I have heard a lot of people talk about their transition to working from home since this coronavirus outbreak has become more serious. I have noticed how some people have been reacting to this sudden change of pace and so I decided to talk about some of the realities of working from home for those of us who are considering a career working from home, and also for those who are currently on the verge of working from home instead of going to work.
So, what is it really like working from home? Here are some things people don't talk about until they are in the midst of it already.
Things No One Tells You About Working From Home
Unapologetic Interruptions
If you don’t live alone and work from home, there’s a good chance that at the beginning and from time to time you will be interrupted while trying to work. I say unapologetic because the interruptions will be abrupt and with more casualness than if someone just walked into your office in a building. It can be frustrating but being in the comfort of your home can take away from the workplace privacy you’d get someplace else.
Can feel lonely
Working from home can feel pretty lonely. There’s no water fountain talk or chit chat during breaks with coworkers. It can seem a little harder to connect.
The “must be nice” comments can get annoying
People are constantly going on about how lucky I am to work from home and constantly suggesting that I am not really “working”. Especially since it can be even more difficult to give quality work when there’s so many distractions at home. It has its pros but you cannot deny it its cons.
It’s easy to not actually get any work done
As I said, there are a lot of distractions. Home is just that. HOME. Which means it’s easy to sit back, relax, and let hours go by without having accomplished anything. I’ve done it a LOT. It takes major discipline and there will still be days that absolutely nothing gets done.
Balancing is a JOB
When you work from home, everything is on you when it comes to balancing your schedule with work and non work. You could work too much or end up just relaxing and not getting anything accomplished all day. Comment down below if you’d like to see some posts on balancing as a work from home employee or business owner!
Now, just so you know, I LOVE working from home. So don’t get me wrong. I enjoy what I do and get great fulfillment from it. So let me follow up with some of the great things about working from home:
Working from home positives
You save money
With zero commute, you save on gas. Since you’re at home you’re more likely to eat the food you have indoors which saves you money on buying lunch as well. This is one of my favorite parts about working from home. The money I make is put to better use.
Comfortability
This can be a con, but is my favorite thing. I don’t have to sit in an uncomfortable office chair. I can decide where my work space will be and I can change it and switch it up as I please. I also feel more relaxed in my work space at home which allows me to produce better quality work. This isn’t the case for everyone, but is definitely the case for me.
Control in how you work
Your schedule is up to you. This means that you can work on your own schedule and choose to have your work hours during your most productive hours during the day. Some people get a burst of energy in the afternoons. Others feel really productive at night. I, myself, am most productive early in the mornings. And because nobody else is deciding my schedule, I can get the most done when I feel the most productive and ready to work.
Working from home has a LOT of positives but these are my top 3. What are some of your favorite parts about working from home? What are some things you find challenging?
Comment down below and stay tuned for positive work from home habits!