December 20, 2021
With the emergence of COVID-19, millions of workers across the globe were forced to take their professional lives home for an indefinite period. Though, as restrictions begin to loosen and people begin to return back to their offices, you may be wondering whether remote work is more suitable for your future. There are numerous reasons why working from home is great like waking up a tad later and getting to hold meetings in your pajamas. However, there are some downsides as well, such as increased utility bills and lack of social interaction.
Regardless of your specific profession, there are several pros and cons to consider to determine whether you want to commit to a fully remote work life. Continue reading for some of the most important aspects to consider along with ways working from home can help keep some money in your pocket as well.
Working remotely allows you to save money that would typically be spent on transportation costs, child or pet care, and other necessary expenses like wardrobe or parking. With the average worker spending more than $5,000 a year on transportation costs, this could make a significant difference in your monthly budget.
Working from home also allows you to spend less money on lunches with coworkers or mid-day coffee runs to get a break from the office. Most people are more inclined to prep their meals beforehand to keep themselves productive and efficient during the work day.
Workers operating from their homes for the past year have reported significant improvements in productivity. After a survey was conducted looking at remote working teams, 65% stated they felt more productive working from home than in the office.
Pro Tip: Putting a limit on the amount of time you spend on your phone for games, social media or other activities will help you stay on task during the day.
With more people being able to work from home, there are less gas emissions contributing to their pollution of the air we breathe. It was found in 2019 that 29% of greenhouse emissions solely came from transportation. Because electric cars are still an up and coming trend, car emissions continue to contribute a significant amount to our carbon footprint on the earth.
Working full time from an office can leave you little time for yourself after commuting back home and taking care of your other life's obligations. With the little bit of energy you you, you often don't have the stamina to spend time with loved ones and catch up with close friends.
Remote work allows you to prioritize your mental health and physical energy to give you the opportunity to do the things you love most, improving your happiness and work-life balance.
Pro Trip: Burnout from Remote work is possible. Think about taking on hobbies that will help you prioritize your mental health such as yoga, meditation, or therapy.
The typical 9-to-5 work schedule eats up most people’s days, making attending appointments or your kid's school events pretty difficult. Working from home allows for more flexibility in your work schedule, allowing you to fit your life-s most important events around your professional life so you don't have to take time off.
Conducting meetings via Zoom or Google Meets isn't the same as an in-person interaction. Remote work puts a limit on the number of social interactions you get to have during your day. Though video conferencing has been an incredible solution, there is nothing like physically being in the same room as someone to analyze their responses and reactions to what you're telling them.
Some people love working from home because of the peace and quiet that help them get their work done faster. But this isn't the case for workers living with young children, pets, or other things that need to be catered to. This can make remote work incredibly difficult.
Pro Tip: Talk to your family about times you are not allowed to be distrubed. You can also book a boby or dog sitter for when you have important meetings to attend.
A remote position allows you to clock in and out with more flexibility compared to an in person job. Though, the lack of a set routine can lead to unproductive days, risking you meeting deadlines or other important tasks.
Pro Tip: Make a list of goals to want to complete for the day to keep yourself on track.
Establishing a work space at home means finding the space and equipment to get the job done and sometimes these things aren’t readily available. The increased at-home time also means your electricity bill will rise due to the use of additional monitors and lighting throughout the home. Although, there are sometimes tax deductions that can compensate for some of the financial burden.
Regardless of your profession or lifestyle, there are a number of pros and cons to consider when determining whether this type of work setting would be best for your personality and work ethic. If you're having trouble coming to a decision, think about some of the factors mentioned above to help guide your decisions. Each work model has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s just about finding what will work best for you.
