Home Office: What are the Pros and Cons of Working from Home?

In the age of digitalisation and with the help of the internet, stay-at-home jobs are becoming more popular in the UK. But is it really something for everyone?

Since the invention of the internet, many aspects of our lives have been turned around. Some years ago it took a phone call to find out how our friends were. Now it only takes a short message or a look on their Instagram account to see if they are doing well. And to meet up with them on a Saturday night a long drive can be avoided if we instead meet them on the internet for a chat or a round of poker in a safe online casino.

Not only is the internet fun, it has also affected the way we want to work. Nowadays people want flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from everywhere they want. Some people might call that lazy, but there are some really good arguments why working from home makes perfect sense. Although, working from home might not be the right decision for everyone.

3 Pros of working from home:

It increases productivity: studies show that working from home is considered the most productive work arrangement. People usually get more work done from home in less hours than in an office.

Less distraction and noises: since you make the arrangements yourself you can control the level of noise surrounding you.

No more commuting: people in the UK spend a lot of time travelling to work and back. Working from home not only saves you a lot of time but also money.

3 Cons of working from home:

It requires self-discipline: working from home means you have to get your work done by managing your time yourself. Getting out of bed can be harder than before without having an office to get to.

It gets lonely: since you are all by yourself you might miss someone to talk to or spend your breaks with.

The office is always open: it is harder to shut down as there can be less distinction between work and personal life. It is even more likely that you will overwork.

Before starting a full time stay-at-home job, it is recommended to give it a try first to see if it is the right thing for you. It could be a good idea to work half of the week from home and the other half in an office or a co-working space.

How to start working from home

Before anything else you should make sure to have a stable internet connection and a quiet office space in the house. As there are quite a few benefits that come from working at home, many companies in the UK have started offering their employees the option to do so. The easiest way is to ask your boss for permission and get started. If that does not work for you, another way is to become self-employed. But before quitting a full-time job, people should make sure they can handle the challenges of starting a business. To find your first clients, it might be helpful to register on platforms like “Upwork” or “Freelancer” where companies advertise projects for freelancers.