finding Motivation

Working from home requires someone with a lot of initiative. Distractions such as television or cleaning are always possible in the home environment – depending on the level of freedom you have in your work arrangement, there may be absolutely no one monitoring what you do. Until, of course, the work is actually due. For freelancers and contract workers this is one of the most significant challenges of the job. In other arrangements, telecommuting employees must be reachable through communication software, such as Skype. In many cases, though, procrastination can easily become a force to reckon with.

Lack of Contact

Among those who work remotely, some struggle with the solitary nature of the work. Indeed, while it is possible to work in social environments, such as at a coffee shop or a library, it’s not always practical as there may be noise and distractions. When you work from your own home, you may not see or talk to a single person in an entire day, depending on what you do. The lack of contact can be extremely difficult for extroverted people, who may prefer to work in an office environment so they can have daily exchanges with their colleagues.