In the past few years, there has been a big increase in the number of remote workers. It started during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many businesses have adapted to this work style. But even though it solved a lot of concerns for workers – transportation hassles, long commutes, traffic jam, waking up early, and more – there is one massive concern for both employees and employers: the quality of internet connection.
Remote workers heavily rely on a fast internet connection, and in most cases, high speed fiber internet is preferred. However, even this type of internet isn’t invincible to connection issues. And having an unstable internet connection can affect your workday negatively, which may lead to missed deadlines, frustrated clients/employers, and unnecessary stress. So, how can you prevent internet issues while working from home? Here are some things you can do to keep your connection smooth and stable:
- Check your internet plan.
The first thing you should do is assess your internet plan and check if it’s actually enough for your online tasks. This will depend on the work you do, if you perform bandwidth-heavy tasks, if you live with multiple people who also use the internet heavily, and the overall data usage limits of your plan.
Once you are able to assess all these things, you’ll either settle with your current plan or upgrade to a better one. If you’re going to upgrade or switch to a different provider, we recommend you go for reputable names in the market like Dish Internet and others because this gives you more security when it comes to the quality of service you’ll be getting.
- Optimize Your WiFi
Optimizing your WiFi is very important, even though not everyone is aware that they should be doing this. There are a few ways to help your router perform at its best, such as moving it to a central place where there is minimal obstructions like walls and appliances/devices that emit radio waves, doing the power cycle regularly, disconnecting devices that aren’t actively using the internet, and keeping your router’s software updated at all times.
- Keep an eye out on your data usage.
If your internet plan has a data cap, you should be more cautious while working. Some common work-from-home tasks, such as participating in video conferences, downloading and uploading large files, and other bandwidth-intensive activities can easily consume your data allowance. No matter the internet type, whether you have fiber, cable, or satellite internet, if you work from home, it’s always advisable to have unlimited data if possible.
- Check your network security.
This might seem like a no-brainer tip, but it’s often overlooked. Your home network security can also impact your internet speed. If you have malware on your devices, it can consume bandwidth in the background, and outdated router firmware can lead to inefficiencies. To address this, run a scan with your antivirus software, update your router firmware to the latest version, and consider changing your Wi-Fi password to prevent unauthorized devices from leeching off your connection.
Final Thoughts
As a remote worker, you have to understand that internet issues are inevitable because some of the factors are out of your hands, especially unscheduled downtimes. But by doing these tips, you’re making a way to lessen the chances of interruptions from happening to you during work hours.
