Is Working Remotely A Good Thing?
Everyone seems to dream about working remotely and sees themselves sitting in the sun somewhere exotic and completing their daily work tasks. Like everything else in life though, working remotely has its pros and cons. Here are some examples:
Pros Of Working Remotely
Reduced Commuting Time
Remote working enables you to step out of bed and into your home office without even getting out of your PJs. Removing a commute from your daily schedule gives you extra hours of personal time every day.
Healthier Lifestyle
Having more time at home means you have more time to focus on self-care and more time to exercise. Additionally whilst some people might enjoy working in a socially active office others might find it stressful.
Better Work Life Balance
Working from home can improve your overall work-life balance. For instance if you are contracted to work 7 ½ hours a day, you can work those hours at any time, so you could pop out for lunch for a couple of hours with a friend or go to the hairdressers during the day.
More Money In Your Pocket
Because you are not travelling to work you have no fares or parking costs. Additionally you won’t be spending £10 per day on a takeaway sandwich and a coffee for lunch. So you’ll have more dosh to spend on better things.
Flexible Working Hours
People have individual rhythms and are productive at different times during the day and remote working usually offers flexibility. So if you are a morning person you can start work at 6am if you like. If you like a lay in starting work at 1pm may suit you.
Cons Of Working Remotely
No Interaction With Others
Working remotely can be a lonely place, you are on your own so if you have a problem or are not sure what to do about something there is no-one to ask. Home working also means you might miss out on making friends and social meetings.
You Are Stuck Indoors All The Time
Going into work means you are getting away from home. Now we all love our homes but working there means you will see last night dishes which haven’t been washed, the pile of ironing that needs doing and the dirty washing that you’ve chosen to ignore.
There Could Be Health Effects
Though some people thrive by being at home, others miss the daily interaction with others in the work place and this could have a bad effect on mental health. Also in an office you have the right equipment to do your job and having a dodgy chair or a small keyboard could put strain on your body.
You Could Become Lazy
Without the presence of a Manager or workmates if can be easy to engage in unproductive habits, such as leaving the TV on or taking frequent coffee breaks. You may also experience distractions from others during work hours. Decreased productivity will be noticed and this could result in disciplinary action.
Your Promotional Prospects May Be Affected
With no one to see you and observe your strengths and your weaknesses how can anyone judge you? Yes I know they can judge you on your work but it’s not always the case that the best worker is the best person to supervise and motivate others. Unfortunately this could have an effect on your long term career.
So to finalise there is no right of wrong, working from home is perfect for some people for others it could be a disaster.