Working from home is a ‘fact of work' nowadays, it may already be engrained in your organisation or you may be forced into it. Whatever the reason there are factors that may result in a reduction in productivity whilst working from home. We don’t claim to know all the answers, but we have listed 5 top reasons an organisation can lose productivity when working from home and a few little points on how to overcome it.
If you are losing productivity in the long term, or the short term you may want to consider a flexible workforce, freelancers and contractors that are equipped and ready to work from home. Enquire now.
Top 5 reasons you will lose productivity whilst working form home
1. Distractions at home
While some workplaces are allowing for increased remote work, productively working from home can be challenging for some people. Distractions like household chores, the doorbell, the post office, kids, and easy access to a TV can prevent at-home workers from accomplishing as much as they want or need to.
- Break up your work
- Use a calendar or to-do list
- Get dressed
- Create a set office
- Post your schedule
- Know your distractions
If your team are experiencing more and more distractions at home pick up some of the productivity and utilise our #WFHArmy to deal with overflow or looming deadlines. Click here.
2. Inability to collaborate and communicate
You miss all the overheard discussions and quick passing meetings that happen in the office. You might feel paranoid that others are having meetings and making decisions without you—and you'd probably be right. Unless the company has built a culture of inclusion for remote workers, you might be out of sight and out of mind.
- Communicate as much as you can, using online tools
- Pick up the phone
- Ensure that all communication cannot be interpreted wrongly
- Be proactive and speak up
Our freelancers and contractors are all equipped, experienced in communicating with clients and ready to work from home. Utilise our #WFHArmy to deal with overflow, lack of productivity or looming deadlines. Click here.
3. Work/Home balance distorted
When you work from home, you no longer have a clear division between workspace and personal space. Ideally, your home is a place of relaxation, safety, and security. It’s a place where you subconsciously slip into a calm, easygoing state of mind, putting the stresses of the workday behind you.
Working from home punches a hole right through that neat mental division. Many people complain they feel like they’re never off the job. They always feel a compulsion to check email or get “just one last thing done.”
- Set a schedule, and try to stick to it
- Use communication tools to indicate your online and offline hours
- Use personal errands or activities to take breaks throughout the day
- Make plans for your after-work hours
- Get ready for work the same way you do when you're going to the office
- Eat a proper lunch
Alleviate your teams work/home balance stress and utilise our #WFHArmy to deal with overflow or looming deadlines. Click here.
4. Productivity expectations differ
Whilst the lack of a commute and greater control over your environment might be welcome, working from home can still be a tricky beast. It’s often hard to keep yourself motivated – and easy to fall into a productivity slump. If this persists, you have the risk of falling into a pattern of setting your own expectations, which may not reflect your usual productivity considering all of the previous points above.
- Set priority to-do lists
- Set up accountability channels
- Take small and frequent breaks
- Set your goals with your team
5. Home Schooling (May be outdated now)
Homeschooling and working at home is hard, especially if you're first getting started and then can remain hard even with a rhythm.
Homeschooling while working from home at the same time, even with children who are older and fairly independent, can be a challenge. There are as many ways to work and homeschool as there are different kinds of families.
- Maximise flexibility
- Embrace a relaxed homeschooling style
- Expect the unexpected
- Manage interruptions proactively
- Communicate, communicate, communicate!
- Give your child the tools to use when they must wait for attention
- Help children learn how to help themselves.
Alleviate some of your teams homeschooling stress and utilise our #WFHArmy to deal with overflow or looming deadlines. Click here.
Our freelancers and contractors are all equipped, experience and ready to work from home. Utilise our #WFHArmy to deal with overflow, lack of productivity or looming deadlines. Click here.
We hope this helps. If you have overflow work, loss of staff due to home commitments, sick leave or a loss of productivity, we are here!
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To book us now and utilise our #WFHArmy, get in touch on (03) 9154 1000.