What is the point of discussing mistakes remote workers make? Working from home should be simple, right? Well, that's because what seemed like the best thing to happen to your career life could become a disaster, as transitioning into remote working isn't as easy as it looks. 

Remote working comes with its unique benefits and challenges, which 8 in 10 remote workers can relate to as most of the benefits and challenges are bound to happen. 

As you can imagine, getting your first remote job is only the first step, afterwards, you need to look for ways to seamlessly work from home while avoiding some of the most common mistakes. 

 Here, we share some of the common mistakes remote workers make and how to correct them. That way, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the benefits of working from home.

Mistake 1: Not having a designated workstation 

This is a common mistake most first-time remote workers make. They sometimes neglect the importance of having a designated workstation where they get their work done. In being productive as a remote worker, the first step is to have a workstation that acts as your makeshift office. When you can't, a laptop table would do. So if you are just starting as a remote worker, get a space in your apartment that could serve as your workstation. What a designated work station does is that it helps separate work from personal life, which is an important distinction to be productive at work and also helps keep track of time.

Steps to take:

1. Find a space in your apartment with less distraction.
2. Get a work chair that comforts you, especially on your back.
3. A work table suitable for the chair you have assigned.
4. Get a laptop stand or table. 

Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Content Creation

Mistake 2: Thinking you can do it all alone

Feelings of isolation can often lead to a lack of motivation to get work done. Thankfully, many remote work tools allow for channels where employees can communicate outside of work matters, such as watercooler channels.

So, knowing you can’t do it alone and finding ways to participate in non-work communication with colleagues is a good way to improve your working relationship. 

Steps to take:

1. Check on your colleagues as frequently as you can, asking about their whereabouts and how you can help if they need it.
2. Get involved in other remote activities your colleagues get involved in.
3. Ask for their input on tasks even when you have it all figured out.

Mistake 3: Working with your television playing in the background

As tempting as this sounds, working with your television playing in the background is a big No and a mistake lots of remote workers make at the early stage. However, some argue that they work just fine with some form of sound in the background without getting distracted. This can't be true as now your attention becomes divided. 

Steps to take:

1. Have an allotted time where you take breaks to watch a little Tv.
2. If you have to work with sounds, substitute the TV for radio or Bluetooth music players. 
3. Play sounds at inaudible volumes. 

Mistake 4: Picking up your phone too often

Ooh!! I am speaking from personal experience. One big mistake remote workers make is picking up their phones too often and staying long on them. This makes it hard to focus and get the work done. 

Steps to take: 

1. Turn off your mobile phone network for some time. 
2. Ensure your phone is far away from your workstation for some time to ensure you are able to work. 
3. Consciously time yourself. Set a time limit for when you can be on your phone. 

Mistake 5: Not having a social life

Working from home gives the luxury of spending more time with family and having a better work-life balance. However, many remote workers lose themselves to their careers and homework to where they forget to interact with society. This leads to faster burnout and lower productivity. 

Steps to take:

1. Make plans with friends and family every other week to go out. 
2. Make bi-weekly plans to work outside of your home. Could be at a restaurant, mobile workstations or a recreational centre. 

Mistake 6: Not having a contingency plan

As a remote worker, it's your responsibility to ensure that you can work uninterrupted. At the early stage of remote working, some remote workers make the mistake of depending highly on just one source of power and data and this, in the long run, breeds unproductivity. 

Steps to take: 

1. Have an extra source of power.
2. Have over one network source.
3. Make plans to work outside of your home on some occasions.

Mistake 7: Not making proper financial plans

The Money conversation is one people shy away from having. However, one major mistake remote workers make is not having proper financial plans even though they get international gigs. 

However, one step to keeping proper financial plans is to pick platforms that help them maximize their earnings and help make the payment process easier and that’s where Grey comes in as we enable you to receive foreign currencies in your virtual accounts & also offer the best rate to convert to Naira.

Register on Grey to own a foreign bank account if you work remotely and receive payment in foreign currency.