Working from Home: More Pros than Cons?

One in Five Americans Work from Home, Could You?

It’s estimated that one in five American’s work from home at least one day a week. Today, the concept of work is very different from even just a few years ago. In fact, going to work these days is not so much about being based in a particular location anymore. It’s now more about getting the work done, completing projects and servicing clients, regardless of where you might be working from.

Remote working or telecommuting is now a big part of business. Work that was traditionally carried out in an office is now commonly carried out at workers’ homes or at an off-site location.

While working at home can take a bit of adjustment, the benefits for both are considerable. From increased productivity to allowing staff to achieve a better work and home life balance, there are certainly substantial advantages for both worker and employer.

Jenny Holt shares the pros and cons of working from at the New York Jobs Insider. She writes:

Pro #1: You’re Free to Do as You Please
Maybe you work from home once a week and work in an office the rest of the days. Well, you probably enjoy it because you get to set your own schedule for the day, wake up a bit later, and don’t have to worry about fighting off the crowds on the train or hitting rush hour traffic.
Many working professionals struggle with finding a balance between work and their personal lives. Working from home can make this balance a little bit easier to find and maintain and will also provide you with more hours in the day and thus more flexibility. Even if you only work 9-5, you have to account for at least an hour commute both ways, plus the prep time in the morning and the worry of traffic in the evening. Your 9-5 may seem closer to a 7-7 if you work in an office.
When you work from your home, you have more control over your stress level and can more easily walk away or take a break when work gets particularly crazy.
Con #1: It Takes A Phenomenal Amount of Self-Discipline
It takes a great amount of effort to start work when you know you don’t have to be at the office by 8 a.m. Instead of getting ready and having a set routine, maybe you just roll out of bed and start working so you get as much sleep as possible. Instead of taking twenty minutes to read the news and indulge in some cold brew before work, you’re just throwing everything relaxing away in the morning to start work once you hop out of the shower.
To stay very astute at work, have a clear set of daily, weekly, monthly and years goals that you’re focused on. Create virtual checklists that rank goals by when they need to be completed and how significant each one is to your business or career. These goals should guide you on what you should be doing when you wake up every morning.
If you set tentative deadlines for yourself (even if the work isn’t due then), you’ll be well on your well to being more successful while working from home.
Pro #2: More Engaged
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported on a recent study that found teleworkers are more productive and less likely to take time off work — even when sick.
As long as you’re not spending too much time looking at videos on YouTube, you can definitely be more engaged in your own home than an office. I doubt you’ll find absolute solace in a crowded office, where people are constantly talking on the phone, in meetings and coming up to you to ask for help on a deliverable. When you work from home, the only distractions are the ones that you bring on.
Con #2: No Outside Pressure to Stay Busy
You are the only person around all day, so there is no outside pressure to keep actively working.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in reading an article in Buzzfeed, which turns to reading an article on the New York Times which turns to checking your personal email. Since there is also no pressure to start work at a certain time or dress a certain way, it is very easy to delay the start or continuation of work. Productivity can seriously decrease under such circumstances if you don’t have a proper schedule to keep you working in the morning up until lunchtime, and lunchtime up until 5 or 6 P.M.