Working from home is a wonderful experience. I’ve got more freedom to work and play as I please. The thought of being stuck in a cubicle from 9am to 5pm is scary for me now. I won’t trade my laptop lifestyle for anything in the world! Of course, every rose has its thorns. Having a 9 to 5 job has its perks too. I must admit there have been are times when working from home has been a complete nightmare.
Although over the years, I have been able to strike a comfortable balance. Striking this balance was not easy. I had to play around with my routine and do a lot of trial and error, but I am happy with my work/life balance now, kind of.
I am been working from home for over 2 years now, so I know all about the pros and cons of working from home, for me anyway. I must warn you, my working from home experience may not be the same as yours, but I hope I’ll be able to hit that sweet spot where we can all relate with.
Let me start with the positive side of working from home:
1. Flexible Work Schedule
When you work from home, you can work at any time you like. Unlike working in an office where you start and close from work a fixed time, working from home gives you the liberty to start work and close from work at any time of the day. I usually work at mornings and at nights, on most days. I like the fact that I can still work even when I don’t feel so good.
2. You Can Spend Time With your Family
Being a freelancer is a lifestyle choice for me, rather than a career choice. I needed to stay at home with my kids, and I love the fact that my job gives me that freedom to that. Working from home gives me the opportunity to take an active part in the lives of your loved ones. I can care for my kids, and watch them grow. This ‘pro’ alone is the main motivator for me.
3. You Get to Save Money
The money I would have spent on commuting to work and back, and lunch at a café can be saved. I no longer need to face the dreadful rush hour commute, since my business is anywhere I want it to be.
4. You’re Safe from Office Politics and Gossip
Let’s face it, when you’re at the office you have to constantly watch your back. You never know what your boss or co-workers could use against you. When you work from home, you can be yourself. You no longer have to worry about what others think or say about you. You are your own boss. This is another major motivator for me because I can’t handle unnecessary drama at all.
So that’s just one side of the coin. Let’s have a look at the negative side of working from home:
1. You Tend to Work Long Hours
This is a major ‘con’ for me because I work very long hours. Working at the office gives you a well-defined schedule: start at 9am and close at 5pm, and that is it until the next working day. When you work from home you can work late into the night. Sometimes you find yourself working more than 8 hours a day, even on weekends.
2. You Need to Have Self-discipline
I am lucky I don’t get easily distracted. When I need to work, I work, and nothing would distrate me, except my children. So when I am working at night, and everyone is fast asleep, I don’t get tempted to go on social media or put on the TV, because I know I need to get work done.
Working from home gives you a lot of freedom that, at times, you may get tempted to just relax. But if you are focused, you won’t have a problem.
3. No Adult Interaction
Staying at home all day can be boring sometimes. When you’re at work, the office is always bustling with lots of activities, and the change of environment and meeting different people helps your state of mind. That’s something you don’t get working at home. I am a bit of a loner, a full introvert, so I don’t struggle much with this working from home issue.
So there you have it! If you had a choice, would you work from home or work in a structured office?
Great post, I worked from home for 10 years and loved it now I just work from home once a week. It’s good to show the cons as well as the {many} Pro’s!
Yea it is. Many just talk about the pros but not cons..
Thank you for this article. Good points!
Thanks for reading Tricia.
Excellent post! The best part about working from home is flexible work schedule! I can just wake up any time and start my work and due to flexible schedule i can spend more time with the family! But I agree on the fact that I have to work more than 8 hours and it has adverse effect on health
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Yea it does. I forget to stop working sometimes..Lol.
Working from home would be perfect for me with my little girl but I also know how much of a struggle it would be to get anything done during the day
Yea it can be impossible on some days.
nice post, working 9-5 is really awfull.
It can be..
I agree – there are times when the work from home days can be long and it can be hard to remain disciplined. I’d love to create myself a proper work space at home as I tend to sit on the sofa.
I sit on the sofa a lot. Not doing my back any good.
I work at home and I love it but you do have to be so disciplined to make it work, don’t you?!
