We’re living in unprecedented times – across the world, companies and employees alike are recommending (and sometimes requiring!) a work from home policy. The good news is that employees seem to like working remotely because of the lack of long commutes, greater workplace flexibility, and wearing pajamas all day.

Despite the benefits, working from home poses some challenges as well, with communication problems, technology issues, and distractions noted as the most common frustrations. Whether you’re new to working from home or have been doing it for years, here are the biggest challenges of working from home during these uncertain times and the ways to combat them over the next few weeks, or months!

WFH Challenge #1: Fragmented team communication

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is potentially feeling disconnected from your employees or co-workers. To weather the storm, it’s important that your team is united, connected, and acting like one.

Despite the lack of working in the same physical space, here’s what you can do to communicate better:

• Set recurring daily meetings: This gives your team a good way to check in every morning while making sure that each team member is aligned. Ask each team member for updates on their tasks for the day with updates and progress reports on projects across the team. Scheduled daily meetings can help raise issues that they’re dealing with and give you that little touch of human contact as well.
• Keep in touch throughout the day: Take advantage of apps such as Microsoft Teams or Slack to communicate throughout the day – whether you’re going offline or finishing up for the day.

WFH Challenge #2: Technical difficulties

Picture this – you’re halfway through a presentation over Zoom and all of a sudden your internet crashes. Compared with business-grade and reliable office technology, our home internet is probably sluggish with spotty Wi-Fi connections. Despite this, our employers still expect the same efficiency you would get out of the office.

If you’re facing technical difficulties, we have some solutions:

• Unreliable Wi-Fi signal: If your Wi-Fi is strong in one room but weak in another, you may want to invest in a mesh Wi-Fi system that lets you connect multiple wireless access points together to blanket your home with a strong internet connection.
• Slow internet speeds: Maybe it’s time to upgrade your networking gear! However, if this doesn’t help, you may want to contact your internet service provider to ask for other options. Some providers may offer faster broadband speeds at higher prices.

If your internet continues to plague you, consider working remotely from a coworking space kl.

If your home broadband isn’t up to the demands of your business, consider working remotely from a coworking space kl. From hotdesking to meeting rooms and luxe suites, at Colony, we are also fully equipped to provide high speed, business-grade Internet connectivity. You’ll never have to worry about your Zoom presentation being interrupted halfway ever again.

WFH Challenge #3: Plenty of distractions

Working from home has proven to be more productive with less in-office interruptions, however, that doesn’t mean working from home doesn’t come with its challenges either. Getting work done can be especially challenging when there’s plenty of temptations around – from watching a quick episode on Netflix or distractions from noisy family members or roommates.

Here’s what you can do to be productive and focus on work while at home:

• Purge your workspace: Get rid of items in your workspace that isn’t work-related. Televisions have definitely got to go, but something as unassuming as a pet at home can also lead to distractions if your pet likes making desk detours.
• Noise blockers: Background noise can constantly shift your attention away. Use a noise-blocking set of headphones and plug in some white noise to help!
• The Pomodoro technique: This helps you resist all self-interruptions while retraining your brain to focus. Simply work without interruptions for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break, and repeat the cycle! Knowing that there’s an end to your “sprint” helps make work more manageable.

WFH Challenge #4: Overworking

People often associate working from home with being unproductive. However, when you’re working from home, there’s usually a tendency to throw yourself into it – whether it’s putting in a few extra hours to finish up non-urgent work or checking your emails before bed. Before you know it, you would’ve spent the majority of your day doing work.

And while this great from an employer’s point of view, it’s important to switch off and unwind. To avoid burnout over time, here are some tips:

• Track your time: Log down the amount of time you’ve to spend on each task and take a look at the breakdown at the end of the day. It’ll give you a better view of where to better allocate your time.
• Stick to a routine: Set times for the start and end of your day and stick to it! It’s good practice to fully switch off from work once you’ve “clocked out”. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Re-imagining the office after COVID-19 with a Coworking Space KL

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more businesses are opting for more flexible solutions (serviced offices, private offices, and hot desks) as companies are unwilling to take on the expense of a long-term lease, or the level of risk that comes with it. With these solutions, businesses of all sizes can look to manage their cash-flows effectively, freeing up cash with flexible workplaces.

At Colony, our plans allow businesses to sign up for a workspace without running the risk of signing a long-term contract for a space that you may end up not using at all. Check our latest Ultra Flex Solution for the ultimate flexibility for companies to retain cash flow and keep liabilities low. If you would like to learn more about our Ultra Flex Solution, you can click here for the full breakdown, or reach out to us via email at ask@colony.work or call at +60 18-213 8086 for other Coworking Space KL plans.

Best Coworking Space KL in Malaysia by Trusted Malaysia

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