Is everyone able to successfully work from home?

Working from home or freelancing seems like a great idea. It is not like this? Many people think that working from home for any business, online job or freelance work gives them more space and freedom. It definitely does. It has many advantages that I am going to discuss later, however, one should not ignore the claims and disadvantages of it as well.

advantages:

Let’s talk about the positive and negative aspects of working from home:

Work according to your own schedule: This is perhaps the biggest advantage you have in working from home. You can make a flexible schedule according to your comfort level. You start or stop working whenever you want. If you feel a bit of a need to rest, just turn off and take a break. Some people like to work late in the afternoon or at night. They will be more than happy if they get a work at home opportunity. You can have lunch, dinner, tea and coffee whenever you want. Just kick back, make your own schedule, and work anytime or any number of hours throughout the day. Manage time as you feel comfortable.

Be your own boss: Unlike office jobs, you don’t have a BOSS. No one will come to your desk to check if you are working or not. Not reporting or scolding BOSS at all. ‘No sword hangs over the head’ is one of the most relaxing thoughts for many people. Therefore no or less stress than office work.

It can be managed on weekends or part-time: Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of working from home. If your job is not too extensive, you can manage it on weekends and as part-time along with a regular job. If you are working with a company that allows you to work as much as is easily manageable, you should take advantage of working from home. It would be a great source of earning money, although it may not pay very well. However, with a few hours of work a week, you can earn some extra money.

Decorate your office as you like: Not only time, space is also yours in work from home. You can arrange a corner for your table and computer system wherever you want. Decorate it with flowers, photos, colors and things of your choice. If and when necessary, you can also change the place. If your work is mainly computer based, you can sit with your laptop on the grass, on the roof, on the balcony, etc. You are not tied to a single space.

Much savings: When you join an office, you need to go to work 5 days a week. You have to maintain an adequate wardrobe, as well as take out a good amount of money for the monthly expenses of transportation and food. Sometimes your office is located very far away and getting there is no less than a hassle. Or you have to depend on external food that you don’t like. Some of the companies offer pick up and drop off and food for the employees for a reasonable cut of their salary. But that way, they get a great facility. Wardrobe, transportation and food expenses consume a large part of your paycheck. Working from home totally subtracts clothing and transportation expenses. Then there is only the food you enjoy in the form of healthy and cheap home-cooked meals.

No frustrating coworkers or workplace issues: One of the biggest and most stressful problems in the office and a regular job is the presence of unpleasant and uncooperative co-workers. Harassment is also a big problem in the workplace, especially for women. Working from home saves you from these frustrating things that can also have a negative effect on your health and career growth.

Disadvantages:

Above were some positive aspects of working from home. Now, let’s take a look at the negatives too:

Laziness: Working from home gives you the advantage of flexible hours, but it also requires great self-discipline. If you are lazy, you cannot meet deadlines. You must have to make a schedule and set daily working hours to make it work smoothly. Postponing work until the next day will hurt your progress.

Working alone offers no competition: The presence of co-workers offers a competitive environment and motivates you to work better and better. Work at home has none of that. You are your own competitor there, so the performance comparison does not involve either. Competing and defeating yourself is not easy for everyone.

Providing a space in the home: If you have a lot of space at home, great. But if you live in a tight space, it can be difficult to book a room to work from home. Also, you may have to tolerate noise and disturbance from children and family.

Lack of communication between the team: If you work for a remote or out-of-country employer, you feel a lack of communication with other teammates and employers. Online meetings and chat cannot produce the results that face-to-face and office jobs offer. The time difference between countries also matters. You may need to wait for the meeting or chat for long hours.

Work ethics and culture: Ethics and culture are very important if you work for an employer outside of the country. If an African works for an American company, he may have to deal with cultural and behavioral problems. Some cultures don’t like to hear NO from employees; some are encouraged to express their opinion. So working from home can also be stressful due to cultural differences.

So these are the positives and negatives related to working from home. If you like it, you should take into account all these aspects. Consider all facets before launching into work from home. It is not suitable for everyone. If you’re ready to take on and meet the demands of working from home, go ahead. If not, take an office job instead.