Working from Home the Good and the Bad
Mention working from home and people have visions of working in their pajamas with their favorite music playing in the background. They envision time spent with family and a sense of freedom. However, while this may be the case some days, other days you may have a deadline looming while the kids are yelling, the dog is barking, and your computer keeps crashing. There are both positive and negative aspects which should be taken into account when making the decision to work from home.
Pros
-If you are doing freelance work, you will be able to set your own hours. You won’t be a slave to an alarm clock, will be able to take breaks whenever you need to, and can work late into the night if inspiration hits.
-You won’t have to drive to the office every day. You won’t find yourself standing outside, scraping the ice off of your windshield before the sun comes up.
- You won’t have to deal with the stress and backstabbing which occurs in many offices. You set the tone of the day and can focus on work, not unnecessary drama.
- If your kids have a special event at school in the middle of the day, you can go without having to ask (or beg) for time off. You decide when you can spend time with your kids, your boss doesn’t make those decisions for you.
- If you like to learn new things, working from home will give you unlimited opportunities to learn more and take on responsibilities you never dreamed of.
Cons
-Not every friend or family member will understand or appreciate your efforts. Many will feel that you “aren’t really working” and that it is alright to call you or drop by unexpectedly.
-If your computer starts acting up, you will have to troubleshoot it yourself. There is no IT department right down the hall to come and fix things for you.
-While it is true that you will get to set your own hours, you may find yourself working more than the standard 40 hours a week, especially when you are trying to get started. It won’t always be possible to clock off at 5:00 and put work completely out of your mind.
- If you are working on a website where you bid on jobs, you may find yourself competing with foreign workers who can bid as little as fifty cents an hour for a job. It may be necessary to work for less than minimum wage just to get established.
Working from home is not for everybody, but for some, it can offer a great alternative to the normal nine to five routine. Take all factors into account, plan carefully, and go in with your eyes open and your experience working from home can be a positive one.
