Is Working From Home Right For You?

Published January 14, 2022
Many people think that working from home means lazing around in your pajamas all day and only doing work when the mood hits you. So it’s no wonder why it’s often portrayed as the answer to all our corporate employment woes.
While working from home might be a dream come true for some, it’s not for everyone. And, unfortunately, that pajamas thing is a complete myth. You’ll learn why later.
If you’re contemplating permanently leaving the corporate office set-up in favor of a home office, here are some things you need to consider.
What Does “Working From Home” Mean?
Just as its name suggests, working from home means doing your work from the comfort of your own abode. Or wherever else in the world you want to work from. For this reason, it’s also referred to as “working remotely.”
Some companies offer a blended working environment where half the work can be done at home. At the same time, other businesses allow their employees to work from home full time.
For this set-up to work, employees use technology to connect. Communication is done via emails and instant-messaging tools. Meetings are conducted on online video conferencing platforms. For companies with full-time work-from-home setup, all business operation activities are usually done online.
Do You Have What It Takes to Work From Home?
As mentioned, working from home is not for everyone. However, here are some of the things you’ll need to work from home successfully.
1. Self-Discipline
When you’re at the office, you usually have no choice but to do your job. Yes, there might be distractions. But when your boss is just around the corner, it’s not difficult to get some work done.
However, no one keeps you on your toes when you’re working from home. Not to mention the ton of distractions that you’ll have to contend with. If you don’t have enough self-discipline, you won’t be able to get any work done.
2. Ability to Work With Minimal Supervision
One of the perks of working from home is there is no one breathing down your neck telling you what to do. But it can also be one of its greatest pitfalls.
To be a successful remote worker, you must be able to get your job done even with minimal supervision. You must have a clear idea of your company’s operations and how you should do your job. So you won’t have to ask for directions from coworkers or your supervisor all the time.
3. Technological Aptitude
Since you’ll be working on your computer most of the time, it’s important to have a certain degree of technological aptitude.
At the office, when a program crashes or your computer breaks down, one call to the IT Department can solve it. At home, you have no one to rely on for these sorts of things but yourself. If your computer loses connection in the middle of a video conference, you must be able to get it back online.
4. Reliable Internet Connection
Obviously, you can’t work from home if you don’t have an internet connection. And be sure to get a reliable one. Bad or slow internet will not only ruin your meetings. It can also ruin your mood and even cause you to miss important deadlines.
5. Tolerance to Boredom/Lack of Social Interaction
Working from home is probably not for you if you’re outgoing and work more effectively around people. Home office set-ups do not offer the same level of social interaction as a traditional office. Office gossips and those watercooler talks might be mundane, but it connects you with coworkers in a way that instant messages can’t.

