Working from home is fantastic. You get to work from home, after all!
But it does present some challenges, especially when you’re used to working in an office environment with coworkers around you and things like water coolers and copiers right at your fingertips.
So, what’s the good, the bad, and the ugly about working from home? Let’s look at some of the most interesting aspects of remote working, starting with why you might consider it and then going into the aspects that make this work style so unique!
The good
Working from home is excellent for your mental health. It allows you to get away from those office politics. You can work on a more flexible schedule.
Many people who changed working in the office setup to working from home say that working in their PJs increases their productivity. I agree because being comfortable helps me stay relaxed, which is key to staying focused.
Also, fewer distractions (unless you count cats as a distraction) help you focus on your job.
When you work from home, you have to motivate yourself because no one will tell you what time to go home or when it’s time for lunch.
You have full control over your schedule, which can be a blessing and a curse depending on how disciplined and focused you stay and get things done on time.
The time saved on commuting is significant — it used to take me 2 hours a day to get from my house in the suburbs to the office in the city center. I don’t miss those terrible traffic jams!
Another advantage of working from home is taking breaks whenever you want. It’s much easier to get up and walk away from your desk if you need a breather than working in an office with coworkers who may judge you for leaving early or taking long breaks during work hours.
If working from home sounds like something that would be good for your mental health, I highly recommend looking into it! However, please keep reading to find out about some of its downsides!
The bad
All jokes aside, working from home isn’t all bad. However, it can cause distractions.
If you are working from home during a quiet time at work, that may be okay. However, if you have kids or pets or anything going on in your house, it can become a distraction very quickly. So, when working from home, make sure to find a place where you will not be distracted.
If you don’t know how to balance working from home with your personal life and business life, then you will have issues.
If you’re more sociable, you may feel lonely and isolated when working from home.
Some of my friends and colleagues who have returned to an office — even in a limited capacity — have told me that returning made them realize how isolated they had become during the pandemic and the burden of stress they had been carrying, even if they faced no job threat or health risk.
The ugly
Though working from home has its perks, it’s not always enjoyable. After I’d worked at home for a while, I was utterly burned out. There were times when I would work at night (just because it was quiet) only to wake up early in the morning exhausted with zero motivation to even get out of bed.
I also had no separation between work time and playtime, leading to a whole slew of problems.
Fitness fell by the wayside when working out at lunch became too much of a hassle.
It took me a while to realize I had a problem with procrastination, but when I did, it became much easier to set goals for myself, create regular schedules and stick to them. After all, that’s what separates professional people from amateurs, right?
Learning how to work from home is not easy for everyone.
It takes hard work, focus, and drive. It requires you to get out of your comfort zone and move toward where you want to be in life.
So make sure you’re up for it before you decide to take on a project at home.