Why Working From Home Is The Best Decision You'll Ever Make

Working from home, strange to some and habitual for others, is a rising trend when it comes to finding a career. Available in more than one department, working remotely means that you mainly work from home, in some cases, going to the office in person a few times a month. For some companies, there is no physical office, and all the work is done remotely. If you have the chance to choose this option but are still debating, search no more.

Here is why working from home is the best decision you’ll ever make, and why you will probably never regret it.

1. Save on Office Expenses by Working From Home

If you’re an employer, having all your employees work remotely means you don’t need a physical office. No rent, no computers, no coffee machines, no desks, no equipment whatsoever. This represents huge savings on the monthly budget. Most people have computers at home, so unless sophisticated or specific equipment is needed for the job, everyone should be equipped already. 
 
If you’re an employee, you are also saving. No gas, no transportation, no coffee shops on the way. You also save time. If it takes you about 20-30 minutes to get to work, you’ll be saving 40 minutes to an hour every day. Time is precious and it’s important to use it wisely. If that means baking banana bread before work on some mornings, so be it. Take advantage of all the extra time you’ll have.

2. Make More Money From Home

As we’ve mentioned, no transportation means you’re saving time and money. All that gas money will stay in your pocket. If you need more convincing, do a simple calculation of how much you pay for the gas every month and see how much your road trips to work are costing you. Don’t forget to calculate the coffees you pick up some mornings. You could be surprised.
 
More time also means more time to work. Having an extra hour every day could mean be useful for your paycheck. Of course, I’m not telling you to become a workaholic, but on some days, an extra hour could certainly be used. And with fewer distractions, your concentration will certainly be better, which will make the quality of your work even better.

3. Having a Home Office is Less Stressful

Being on a tight schedule, running around all the time, takes a toll on us. We live in such a fast-paced, stressful world, it certainly affects us all one way or the other. Remember that extra hour? It could also be used for your morning routine. Take the time to drink your warm morning coffee in front of the window, get ready, and then start working.
 
Of course, you’ll need to find what works best for you. Some might prefer sleeping for 30 minutes more instead. And that’s okay. What’s important is to have a routine and maintain it. It’s important that you still have some form of structure, it just doesn’t have to be so stressful and fast.

4. Shorter Office Hours Will Give You More Time With Friends and Family

No need to wait for your shift to end when you’re done with your work. If you’re done, you’re free. This often means getting off work earlier and having a more flexible schedule in general. Even if you have a set schedule, you are still free to move things around if necessary. You have control over your weekly schedule.
 
This will give you more time to do things that are meaningful to you. You’ll be able to meet up with friends and family more often, which is something we always seem to lack time for.

Things to Avoid to Stay Productive While Working From Home

In order to taste all the benefits that come from working from home, there are a few things you should be aware of:

1. Becoming a workaholic

As briefly mentioned before, this is a very important warning. The reason it’s so important is that it’s so easy to fall into. The routine you impose for yourself should also include the time you get off work. There won’t be someone to tell you to stop and go home, as you are already there. Having structure and being disciplined also means being able to stop. And don’t forget that sick days are still valid. You need them.

2. Ruining the comfort of your home

A lot of people who work from home make the mistake of mixing their working space with their safe space, which should be avoided. A great example of this is having your office in your bedroom. Your mind is a fragile thing and sending mixed signals could completely ruin the comfort of your home.
 
The best option is to have a separate room serve as your office. If you can’t do that, there are many ways you could seclude your office from the rest of the room. You could use a bookshelf for example. Have fun with the decoration, make it yours. If you don’t live alone, make sure that you set boundaries when it comes to your working space. Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you’re working any less.

3. Never leaving the house

This one is quite subtle, and you might not notice the effects at first. If work was the main reason you left the house, working from doesn’t mean you should spend all your time there. You must find occasions to go out and get fresh air. You might think you’re fine at first, but you will surely get tired of your home after some time if you never leave.
 
Being someone who absolutely loves being home, I can tell you that it will affect you after some time even if you think it won’t. So, before you get to that point, be sure to go out at least once a day, even if you only go out on your balcony. Just make sure to get a breath of fresh air every day.

4. Neglecting your workspace

We’ve mentioned how having a designated workspace is important. But it’s also important to take care of it and make it yours. Think of it as an advantage; you are free to decorate it however you want. It’s entirely yours. If you lack inspiration, look up desk aesthetics on Pinterest. You might find something you like.
 
If your office only consists of a desk and a chair in a dark corner, it won’t be very motivating. One way to help you look forward to working is having a comfortable working space that you love. It really makes a difference, so take the time to make it comfortable and inviting.

5. Missing deadlines because of lack of organization

As mentioned, working from home will give you more time. But bad use of that extra time could lead you to miss deadlines and therefore affect the quality of your work. If you want to be able to spend more time with friends and family and relax, you need to be done with your work first.
 
Having a set schedule will help you stay organized. You will have enough time to do a good job on each project and your work will be of better quality than if you rush it. You’ll also be able to enjoy your off time without any unnecessary stress from unfinished work.

In conclusion, working from home will truly be the best decision you’ll ever make if you do it properly. Of course, everyone is different and what works for one will not necessarily work for everyone. Test things out and find what works best for you. You’ll have newfound freedom, don’t be afraid to use it!