Why Working From Home is a Double-Edged Sword

Wouldn’t it be great if you could go to work in your pyjamas? Imagine sitting down at your desk with a cup of coffee and casually starting your workday. Now I don’t mean going to the office in your pyjamas, because that would just be awkward. No, what I’m talking about is a job where you can work from home. 

Having the ability to work from home is a dream for most people. However, as with most things in life, the pros don’t usually come without the cons. We’re going to share with you the benefits and disadvantages that working from home has to offer.

The Good

Flexibility

Working from home provides you with an amazing amount of flexibility that having an office job just can’t provide. For some, you can work your own hours and at your own pace, when you want to, and maybe even where you want depending on the job.

If something comes up during that day that’s unexpected, it’s much easier to deal with it at home than if you had to leave the office. In addition, you’ll also be able to do small chores or things you need around the house while you’re on your break.

People that work from home typically can multi-task and get more done than the average person, unless distractions start to creep in. Flexibility is for sure one of the major perks of working from home though.

Closer to Home and Family

If you’re a parent, you likely know what it’s like when your kid gets sick, but you’ve still gotta go to work. You can’t leave them at home, but you still have to get to work on time. When you have the ability to work from home, things become a lot easier.

Working from home allows you to get work done, but still, take care and tend to those that need you. For some, it’s just a comforting feeling knowing that they are close to family and can be on call at a moment’s notice.

If you’re still able to focus and get work done in a home environment, then working from home can be really nice and convenient. For some, just being at home in a familiar setting makes them feel more productive and efficient.

You Save Money

One of the most attractive aspects of being able to work from home is the amount of money you save doing so. The average person has to drive or commute to their job every day, and we all know that takes money. Gas isn’t cheap, so if you have to drive a lot of miles every day to get to work and back, you’re going to pay for it out of your wallet.

Additionally, some, save a lot of money on formal wear. What do I mean by that? Well, you can’t just go to work in your pyjamas (unfortunately). For the majority of employees, they have to maintain a formal wardrobe, which cost money.

When working from home, you can work in whatever clothes you want to. In fact, you probably don’t even need clothes if you don’t want them, but yeah let’s not go there…

The Bad

Feeling Isolated

In a normal workplace, you’re around other people. Not just any people, but your peers, colleagues, and coworkers. It may be hard to believe, but a lot of people get lonely and feel isolated since their not around others when trying to work.

When at work, it’s not uncommon to socialise and interact with your coworkers around you. Working from home totally strips this aspect away, leaving just you and the mundane work you need to get finished by the end of the day.

After a while, you may find yourself missing your life back at the office. If you’re the type of person that loves interacting with your coworkers and being social on the job, working from home is something you may want to reconsider.

Distractions

While working at home is pretty great, sometimes it can be a real productivity killer. There are tons of different distractions that come your way that you wouldn’t typically have to deal with in a real work environment. 

For people with families, it can be hard to focus and concentrate on different things going on in the house. If you’re working from home, it’s safe to say that you’re going to get interrupted quite a bit during the day. There is also no guarantee that you’ll have a peaceful and quiet work environment either.

If you’re not the type of person that deals well with distractions or can get yourself back on track easily, you may want to reconsider a work from home job.

Self Discipline

This has to be one of the biggest reasons not to work from home. If you’re not self-disciplined, you seriously won’t survive working from home. This con sort of ties into the previous con about distractions as well.

There are so many things at home that can and will grab your attention. I mean I don’t know about you, but I’d sure rather catch a show on Netflix or take a break to enjoy some online gaming than hunt down bugs in software. You might even decide to take a little time to get some personals errand done. This is exactly why unless you’re self-disciplined, you don’t need to work from home. You’ll get nothing done really fast.

In a work environment, these types of distractions are non-existent. Even if they do exist to an extent, you’re much less likely to indulge in them without the risk of getting in trouble with your boss and getting fired. If you can’t stay focused and resist distractions, don’t work from home.

And the Ugly

In all honesty, working from home is pretty great, but it’s not right for everyone. While there are many benefits, there are also cons. With the right amount of discipline and determination, you can make it work for you.

If you’re the kind of person that likes having interaction with your peers and colleagues or just need the focus that a work environment provides, working from home might not be for you.

So what do you guys think about it? Share your stories and thoughts about it in the comments below!