How to Overcome Work/Life Balance Challenges of Telework

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While telecommuting can be a fantastic opportunity, there can be significant work-life challenges associated with the decision.

You can work 24 hours per day

Working from home from your laptop or desktop offers the opportunity to work in the comfort of your own home. The challenge that it can create for some people is that your work is actually in your home. When you work in the office and then leave to go home, the work often stays at the office. When you are accessible 24 hours per day, depending on the type of work that you do, it can create a problem with life balance. To avoid this problem, set expectations with your employer about when you are available, or if you work for yourself, try to set personal boundaries about when you intend to be available for work.

You never leave the house

If you are like me, I can go several days, and I am almost ashamed to say and entire week, without ever leaving my building. Why? Because, I can work and workout in the same building. I may go outside to get my cup of coffee in the morning, but otherwise, I am addicted to work. The best idea to avoid this being a problem is to put in your calendar all of the other things in your life that are important- i.e. personal time, exercise, errands, social events.

You have little to no social interaction

If you telecommute, you can go for extended periods of time without social interaction with other human beings. While this may not seem like a big deal, it is important to maintain personal contact and open communication with colleagues and other professionals. Schedule regular conference calls and occasional face to face meeting with colleagues and your supervisor to keep your pulse on the company and the company’s direction.