The modern workplace is rapidly changing, with more and more people opting to work remotely or from home. The shift towards remote working was accelerated when the pandemic hit, as many companies had no choice but to adopt a work-from-home policy in order to keep their employees safe while still allowing them to do their jobs. Many people joined the ranks of freelancers at that time, who are well-versed at working from home, from a shared office space, or from halfway around the world. I was one of those such employees and it happened to kick-start a love of working from home!

The “home office” atmosphere has plenty of benefits—flexible schedule, more comfort and convenience, easy access to snacks—but there are downsides as well—trouble staying motivated, plenty of distractions, easy access to snacks. In this article, we’ll explore the nitty gritty of what it’s like to work from home; the benefits, the drawbacks, the whole shebang!

The Benefits of Working From Home

For the last few years, I’ve greatly enjoyed spending time at home, working for myself, and balancing raising children with building a business. Although there have been plenty of struggles and challenges, there are so many incredible benefits to this type of lifestyle!

Here’s just a sampling of what I get to enjoy by working from home:

Say Goodbye to Morning Traffic

One of the most obvious benefits of working from home is the fact that you don’t need to make that dreaded commute anymore.  Instead of dealing with traffic or public transport delays, you can simply roll out of bed and start working in your PJs. This can shave a substantial amount of time off of your work day that can be spent hitting that snooze button one more time, fully savouring your morning coffee, or taking the time to go for a walk before getting started on your work.

Say Hello to a Flexible Schedule

While many companies may have you check in at a certain time in the morning, there are several cases where working from home means you control your own schedule! Freelancers, for instance, have full control over when they work, how long they work for, and when they take breaks. They can adjust their schedule as needed to accommodate any personal or family obligations, or even break up the day into smaller chunks of work in order to optimize productivity.

Balance Your Work & Home Life

With no need for physical commutes, working from home can give you more time with family and friends as well as more opportunities to get everything done. Need to do a mountain of laundry? Throw it in before you sit down to work. Got dinner in the crockpot? Give it a stir after your next bathroom break. No more rushing to pack a lunch before you leave, no more picking up unnecessary takeout on the way home from work because you forgot to thaw meat that morning, no more cramming in cleaning sessions before company comes over. Find the right work-life balance and you’ll feel your stress just melt away!

Increase Your Productivity

Now, this one isn’t going to work for everyone. Some people need the accountability of an office setting to stay on track. Some people need the consistent routine of getting up, having breakfast, driving to work, and starting the day in order to stay productive. But for others, working from home eliminates all of the distractions that come with an office setting—phones ringing, coworkers gossiping, meetings running long—and they can actually get more done than ever before! Plus, working at home means you can adjust the environment to be as comfortable and conducive to productivity as possible. I, for example, love when I can work from my couch all cozied up in a big blanket. During the summer, I take my office outdoors and sit on the deck in full sunshine.

The Downfalls of Working From Home

As with any endeavour, there are plenty of cons to compete with the pros. For every hour you get to schedule yourself, there’s an hour you’ll have to spend alone, with no one around to bounce ideas off of or just chat with. For every benefit to your work-life balance, there’s a danger that you won’t be able to draw a line between the two and will find yourself working 24/7. And for every bit of fun that comes with creating your own office space, there’s a real risk of burnout.

Here are a few of the downsides to working from home:

All By Your Lonesome

Some people (who are certainly not me) experience a sense of loneliness when left to their own devices for long stretches of time. While working from home can be a great way to get away from office gossip, noisy coworkers, and other distractions, it can also mean too much alone time if you don’t take measures to bring in some human interaction. For me, that’s the dream; the ideal work setting. I like to keep to myself, I like to avoid chit-chat, I like to get to work uninterrupted. But not everyone enjoys my level of hermit status. If you find you crave the morning hellos, the bonding over birthday cake, and the general positivity brought in from other’s personalities, working by yourself at home may not be the right fit.

A Different Kind of Distracting

Your home office may not have the distractions of coworkers and coffee breaks and catered lunch meetings, but it does have its own set of time-sucking issues. Netflix binges, lingering naps, long lunches that last until dinnertime—all of these can occur when you lack an external supervisor to keep an eye on your progress. The convenience of being able to do a load of laundry in the middle of the day can also become an easy way of procrastinating from your workload. Getting up to take a walk around the block may be a good way to reset your mind when you’re stuck, but it’s also a very tempting escape from the tasks at hand.

Challenging Communication & Collaboration

Let’s face it, as accessible and handy as Zoom meetings are, they’re just not the same. If you’re looking to work on a team project, or even just brainstorm with your boss, working from home can certainly drag things out. Depending on the size of the company and their resources, you may be stuck emailing back and forth as opposed to having a quick powwow in the hallway; for lengthy projects that require consistent communication, this could be a huge drag. Some people might find it more difficult to stay motivated and focused when they can’t physically see the progress of their workmates. All in all, while communication technology has come a long way, working from home can still present challenges to collaboration and communication.

Less Steps, Less Movement, Less Active

The sedentary lifestyle that comes with working from home could be a potential health hazard. Without the consistent breaks of walking to and from meetings, grabbing lunch with friends, or chatting in the break room, you may find yourself glued to your chair all day—or worse yet, lounging on the couch all afternoon (guilty as charged). Taking regular breaks throughout the day—whether it’s for a quick stretch, a walk around the block, or even just to take out the garbage—can help keep your mind and body from being too sedentary. But if you’re prone to the couch potato lifestyle, you may be in trouble if you don’t make an active choice to get moving.

Tips and Solutions For Working From Home

So, how can you make the most of working from home? Here are a few tips to help you stay focused:

• Create a designated work space – this will allow you to separate from home-life and work-life.
• Promote healthy habits – whether it’s finding ways to stay active during the day or cutting back on snacking (or simply being mindful about what you’re snacking on).
• Maintain social interactions – reach out to friends or colleagues whenever you feel the urge to chat, brainstorm, or whatever it is that socialites crave.
• Make lists, check off tasks – this is a good way to stay on top of your daily schedule and break up your workload.
• Set boundaries – make sure to set limits on when you stop and start work each day, so that don’t burn out or miss out on important events in life.

Is Working From Home For You?

Working from home can be a great option for those who value independence, organization, and the ability to structure their day around their own personal needs. However, it’s important to understand that working from home can also be challenging due to communication issues, a lack of social interaction with coworkers, distractions, and difficulty maintaining healthy habits. Before you cut ties with your in-office nine-to-five, be sure you’ll be able to handle the freedom and responsibilities that come with working from home.

Got any other tips for staying focused at home? What’s your favourite part about the home office life? Let us know in the comments!