Here’s a Few Biggest Remote Work Challenges to Consider

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The COVID – 19 (coronavirus) pandemic has resulted in many people working from home which is actually a good thing in a few ways like

• No soul-crushing commute
• No managers or co-workers hanging over your shoulder
• Miles away from boss’s PJs
• No one stealing your lunch from the office fridge etc.

In short, working from home is wonderful. But it comes with a few challenges as well.  A report from the United Nations International Labour Organization found that while employees are more productive when they work outside of the conventional office, they’re also more vulnerable to working longer hours, a more intense work pace, work-home interference, cyber security risks, and, in some cases, greater stress.

If you are thinking about working remotely or are currently a remote worker, you will be happier and more productive if you manage to tackle the following challenges.

Working too much

It is found that remote workers are more likely to overwork. When your personal life and your work are both under the same roof, it’s harder to switch off.

When does the work day start? End? Creating a hard line between work/home will be tough for you.

While working from home you have a hard time remembering to take breaks, stopping work at a reasonable time, and even knowing when is a reasonable time to stop.

Now the question is how to avoid overworking? It’s simple. You must have to trick yourself to take breaks and set clear start and end times. A few things that can help:

• Set appointments on your calendar for the end of the day
• Set up reminders to take breaks
• Be clear with your team on when you’re leaving
• Create physical boundaries between you and your workspace
• Turn off notifications

 

 

Technology hiccups

While working from home, nothing makes you shake in fear as much as an internet outage. Or, perhaps, when your computer breaks. Both are your problems to solve.

Your biggest challenge is being able to rely on a stable and fast internet connection especially when you are living in a developing country.

Many public Wi-Fi hotspots can also be spotty. And even with a decent internet connection, video conferencing apps aren’t always reliable, so virtual meetings can be an exercise in frustration.

For peace of mind and to avoid delays in your work, you must have a backup plan. A mobile hotspot device or a cell phone plan that allows tethering can save you when your internet goes out.

A backup computer or just a tablet can get you through the day until you can get your computer fixed.

Cyber security risks

Working from home can actually put businesses and professionals at risk. It has created a multitude of opportunities for leaks. Experts have seen an increase in companies being targeted with cyber attacks by opportunist criminals who are seeking to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis.

While working from home, you could face an attack that could lead to data breach. So, it’s vital for you to take proper precautions to limit this risk and monitor, react and contain any sign of intrusion. To avoid cyber security risks, consider the following things

• Deploy security solutions that feature strong web security protection and prefer technologies capable of preventing network vulnerabilities from exploitation
• Use two-factor authentication and VPN
• Enable disk encryption for all endpoints
• Avoid use of pirated / cracked software
• Update software / OS timely etc.

 

 

Last, but not least, don’t use traditional ways of communication. Using an encrypted software like Signal should be a priority for you, as it minimizes the risk of data breach while ensuring its privacy and security. Signal is a secure messaging service that functions in a similar way to Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, but with added privacy and security.

Signal is a free, not-for-profit, open source, messaging service that doesn’t track its users or serve ads. Signal messages you send are encrypted on your phone and kept safe on that device alone, without being sent to any other external source. Access is only granted to you and the recipient. Other than that, absolutely no one can see or read the messages unless they are in possession of either phone. You can use a passcode to encrypt all messages, so even if your phone gets stolen, without the password, no one can read your messages.

Download the Signal Private Messenger NOW!