There are many benefits to working from home. You don’t have to spend time and money commuting to work every morning. You can spend more time with family or pets. And you can be at home for deliveries or home repairs that need doing.
However, working from home can have its downsides. Not everyone will experience these downsides, but those who do may find that they greatly impact productivity and happiness. This post delves into some of the signs that working from home isn’t working for you – and what you can do to fix this.
Signs working from home isn’t working for you
Loneliness
Many extroverts who end up working from home report feeling lonely and isolated. This could be particularly the case if you live alone – without leaving your home, you may not get to talk to anyone in person the whole day. This loneliness could become a serious problem if it evolves into depression.
Interruptions
If you have kids or pets, home may not provide the best environment for concentration. You could find that you’re constantly being interrupted and that this stops you from getting your work done. If you live somewhere with a poor internet connection, this could also become a nuisance.
Lack of motivation
Some people find it hard to stay motivated when working from home. Because you don’t have to commute in the morning, you could find yourself sleeping in longer and starting work later. You may even find yourself taking longer lunch breaks or taking time out to catch up with your favourite shows or watch live sports. All in all, these distractions could result in you failing to get work done.
What should you do instead?
If you don’t have the option to work in an office, there could be other solutions to explore that allow you to stay social, avoid interruptions and keep you motivated. For example, many people work from their local library or a local coffee bar. Even if you don’t talk to people, being around people could lift your mood, and you may find the change of environment more motivating and less distracting.
Then there’s the option of co-working spaces. A lot of companies moving back to office workspaces have been considering these alternative offices – they are essentially shared offices where you can work alongside other companies and freelancers. They cost a lot less to rent than a private office and you get to mingle with people and work in an office environment. However, some people may find them more distracting.
Can you improve working from home?
Working from home may not be the problem – it may simply be the way in which you work from home. Instead of working from a living room with the TV on, consider whether you’re able to turn a room into a dedicated office. If concentration is an issue, this could be the solution. You can meanwhile stay social by making the most of your evenings and lunch breaks. This can help you to feel less housebound and less lonely.
