The Worst Mistakes to Make When Working from Home

Working from home in a virtual environment is now commonplace. Due to the global health pandemic in 2020, the number of employees working remotely skyrocketed. But even before employers were forced to send workers home to work, work-from-home (WFH) jobs were on the rise.

Of course, there are many benefits to working from home. For example, ditching the daily commute, saving money, and better work-life balance are just some of the reasons many employees prefer working from a home office.

But there are challenges when working in a home environment. For example, it can be tough if you’ve got kids at home. Or dealing with distractions is more challenging when you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck. Then there is the temptation of getting up late and working in your pyjamas.

This article examines the worst “working-from-home” mistakes that you can make. You’ll also get helpful tips on how to make a success of working in a home environment.

Working from Home — The New Norm

Many employers let employees work from home because of its many benefits. Even before COVID-19, many studies showed the boost to productivity that home workers experience.

For example, a 2015 study found that productivity increased among call centre employees by 13 percent when they worked from home. Employees took fewer breaks and sick days, which also boosted productivity. Also, employees reported greater work satisfaction when working from home.

In 2020, a survey by Owllabs found that employees and employers benefit from working remotely. Here are a few facts about the value of working from home:

• Employees reported that they were 30 percent more productive.
• It was estimated that commuting time was reduced by over 9 billion hours in the U.S during a seven-month period.
• Employees in the U.S. could save around $500 a month by working from home.
• Homeworkers were 22 percent happier than when they had to commute to the office.

Mistakes to Avoid When Working from Home

Making a success of working from home depends on developing good habits and avoiding bad ones. Here are five mistakes to avoid at all costs if you are a remote worker.

1. Not having a dedicated workspace

Not having a dedicated home office is the nr. 1 mistake to avoid when working from home. Maybe it’s not possible to set aside a whole room. Still, you need a dedicated workspace with a desk, comfortable chair, plenty of light, and enough space to work in.

Of course, working on your laptop from bed or while slouching on the couch is hardly going to boost productivity.

2. Not having a daily routine

Being a professional who works from home is all about sticking to a routine. Because you avoid commuting, you have extra time on your hands. Rather than making the mistake of getting up late, stick to your usual wake-up time. Use the time to get active by going for a run, getting some chores done, or even just having a coffee.

If you avoid oversleeping and have an excellent morning routine, you will feel more refreshed and ready for the day.

3. Getting distracted easily

When you start working from home, you soon realise there are a ton of distractions to deal with. It could be the fact that your partner is also working from home. Or, your kids may be home-schooling. Then there are other distractions, such as someone at the door or the temptation to catch up on a Netflix series.

To help avoid distractions and concentrate on your work, why not invest in noise-cancelling headphones? You can tune out unwanted noise and work more productively.

4. Not setting limits on workdays

It’s crucial to set limits to your workday if you want to enjoy working from home. Many remote workers end up working longer than they would usually in the office. Despite the fact they save time on the commute, they can continue working late into the night.

When working remotely, you should have a set time for starting and finishing work. If you avoid distractions, you should find that you get your work completed in time.

5. Forgetting to stay in touch with employees

Don’t make the blunder of isolating yourself from your colleagues. You need to be just as available to your co-workers as you were in the office. This could mean scheduling time for face-to-face Zoom calls, networking with your colleagues, and using technology such as Slack to collaborate on projects.

When working from home, excellent communication skills are crucial to being part of a productive team.

Working from Home — Mistakes to Avoid

Transitioning to working from home has many benefits. However, there are also challenges to making a success of working remotely. It’s vital to avoid mistakes such as not having a routine or workspace and getting easily distracted. That way, you can have more time to do what you want without sacrificing productivity.