Working from Home – A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people who now work from home, either on a permanent or temporary basis, and with the continuing influence and availability of the Internet the chances are this trend will become even more prevalent in the coming decade. As well as making life more convenient for employees, it results in lower running costs for employers and some significant gains for the environment.

If you are currently considering making the switch to home working, or perhaps you’re expecting your company to offer you the chance in the near future, there are several considerations which you should be aware of. One of the more pleasant aspects of this scenario is that you no longer have to contend with a commute to the workplace, and this can save you money and reduce your stress levels.

Another of the many positives involves being able to fit your working schedule around your home and family commitments. If you’re a parent of young children, for example, you can easily ensure you get your work done while the little ones are at playgroup or school, leaving you free to collect them in the afternoon when they are ready to come home. This can subsequently have a wonderful influence on parent-child bonding.

It’s your working environment now.

\There’s an added benefit too in regard to the condition of your chosen workspace. You will no longer have to endure an office that’s either too hot for rational thought or too cold to move around in. Working from home means you can control the temperature, the music that’s playing on the radio, the time you take your coffee breaks, and whether you have the windows open or not. It’s your office now, so do exactly what you want.

It’s worth remembering, however, that there are a few disadvantages to working from home, and anyone who’s contemplating whether it’s a good idea to do it should always be aware of them. One of the more obvious ones is that most people have to pay for their own electricity usage, Internet access, phone calls, and drinks. This may be offset completely by the removal of a commute, of course, but even then it’s worth bearing them in mind.

Perhaps the most overlooked issue of all is the one that catches many people out. Self-discipline is an absolute must for people who work from home. It’s often too easy to get caught up in doing some housework first before switching the computer on, perhaps, and if there’s something interesting on daytime TV it really needs to be ignored. There are a lot of distractions that can get in the way of work, so you need to be determined to resist them.

David Showell lives in the UK and often works from home for 121 car hire.