Having the opportunity to work from home can be an advantage for any employee. In fact, 80% of workers view the option of working remotely as a job perk. But like anything else, working remotely does have its pitfalls. While working from home can provide much more flexibility and eliminate the need for a commute, it can also make it more difficult for employees to stay focused or may blur the line between their professional and personal lives. Even though working outside a traditional office environment is often meant to reduce stress, it can actually cause more of it if you aren’t careful.
It’s important to know the potential negatives of this unique office solution in order to plan for and prevent them. That’s one of the reasons why virtual office services and coworking spaces have become so popular. Whether you’re in charge of a remote team or you are one employee working outside the office, be sure to follow these tips to prevent remote worker burnout:
- Create a schedule and stick to it
One of the benefits of working remotely is that you have the freedom to schedule an appointment during the work day or you can make up hours if you have a family obligation. But it may help you to have a routine or schedule that you follow (at least for the majority of the time). Whether that’s fitting in a morning workout before you begin your work for the day or maintaining certain “office hours” and resisting the urge to work during family time, this can help you feel more balanced and less frazzled than if you were to just wing it. - Make sleep a priority
Even if you work in a virtual office rather than a traditional one, you can’t possibly do your best work if you are sleep-deprived. Aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night, and try to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. This can help you get into a routine and keep you from feeling drowsy. In addition, resist the urge to check your tech before you go to bed. When you’ve finished your work for the day, leave your unanswered emails for tomorrow. - Set boundaries
Some people have the impression that if you’re technically able to work at home in your pajamas, you obviously aren’t working very hard. In reality, many remote employees end up working longer hours than those who work in offices. Be sure to set some rules that dictate how you plan to work. For instance, communicate to your boss or team that you won’t check or answer emails during certain hours or on certain days, or tell them how they can get in touch with you if it’s urgent. Resist the urge to say yes to projects that fall outside your normal parameters. - Consider a virtual office or collaborative work space
There are times when working from home can be distracting and isolating. That’s why many remote workers opt to set up a professional virtual office at home or will want to explore coworking. Virtual office services can help you make your non-traditional work environment more productive, and collaborative workspaces promote creativity and synergy between workers not employed by the same company (or even in the same industry). These twists on office spaces can allow remote workers to become more focused and efficient without being subject to the traditional 9-5 office job. We can offer the finest collaborative workspace Delaware has to offer, as well as virtual office services that can work for any remote situation.
Working remotely doesn’t have to lead to employee burnout and distraction. If you are interested in the best spaces for co working Wilmington Delaware has to provide or want to set up a work space with our virtual office services, contact us today!
