Pro’s and Con’s of Working At Home

Pro’s and Con’s of Working At Home

 

Have you ever dreamed about working from home? More and more people make the switch every year, and this trend is not likely to stop anytime soon. If your job mostly involves working on a computer there is really no need to drive into an actual office every day, since you can do the same thing just as well from your own house.

Whether you’re still only dreaming about it, or you’ve already made the transition, working from home brings a few questions and challenges that must be overcome in order to stay productive and make the most out of it.

 

Pro’s

  • An afternoon nap

Even if it is rare, an afternoon nap boosts productivity. Winston Churchill had a lie down every afternoon as did President Kennedy, Johnson and Reagan.

  • Fewer interruptions

It’s generally easier to get into “the zone” and work completely interrupted when you’re working from home than in a busy office environment where everyone seems to want to interact with you. This is at least true if you’re alone while working; if you have a spouse, children or even pets around you may experience the complete opposite!

  • Time Management

No more or less meetings both formal and informal meetings with colleagues

  • Work Early, Work Late

No more 9-5 pm work schedule, you can start and finish when you like.

  • Worklife Balance

You can attend to life’s other demands such as family, community, health and fitness.

  • Cost Savings

No more transport costs whether it be fuel, parking fees or public transport;  while I don’t recommend working in your pyjamas, you can work in your sports gear and greatly reduce you wardrobe expenses, make up, hairdressing and nail care. Food expenses are also reduces by eating at home.

Con’s and their solutions

  • Feeling all alone

This is a fallacy as there are so many meet up groups both online and offline your can connect with 24/7. Join a facebook group, make new contacts here and many training programs have private members communities where you can hang out and make work friends.  Every Saturday morning at 6 am, I connect with Best Selling MasterMind colleagues. We are a group of six writers from Australia, US, and Costa Rica who connect and share our progress, challenges and provide support.

When you work from home you have flexibility, so use it and catch up with family and friends when you want to. It is Ok to give yourself permission to be absent from the desk for a few hours a day,  doing your work walking with headphones , thinking about strategy or a blog post headline while you are hanging the washing or preparing an evening meal.

  • More distractions

At home you’ll probably find enough distractions around you to easily keep yourself occupied every single hour of the day, should you want to. From video games and watching TV to simply napping the day away, the temptations are many and you must stay disciplined if you want to keep working from home.

  • Separating Work From Home Life

Not only you need to do this, those you live with need to understand when you are at work, you are focussed.  If you can have a separate room, this is pretty easy to achieve, if not find a space preferably in the bedroom rather than the living room or the kitchen.

Discipline is the key, focus when you are alone at home and be prepared to join the others when they are home, especially children. You may find an early morning routine helps to fit the hours in or find time in the evening for quiet time to focus. Working from home you decide on your routine because there is no longer anyone looking over your shoulder, adding up the minutes on your time card.

 

  • Easier to stagnate professionally

Working in an office you can’t help but get at least some industry news and pick up some new skills through coworkers. You may even be sent off on courses to learn new skills. When you work from home, however, you’ll have to continually develop your skills yourself, and strive to stay up-to-date on the latest developments so you’re not stagnatng.

5 Ways To Increase Productivity When You’re Working From Home

When you’re working from home you should always be looking for ways to increase your productivity. More work done in less time means more time to kick back, relax and have fun. Here are a few suggestions that can really make a difference:

  1. Keep a daily routine

Some people who are new to working from home will scoff at the idea of anything resembling a daily schedule. The truth, though, is that it can really boost productivity and prevent work from spilling over into your spare time. By starting and stopping work at approximately the same times every day, you ensure you’ll have plenty of time to recharge afterwards, which is ultimately great for productivity.

  1. Always plan ahead

Something as simple as a daily to-do list can do wonders for your productivity. Sure, deciding on the spot what to do next has a certain charm, but it leaves you spending too much time on deciding, and too little on actually working. Keep a daily to-do list and decide on your tasks for the next day before your work day is over – you’ll notice the difference almost immediately!

  1. Stay healthy

It’s impossible to stay productive in the long run if you treat your body and mind poorly. You don’t have to become a health nut to get some real work done, but you should at the very least try to schedule some exercise a couple of times per week, even if it’s just going for a walk around the block. It’s also a good idea to invest in an ergonomic workplace, including a good chair to sit on, as that helps reduce fatigue and keep you energized throughout the day.

  1. Eliminate distractions

Yes, some people are able to watch TV while they’re working. They’re probably a minority, however, as most of us find it quite difficult to focus on two things

simultaneously. When you’re working, turn off the TV, set your phone to silent, close your Facebook tab and shut the door – your productivity will skyrocket!

  1. Get out of the house

Even if you’re the type of person who enjoys working alone, the fact is it can get lonely aLer a while. If you spend all your week cooped up in your office, rarely seeing the outside world, chances are you’ll feel a bit isolated and your work will suffer as a result. Therefore, make a point of leaving the house at least a few times per week, even if it’s just to do something simple such as meeting a friend for lunch.

These were just a few examples of things to you can do to improve your productivity. Most people should benefit from implementing these, but feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Good luck!

Takeaways

  • One of the main benefits of working from home is the flexibility and ability to choose yourself when, where and how you work
  • You need to be a self-starter with the ability to stay disciplined and focused on your own to get the best results
  • Working from home can allow you to both save money and live a healthy lifestyle, but if you aren’t careful it can also lead to the complete opposite

Separatng your working life from your private life is one of the main challenges when you’re working from home, and something you need to actvely strive to prevent