What Are The Pros and Cons of Working From Home?

The simple truth is that there are good and bad points for whatever job that you decide to do. This includes working from home. You are going to have to really sit down and think about what is going to be best for you and your family. 

Here are the positives points.

You can plan what hours you want to work. You may find that once you start to work from home, your life becomes more flexible. You can work around your children's nap and school schedule. You can work around errands and doctor's appointments that you have, instead of having to take off work to go.

You are your boss. When you work from home, you are able to decide how many hours you want to work, when you want to work, and when you want to take vacations. You also can decide to take the day off if you want - as long as you get your work done.

You won't have a commute. When you work at home, you won't have to waste time driving to and from work. You will save money on gas and the upkeep of your vehicle.

Most people who work from home are more productive. They can work during the time that they used to commute to work. Most people waste an hour (or more) on their daily commute.

People who work from home also feel more comfortable, so they often can settle into work quickly and get more done.

Earn money quickly. People who freelance are often paid more often than those with a regular job, as long as they are smart and have work lined up. Freelancers often have highly technical skills, and they can get paid top dollar for that!

Here are the cons.

Working alone can be isolating. Many people who work from home spend hours by themselves. For some, this can be very depressing, and it shows in their work and life.

There are some people who are less productive when they work from home. There are some people who need a boss and deadlines to ensure that they are working hard and getting things done. For many who suffer from isolation and depression, they simply struggle to become motivated enough to do any real work.

Working from home can be distracting. There are so many distractions when you work from home. People are going to be calling you and stopping by to chat. Many people are distracted by their house and all of the things that need to be done such as the cleaning, laundry, and other household chores. To make it work, you really need to make your business a priority, or you won't get anything done.

Annual tax returns. If you are self-employed, you are going to have to pay your taxes semi-annually to ensure that you don't get slammed in April. For many, taxes alone are the reason they won't start a business to work out of their home.

It can be hard to find work. If you are a freelancer, you will be in charge of finding your jobs so that you can make money. You are going to have to market yourself and your business in order to line up work. Lucky for you, there are plenty of places to find work.

Working from home can be a dream for many people. However, there are also drawbacks, which make it really hard for others. While some people are more productive since they don't have anybody in the office distracting them, others can't get past their pile of dirty laundry on the floor! 

Only you can decide whether or not you are going to be able to work from home.

***

This is an excerpt from my e-book, Your Questions Answered: Top Questions About Working From Home, which is available on Amazon and wherever you buy your e-books.

***

Previously published on Medium.