If you work remotely, you probably have a routine that you follow. Your routine likely differs from other remote workers’ daily schedules. Curiosity about how remote workers spend their days is common among people who work traditional jobs. Those who’ve never worked remotely may believe you get up at 10:00 AM to start a leisurely day, where you work a couple of hours, scroll social media, take a long lunch, and then perhaps work some more before quitting promptly at 4 PM. However, experienced remote workers know the struggles associated with working from home, many of which are associated with maintaining boundaries and separating work life from home life.
Yes, actual work is involved
Many remote workers have the same hours they’d work at the office; they just save time by not commuting. Some remote workers have more flexible schedules, but that doesn’t mean they work significantly less simply because they have the option to work remotely. Remote workers may struggle with separating work time from home time. This often leads to dealing with emails or problem-solving tasks that could wait until the next workday. Remote workers often feel overworked or unable to step away from their desks because they don’t have that physical separation from work that on-site workers have.
Multitasking happens, and it can be problematic
Yes, some remote workers multitask. This can mean doing household chores while listening in on a virtual meeting or running errands during traditional work hours. For some, this isn’t a problem. It depends on the flexibility and workload of the individual. If you are project-based and not paid by the hour, you can work your preferred hours, running errands or doing household chores when you wish, as long as projects are done on time. Other workers may have to follow a strict schedule, where multitasking household chores is not an option.
Remote work does have plenty of benefits, but there are also drawbacks to working from home. Yes, remote workers usually have some flexibility and they save time and money by not commuting to work. But they still often work as many hours per day as those working on-site, and they often struggle with separating work from home. If you wish to make the transition to remote work, be sure you’re aware of the good and bad before making the change.
