The Pros & Cons Of Working From Home

Are you considering starting your own home-based business? Or maybe your employees are asking for more flexible working arrangements and want to work from home more often?

Working from home can be life-changing.

In fact, a recent study revealed that employees who can work remotely are 22% happier than those who can’t.

That’s because working from home means that you don’t need to commute every day, giving you plenty of extra time to do the things you need to do and the things that you love. It also means you can potentially work from anywhere and organise your professional life around your personal life. Not the other way around.

Yes, working from home has many benefits.

Yet, not everything is glitz and glamour.

Working from home also comes with a fair share of challenges. So, to help you make an informed decision, we’ve listed below the pros and cons of working from home.

Pros Of Working From Home

Spend More Time On The Things That Matter

One of the biggest benefits of working from home is that it eliminates the need to commute and can, in some cases, significantly reduce distractions.

This, in turn means that you get more time to do the things you love, such as spending time with your friends and family or practicing your favourite sport or musical instrument. It also gives you more time to focus on your self-care and helps improve your wellbeing.

Work Around Your Own Schedule

Another great thing about working from home is that it’s flexible. No more rushing during your short lunch break to run all your errands, or squeeze in a quick gym session because you’re too tired after your commute to go, or simply don’t have the time.

Working from home means that you can organise your day the way you want. For instance, if you’re a night owl, you can still work 8 hours a day and meet your deadlines without having to wake up at 7.30 am (assuming your employer doesn't mind, of course).

Improve Your Productivity

Did you know that people who work from home are 47% more productive on average?

Now, you might be wondering how working from home can be more productive than being in an office environment.

Well, the home environment is often quieter than the office allowing for better concentration. For instance, open-plan offices can be extremely noisy, and constant interruptions from colleagues can significantly decrease productivity. Also, as mentioned before, employees who work from home tend to be happier and less stressed, and therefore take fewer sick days.

Employees with an improved focus and happier mindset can get things done in a shorter period, thus increasing their productivity.

Cons Of Working From Home

It Can Feel Lonely

Working from home can make you feel isolated, especially if you’re quite social and extraverted. A recent survey led by Buffer even found that loneliness is the biggest challenge to working from home for 19% of remote workers.

While some people enjoy alone time as they can concentrate better, spending hours working in front of a screen without any real face-to-face social interactions can be challenging. So, consider this when deciding whether working from home is for you.

Increased Need For Self-Discipline

Because you don’t have to be in the office at a particular time in the morning, it can be hard to motivate yourself and stick to a strict routine. And it can also be tempting to take a nap, play video games or watch TV while working from home. So, you’ll need to set a strict routine and create a schedule for each day to make you accountable and ensure you meet your deadlines on time.

Some other challenges you might be facing when working from home include setting boundaries for your workday to avoid overworking and experiencing slow broadband and remote security issues.

The Verdict

Like with everything in life, there are pros and cons to working from the comfort of your own home. Whether or not you should do it entirely depends on your personality and personal situation. We hope this article helped shed some light and make your decision a little easier.

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