Much of today’s workforce has been forced to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the outbreak, remote working was already on a steady rise, having doubled since 2005 to 4.7 million workers in the U.S. alone.
While remote working has been found to provide numerous benefits, if it is not executed correctly, it can hurt business and make work life difficult.
Many proponents of remote working say that it helps boost work-life balance, reduces commute times and helps increase family time. On the other hand, some remote workers reported feeling too isolated, which hurts their productivity.
Some have turned to coworking spaces to gain a sense of community, have daily interactions and collaborate with other professionals.
The initial excitement of remote working can boost productivity for a while, but motivation is hard to find after a few months. Those who were consistently productive had to follow a strict regimen that included going to coworking spaces every day and putting away distractions like phones.
The ability to work from wherever is great, but can make it hard for workers to turn off. Some remote workers feel that they are expected to be available 24/7, which can be harmful to mental and physical health and lead to burnout. It is important for remote workers to set boundaries in order to sustain a level of productivity and well-being.
