In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that there’s been a permanent shift towards more people working from home. While this style of working is perfect for some, others find it more difficult and prefer to work in an office surrounded by colleagues.
If you’re unsure whether working from home is right for you, we’ll help you decide, with our comprehensive guide to the advantages and disadvantages of working from home.
The Pros
● You’ll have more time
One of the best things about working from home is having more freedom with your time. Not only will you save the time you’d usually spend commuting, but you’ll also have more chances to get on with household chores during your breaks, saving you from cramming all your admin into the weekends.
In the office, any time when you’re not hard at work has to be spent looking for work or talking to colleagues. If you’re between meetings at home, you can take the dog for a quick walk or put the laundry on.
● You can improve your work-life balance
If you work in an office that doesn’t close at exactly 5pm, you can get stuck staying late so you aren’t seen to be leaving first. When you work from home, you’re more likely to finish work when you’ve completed all your tasks, rather than staying in the office, so the manager thinks you’re a hard worker.
● You can be more comfortable
When you say advantages of working from home, there’s one word we always think of…sweatpants! When you’re working from home, you can be more comfortable and dress in clothes that are more appropriate for the weather or your comfort.
Goodbye stuffy, hot suits, hello comfy T-shirts and jogging bottoms.
● You might save money
For many workers, a sizeable chunk of their wage goes towards commuting costs, such as petrol or train fares. If you work from home, you’ll likely save money on commuting, as well as the money you may have spent on expensive lunches from the shop.
The Cons
● You might lose money
Although you’ll likely save money by not commuting and eating at home, you may find yourself spending more on your household bills, since you’ll be using your own WiFi, electricity supply, and heating.
If you’re concerned about your bills going up as a result of working from home, speak to your employer and see what they can do. They may agree to cover a portion of your expenses since you’ll be saving the company money on its utility bills.
● It can be tricky to stay active
Working in an office can make it tricky to stay active anyway, but throw in working from home, and it can be even more challenging. Perhaps you used to walk to work, and now you’re missing out on those steps. Maybe you used to go to the gym next door to the office on your lunch break. Whatever the reason, working from home can easily make your lifestyle more sedentary.
Luckily, there are ways to mitigate this sedentary effect. One of the easiest ways is to opt for a standing desk or treadmill desk. That way, you can engage in physical activity without missing out on important work or meetings.
● You might miss social interaction
For most people, going into the office provides some level of enjoyable social experience. If you live alone, you might find that working around others is one of the only forms of social interaction you experience all week. If you work from home with young children, the workplace might be one of the only spaces where you’re around other adults.
With that in mind, it’s worth considering your working preferences before deciding to work from home. If you like working independently, you’ll probably love it, but if you get energised by working with others, it might not be for you. If you want to work from home without missing out on the social element, schedule virtual ‘coffee machine’ chats with your colleagues for ten minutes daily to replicate the chats you’d have at work.
● You might work too hard
One of the problems with working from home is that you may work over your hours. Without the need to catch a train home or avoid traffic, it’s tempting to sit at your desk and finish a project passed your working hours.
If you do decide to work from home, set a strict time limit for finishing and make sure to take a full lunch break and regular smaller breaks.
The Final Verdict
Working from home can improve your work-life balance, save you money, and allow you to have a more flexible lifestyle. Despite some disadvantages, if you set strict time limits, work at a standing desk, and put in regular chats with colleagues, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of working from home.
