Remote work is becoming more popular than ever because of the freedom it brings to those looking to start their own business or change their working life.

Working remotely offers numerous benefits, including greater productivity, greater work-life balance, fewer distractions, and increased satisfaction at work. However, for some, remote working can lead to various issues such as low productivity, lack of face-to-face interaction, and poor collaboration between employees.

It is definitely not something you can jump into if you don’t have the discipline for it, so here are five mistakes that can make remote work feel like a chore. 

Not setting up a workspace for yourself 

Some people who don’t work from home often falsely believe that working from home means that you can relax in bed and work on your laptop. However, it isn’t the case. Not only can it be very uncomfortable, especially on your back, but it also means that you won’t be very productive. 

If you decide to work from home, it can not be stressed heavily enough that having a workspace will put you in a work mindset. Working as you would work in an office will help with productivity and promote focus. 

Not limiting your work

On the other side of the spectrum are those who believe that because they are working from home, they continue working after the day is finished. It’s so easy to get caught in the one more project mindset when working remotely. Next thing you know, it’s 2 am and you’re exhausted. 

It comes back to working as you would in an office. Limiting the amount you decide to work on in a set of hours will help you remain productive and means that you won’t deal with burnout, which can significantly affect your productivity in the long run. 

Not taking breaks 

This may also come under limiting your work, but while that talks about the overall effect working long hours has on productivity, taking breaks focuses on keeping that momentum going during your workday. It also can have a major impact on your health and well-being. 

According to some studies, getting up and walking around for 5-10 minutes every hour can help to improve your mood, boost your productivity, and help with your overall well-being. 

Not avoiding distractions 

This is more common than you know, and it helps to have discipline in order to overcome distractions. In some cases, some remote workers will have a room in their home where they work that blocks distractions, while others will visit the library or hire a co working space, so they are in an environment that can help them to focus on their work. 

Others may use focus techniques, such as Pomodoro or the five-minute techniques, in order to get them to focus on their work and ignore any distractions that might pop up. 

Not having a routine 

It’s another misconception that you can just wake up any time of the day and just start working when you work from home. However, this also has a massive effect on how you feel and whether or not you’re interested in starting work. 

A routine not only puts you in the mindset to work but also helps you to wind down and get settled into your workday. It’s similar to how you would wake up and head out to work if you worked in an office. A routine is also great for your mental health and improving your creativity.