Could Working From Home Be For You?
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Working from home is becoming more common. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 23% of the American workforce did some or all of their work at home. Could a job from home be for you? Below are some advantages and disadvantages to consider.



Advantages



No Commute- Those that don’t commute can save on fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and parking expenses. Some indirect savings, although harder to quantify, are associated with mental wellbeing. Not having to drive in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic contributes to less stress, frustration, and fatigue.



Close Proximity To Family- Work at home employees are able to leverage their time more effectively. This may be especially important to parents of small children and those caring for elderly family members.



Savings in Wardrobe- There is no need for professional apparel and dry cleaning expenses can be minimized. Comfortable casual wear may even increase your productivity.



Better Health-With no commute time, a case can be made that work at home employees have more time to invest in exercise. Taking a long walk before or after work may be more of a possibility.



Disadvantages



Isolation- A disadvantage to working at home can be the feelings of isolation from bosses and co-workers. This can be quite challenging for some to overcome.



Distractions-Although some distractions may be avoided by working at home, other disruptive ones can come from children, neighbors, friends, family, and even pets.



Difficulty in Separating Home from Work- This situation can occur in both ways, employees may be tempted to engage in household duties, and on the flip side, they may be feel compelled to work even after regular hours have been completed. Work life balance can be more challenging in this environment.



Need for high self-discipline- The individual working from home must be must be disciplined and able to self-motivate to avoid losing drive and momentum.



Working from home is not for everyone. Carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages before committing. Talking to others about their experience is also very helpful. Euan Hutchinson, a work from home employee of HP, writes “It doesn’t suit every person and doesn’t necessarily suit every job, but when it’s right for both, working from home works really well”.