For most of us, our home serves as a safe refuge from the tensions and stresses of work. But in these past few months, we have been forced to twist that idea - working from home has now become the new norm as many companies shift to remote work as a reaction to the pandemic.

Months ago, the idea of working from the comforts of your own home seemed like a dream come true for many employees who are tired of long morning commutes. These days, many of us are now realizing that there are also challenges that come with this so-called benefit.According to a report from management firm Qualtrics, 65% of employees say it’s very or extremely important for their company to listen to feedback, making it one of the best ways to improve the employee experience.

Distractions Everywhere!

Small interruptions can cause you to lose your train of thought. Like in many things, momentum is your friend but keeping yourself focused on a task can be difficult if you have an inviting bed or your rowdy kids in your peripheral. The trick is to designate a dedicated workspace. Ideally, this should be a separate room, but if that is not an option you can always map out an area clear of clutter preferably facing away from your home’s common areas. It is important to be reminded that your biggest enemy is putting off your deliverables. Yes, the dirty dishes can wait.

It Can Get Lonely

Working from Home means no more quick chats at the water cooler. If you are that person who is used to bounce off ideas from your coworkers, then you will feel the isolation that comes from working remotely. To cope with the loneliness, you might want to schedule short but frequent team huddles using video conferencing apps. One great tip is to have a regular morning check-in and an icebreaker activity midday. Having these scheduled calls, plus your meetings in between will help fill the social void.

Work Can Spillover Personal Time

One of the biggest challenges in working remotely is how to keep a work-life balance. It sounds quite ironic, but the truth is most people working from home tend to overwork themselves more than those working in an office setting. The main reason is that there is no real feeling of “leaving work” – since your home is your office now, you are technically never leaving from work. To set these boundaries, it is always best to make it a habit to turn off all communication platforms when done with your work schedule. You are not being irresponsible; you are just maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If this sounds like a free pass, well it is not - working from home is still all about focusing on your goals. Make sure you have your deliverables in check before you call it a day.