5 Unexpected Productivity Killers When Working From Home

Boosting productivity is a top priority for all businesses. Numerous strategies have been deployed successfully to enhance productivity across organisations. You are probably familiar with the popular productivity enhancing strategies such as outsourcing, using productivity best practices, and investing in the right tools. 

However, there are still several factors that can hinder productivity for remote workers, even despite the applications of the above-mentioned tips. Here, we will explore 5 often overlooked elements that have a significant impact on remote productivity.

Slow broadband connection

Perhaps, one of the most frustrating obstacles remote workers face is a slow Internet connection. A sluggish broadband connection will not only delay important tasks but also disrupt communication channels and impede collaboration.

Constant buffering, lagging video conferences, and slow-paced file transfers can waste remote employees valuable time and affect the outcome of their efforts. 

So, it appears crucial for businesses to consider approaches that can help remote teams. First of all, it would seem fair to run a prior check on candidates’ connections, ensuring their broadband is fast enough. Secondly, businesses can help employees partially finance new and faster broadband, such as by partially financing the switch to faster plans like nbn 1000 plans, for example. 

Ineffective diet

While it may not seem relevant, your diet plays a significant role in productivity. Research has shown that poor nutrition can affect focus, energy levels, memory, and overall cognitive function. Consuming unhealthy foods high in sugar and processed ingredients can lead to decreased concentration and reduced mental clarity. So, it would make sense to help remote teams focus on a well-balanced diet through free educational resources and vouchers. 

Checking work emails after hours

The ability to work remotely blurs the line between personal and professional lives, making it tempting to check work emails outside of regular working hours. However, this habit can dramatically increase stress levels. Individuals feel they are constantly on-call. Addressing work issues after work hours prevents remote workers from fully disconnecting and recharging. Gradually, the lack of proper rest can lead to exhaustion and burnout. 

So, businesses must make it a priority to respect everyone's working hours, even in a flexible environment, and flag any excessive work. Sometimes, you physically need to remind people they are allowed to leave tasks and emails until the next day.

Working in a loud environment 

Noise pollution and loud distractions can significantly hamper productivity. Whether it is household noises, traffic sounds, or even local construction sounds, a loud working environment can disrupt focus and concentration. Unfortunately, remote workers can’t always choose their working environment. To combat noise distractions, businesses can support their remote teams and finance (partially or fully) noise-cancelling technology. Noise-cancelling headphones are a popular choice, which can also act as work headphones on call. 

Uninteresting tasks

While every job includes mundane or repetitive tasks, consistently assigning uninteresting tasks to the same employee can have adverse effects on productivity. Monotonous work can drain motivation and lead to boredom and low morale. In the long term, boring tasks kill productivity levels. Employers should strive to provide their remote teams with a mix of challenging and engaging assignments, allowing them to explore new areas. 

Numerous factors can influence remote workers’ productivity. Acknowledging and addressing these often overlooked elements is crucial for organisations seeking to optimise productivity.