Yea you have to..
I think I would struggle working from home at the moment as I wouldnt have a seperate office space. I think thats a key factor in productivity and discipline. I’d love to save on the commute and the amount i spend on food though, that would be a nice plus!
Yea saving on commute and lunch is brillant.
I’ve been working from home for 2 years now, and I LOVE it. It’s true that I work long hours, but I’d rather work long hours on something I love, than 9-5 in a job I hate 🙂
True. I agree. Working for yourself and loving it makes up for the long unsocial hours.
I would love to work from home but I would miss the occasional cuppa being made for me by a colleague and I’d probably end up getting distracted by cleaning!
Lol…Working at home can be distracting.
I would love to work from home! Maybe when I’ve paid off my mortgage x
Ah ok..
I think I’d struggle to work from home because I would always want to sleep in (gotta love my bed) and I think I’d keep getting distracted x
Yea I know what you mean…
I certainly don’t miss the office gossip and politics of it all! Maddening isn’t it? .. I can so relate with the no adult interaction, although to be fair, my husband also works from home most of the time, but he doesn’t count, does he? 😉 x
Nah I don’t either.
In my previous job I used to do a bit of both and I loved working from home. This is my goal now to find a job which I can do from home around my life with my girls. I just need to find what that would be! x
Ah great goal.
I currently work a 9-5 job but I love that my job is varied and i get to go on business trips and leave the office every once in a while. I wouldn’t mind working from home like every Friday but I think I’d get bored of being home alone for so long! The Blonde B
You are so lucky.
Great post and definitely agree with all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading Joanna.
Working from home makes family life easier but I do really miss the office banter
Yea it does.
The “No adults interaction” part, it’s the hardest for me, actually. But the many pros are worth it
Yea they are.
Working from home would be just perfect for me. Hopefully I can my some money from my blog too soon 🙂
Working from home is so cool..
I have days where I don’t want to be in my office and want to be at home getting on with things without the constant interruptions which is where I am quite lucky x
Ah great. Lucky you xo
My husband works from home so can relate to a lot of your points here. There’s are def benefits and some negatives too.
Yea they are.
Totally agree, I work long hours but it’s worth it, I think of all the extra time I get with my kids so the con of not being able to relax every evening is worth it.
Yea it is so worth it.
I have the opportunity to work from home every now and then, and I think your point about needing self-discipline is spot on!
Thanks for reading Danny.
I work from home too, thankfully due to the nature of my job I am out seeing clients most of the time so don’t miss the adult interaction. But I am guilty of the long hours!!
Think we all are. Comes with the job. I work whenever I can.
my work affords me to work both from home and in the office and I can attest to these pros and cons, I think for me lack of adult interaction is the biggest thing followed by discipline
Ah lucky you having the best of both worlds.
I’ve been working from home for a while now and couldn’t agree more! Even though I sometimes miss interaction I wouldn’t change it!
Yea me too.
Wow! I think you gave a wonderful comparison of your feelings might indeed inform your decision to stay home. I’ ve worked from home and have found staying focused for a few hours at a time can be a tough thing to do. One does become better at this, however, if in fact you are taking working in general seriously and especially when you start to make some income. This helps you know working at home can really be a huge asset in your life
Yea so true. Thanks for reading.
Good read
Thank you.
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I really enjoyed your post. You did a great job bringing out the pros and cons.
Thanks Shelba. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Wonderful post. I learned a lot thank you.
Thanks. Glad you did.
Good article and so true it takes discipline to work from home.
I left a well payed job for a work at home opportunity. And now making more money with less work. GREAT:)
I related so much to your article . . . . both pros and cons are very true !
Thanks Salome.
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I can especially relate to the saving of money…lol. What it is about the work environment and the coffee shop nearby luring you to their sweet smelling coffee and expensive cakes? I now work part-time and I have seen the massive saving from spending on coffee and cake (and my weight is thanking me for it too) 🙂 Nice one Stella.
Thanks Florence. Glad you like the post.