The Freelancer’s Survival Guide: How to Overcome the Challenges of Working Remotely

freelancer looking at mobile phone

You’re finally living the dream and working from home.

No boss checking to see if you clocked in on time, no annoying coworkers with stinky perfume, and the ability to work from anywhere you get Internet access.

It sounds like the ideal situation — and most of the time, it is.

However, especially if you’re new to working remotely, you’ll soon find that there are a few issues that keep on coming up. You need to address the challenges of working remotely as soon as possible to avoid getting stuck in bad habits.

In this post, we’ll get real about the hardest parts of working from home — and tell you what you can do to avoid these common pitfalls.

1. Social Isolation

Yes, it’s amazing to get a break from the constant pointless meetings and that “one guy” in the office that just can’t stop talking about his last vacation, his kids, or what he thinks everyone else is doing wrong.

But when you work from home, it can be tough to get the level of social interaction you don’t just enjoy, but also need to avoid getting a bad case of freelancer cabin fever.

Before you know it, you’ll have gone a full week without leaving the apartment or seeing anyone other than your pet.

Avoid this at all costs, as it can lead to depression and a loss of productivity.

Plan happy hours with friends, and even consider trying a coworking space to be around other people. You’ll be glad you did.

2. Productivity

Sure, you could work on that project. Or, you could watch an amazing Netflix documentary, run errands that aren’t really necessary, or simply “do it later.”

You’ll find that, with fewer firm deadlines, productivity can take a serious hit. You might even realize you’re waiting till the last possible second to get things done.

What’s the point of working from home if you’re just as panicked as you were in a standard office environment?

Study up on productivity hacks, and ask others to hold you accountable.

3. Keeping a Consistent Schedule

Perhaps one of the most talked-about work from home challenges is the difficulty that many remote workers have with keeping a schedule.

When no one is making you clock in, it can be so tempting to wake up late or work into the wee hours of the morning. Soon, you’ll realize that your schedule changes day-to-day — and that your social life and sleep patterns are starting to suffer as a result.

Find a schedule that works for you, and then stick to it.

You can always start with a traditional 9:00-5:00, and then go from there.

4. Technology Issues

Technical difficulties like a broken computer, a smashed cellphone, or even a downed website can present serious work from home challenges.

Make sure you have backup devices (even used or older computers can help) in these times. Know how to fix basic issues on your own (hint: when in doubt, clear your cookies.)

Make sure that you also learn more about how to choose a computer repair shop in your neighborhood. Understand the costs, the repair timeline, and ensure that they have past experience with your specific device and operating systems.

Also, be sure to save your receipts!

Even if you’re a freelancer and don’t have a company to reimburse you, you may be able to put in the repairs as a tax write-off.

To protect sensitive company information, make sure you use only private WiFi, and that you frequently update your software and anti-virus tools.

5. A Sense of Teamwork

Next up on our list of the challenges of working from home?

It can be tough to feel like you’re truly a part of a team when you’re not in the office, actually seeing your colleagues every day.

We suggest pitching the idea for a Slack channel or a Facebook group to connect all the remote employees. This will help to keep everyone motivated, and it will likely also help employees answer each other’s questions.

This can increase productivity and help management learn about common problems that keep coming up.

6. Your Physical Health

We spoke about the toll that social isolation can take on your mental health earlier in this post.

But one of the biggest challenges of working remotely is also keeping your physical health in good standing. You may feel like you can work from your bed, and you don’t have any kind of a commute that allows you to sneak in some extra steps.

Plus, since your fridge is only a few steps away, it’s easy to give in to cravings.

Make it a point to move around for at least ten minutes out of every hour. Going for a walk or doing some stretches isn’t just good for your health, it also helps you to refocus.

Sitting for long periods of time causes serious long-term health risks, including high blood sugar levels, an increased risk for stroke, and a slower metabolism.

Also, pre-plan your meals or even join an online diet/health support community to keep you accountable when it comes to eating right.

You Can Beat the Challenges of Working Remotely

While the challenges of working remotely can be frustrating at times, remember that you have the kind of flexibility that most people can only dream about.

Just make sure to be proactive when it comes to your physical and mental health. Create productivity schedules, have a plan in place for technology disasters, and above all, get out of the house!

Looking for more advice on how to get working remotely right? In the market for more productivity hacks and tricks?

No matter what kind of work you do from home, keep reading our blog to learn how to get the most out of every day.