Pros and Cons of Working From Home
To further help you decide whether you’re fit for remote work, let’s look at the pros and cons of working from home.
Pros
1. No Commute
Endless traffic and endless subways will just be a thing of the past. You won’t have to worry about getting late or catching the bus. Instead, you can literally work right out of your bed.
2. You Can Wear Whatever You Want
Those incredibly uncomfortable heels that have been giving you leg cramps? You can finally get rid of it. You won’t have to worry about makeup or combing your hair unless you have a meeting. Being able to wear whatever you want is one of the greatest perks of working from home.
3. Increased Productivity
A study from Stanford University found that people who work from home are more productive than their office counterparts. So if your pay is productivity-based, you’ll probably earn more if you work from home.
4. Less Physical Interaction
In times where keeping a physical distance from others can save a life (like a pandemic), working from home is a huge advantage. It reduces physical interaction with other people, thus limiting your risk of getting sick. If you have anxiety problems, lesser physical interaction will also be more beneficial.
Cons
1. Not All Jobs Can Be Done From Home
Of course, working remotely can only be successful if your job can be done at home. If your job needs you to be physically present at your place of work, you can’t work from home.
2. Lack of Social Interaction
As mentioned, working from home does not give the same level of social interaction as a traditional office. If you’re not comfortable working independently, this setup is not for you.
3. You Might Stay on the Clock
A common misconception about working from home is you can just work whenever you want to. That is definitely not true. In fact, it’s the opposite. You see, when you clocked out of the office, your work usually ends. You don’t have to worry about answering emails, submitting reports, and the like.
If you work from home, answering emails outside of your working hours might be unavoidable. This is especially true if you and your coworkers have varying working hours. To avoid this, make sure to clear it up with your coworkers beforehand. Remind them that you will only answer emails during working hours.
Working From Home Tips
Below are working from home tips and tricks from some of the incredible work-from-home employees:
1. Tell anyone at home with you what to expect.
Obviously, you can work from home and yet have “company.” Assure that your roommates, family members, even your pets respect your personal space during business hours. Simply because you work from home does not imply that you are at home.
2. Clearly separate work and rest times.
As a telecommuter, it’s all too easy to become preoccupied and avoid breaks entirely. Allow yourself five minutes of relaxation despite your guilt about overworking in the place where you sleep.
3. Engage in human interaction.
When your office transitions to remote working, you’re going to miss the informal social encounters with colleagues that you’re accustomed to throughout the day. When you work from home, you miss out on the small talk and other pastimes that distinguish each day in the office.
So what are your alternatives? Communicate.
4. Make your meals the night before.
When you’re at home, it’s alluring to spend time creating a delicious breakfast and lunch for yourself, complete with chopping and cooking. Avoid wasting valuable time preparing food on the day of work by cooking it the night before.
Preparing food ahead of time guarantees that you can eat during your meal times and avoid performing non-work duties that use energy that could be better spent at your desk.
5. Set a specific finish time.
You may believe that working from home promotes work-life balance, but this is not the case.
Working from home can also have the same effect as being in a casino — you can become so absorbed in your activity, in a comfortable environment, that you lose track of time completely.
6. Eat and sleep.
A poor diet can harm productivity and deplete energy. Therefore, when working from home, eat healthily and exercise.
Additionally, you must adhere to a consistent sleep schedule. Reserving binge-watching of your favorite shows for the weekend is a good idea. With proper nutrition to maintain high energy levels and adequate sleep to rejuvenate your body and mind, working from home can be a success.
7. Get in touch with your employer.
If you enjoy your current position and are not interested in changing it, the logical next step is to discover a means to pivot the position.
One strategy is to incorporate the prospect of working remotely into your next promotion cycle. Inform your employer frequently of your goal to pivot.
8. Work at a remote-friendly company.
If your work can be completed remotely, but your current employer or organization does not permit remote work, you may need to find a new position.
When searching for a work-from-home position, you can utilize the same strategies as when looking for traditional office employment. This includes channels such as job sites, classified job advertisements, and social media platforms.
9. Establish yourself as a freelancer.
If your current job does not allow for remote work, you can work from home as a freelancer or consultant.
Depending on the nature of your existing job, you may be able to establish your own freelance business while maintaining your current position.
The advantage of beginning a freelance business while still employed is that it alleviates some of the financial burden associated with starting a new business.
10. Invest in a home-based business.
Establishing a home business is one means of getting remote work.
In contrast to other occupations, certificates and schooling are rarely required. Instead, conducting research, developing a sound business strategy, and selecting the proper business are critical to its success.
Top 5 Work From Home Jobs
1. Recruiting Specialist
Average Base Salary: $56,330 per year
Job Responsibilities: To produce qualified leads, recruiting specialists to build interactions with individuals and businesses. They are responsible for recruiting duties by contacting candidates via various means, maintaining logs of applicant information, and providing regular recruiting updates.
2. Translator/interpreter
Average Base Salary: $42,002 per year
Job Responsibilities: Translators provide translations that adhere to the target language’s grammatical standards. They communicate the source language’s full meaning into the target language and generate idiomatic translations based on the type of material and readers’ perspectives.
3. Freelance editor
Average Base Salary: $60,481 per year
Job Responsibilities: Freelance editors develop content campaigns that are aligned with marketing objectives and organizational goals. They create, edit, and customize content for all social media platforms, as well as submit pieces for publishing on third-party websites and guest posts on partner websites.
4. Affiliate marketing manager
Average Base Salary: $66,878 per year
Job Responsibilities: Affiliate marketing managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of assigned accounts. They participate in industry forums and groups in order to suggest new accounts, recover lost revenue, and obtain spending from accounts that might otherwise spend with competitors.
5. Web developer
Average Base Salary: $67,234 per year
Job Responsibilities: Web developers build apps that span the software development life cycle. They create exhaustive application testing techniques and maintain existing apps to ensure they adhere to security and functionality standards.
Searching For The Perfect Office In Boca Raton, Florida?
Find executive office space for rent in Boca Raton at our four story building on Federal Highway. Our convenient location is close to many great restaurants and the I-95 highway. Our flexible lease agreement and amenities are great for small businesses and startups. Enjoy unlimited free brewed coffee, cappuccino, and espresso daily from our kitchen. High speed internet and cleaning service are complimentary. Don’t wait, contact us now to schedule a tour.

This Content Is Fact Checked
This content has undergone a comprehensive fact-checking process led by our internal team. Discover more about the rigorous standards that govern our website’s editorial integrity here.

About The Author
Krizzia Paolyn is an SEO Specialist and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She started her professional career as a writer for various digital magazines and renowned publications. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.