Thanks to communication technology, working from home has become a reality accessible to many; with its advantages and disadvantages, more and more professionals are choosing to pursue independent work, or freelance work.
Among the most obvious advantages is everyone’s dream: being your own boss. And everything that entails, of course.
Of course, not all jobs can be done remotely. But many of today’s office tasks can be performed perfectly from anywhere with a PC and the internet. Any task that only involves software and the internet can be done remotely.
The most common areas are design, programming, marketing, writing, and other similar fields. But there are many more. jobs you can do from home .
Of course, deciding to freelance is a decision that takes time for some.
If you haven’t taken the plunge yet or are just starting out as a freelancer, today we’ll tell you the advantages and disadvantages of working from home.
Advantages of working from home
These are some of the advantages you can consider when choosing to work from home.
1. Not dealing with traffic
Forget about traffic and crowds, public transportation, or car trouble. Or long lines to board the subway. Just get up, turn on your computer, and you’re ready to go.
By working from home, you start the day refreshed, because by not having to travel, you avoid the fatigue and discomfort of crowds, especially if you live in a crowded city.
Therefore, one of the advantages you’ll feel when working from home is the peace of mind that comes from not having to deal with traffic.
2. You save money
Another advantage of working from home is that not only do you avoid wasting valuable hours of your life in traffic, but you also save that money on gas or transportation (not everyone benefits from transportation subsidies).
On the other hand, the cost of eating out is very high compared to shopping and cooking at home. (Of course, you’ll have to make time to prepare the meal.)
Plus, you save on office attire, shoes, or any other costs related to the look you need to present yourself in an office.
3. More time with family
Another advantage that is definitely appreciated is that you have more time to spend with your loved ones.
If your child is sick, you can stay home to care for them. If grandparents need supervision, you won’t feel guilty about being alone. At the end of the day, you’ll also have more time to spend with them and share.
Or if your pet needs an urgent trip to the vet, you can take care of it more easily. And you don’t have to do it during work hours. You can go in the afternoon, without any worries. While others are just on their way home, you’re already there and just have to head out to the vet.
4. More flexible schedules
When you work from home, you have the ability to adjust your schedule to any eventuality or even take a day off. Or get a few more hours of sleep if you’re feeling very tired.
As long as you’re on schedule, you can move your schedule around and make it more flexible. You can even plan a getaway or vacation whenever you want. Unlike a company, where you have to wait a year for vacation time.
If you need a break during the day, you can take it. Or if your friends or family invite you to have lunch together, that’s also an option.
On the other hand, when you have free time, you can get ahead on household chores to have a clearer weekend.
Just make sure you’re actually getting things done and enjoy the flexibility that working from home offers.
5. You work more relaxed
There’s no doubt about it. Not only do you not have to deal with the typical problems that can arise with colleagues or superiors, but you can also work however you want, even in pajamas, if you prefer.
You can literally work in slippers and shorts if you want, and no one will say anything. As long as you can look presentable when you need to make a video call, there’s no problem. Remember to have more formal clothes on hand for this, or in case you suddenly need to meet with a client in person.
Otherwise, working from home, you can go to work on your terrace or your favorite couch. There are no long, boring meetings, and you don’t have to follow any rules about how much coffee you can drink or where not to leave your things.
There won’t be anyone monitoring your phone calls, browsing history, or bathroom breaks, as is sometimes the case in offices. This allows you to work more peacefully.
Plus, you can create your own personalized atmosphere. Your ideal space. You can display any calendars and decor you like. The air conditioning will be at the temperature you choose, along with the lighting, noise level, and more.
All to make you feel more comfortable. After all, you’re in your own home. You can arrange it however you want.
6. Fewer distractions
This, of course, depends on each household. But generally, in an office, people talk to you, the phone rings (and it wasn’t even meant for you). Others ask you for help with things that aren’t even work-related. What’s more, some just want to tell you gossip or what they saw the other day, and so on.
At home, you can close the door, put on your headphones, and focus on what you’re about to do.
If you’re making an important call, it’ll also be easier to talk than in a busy office. You won’t have to rush to an empty room to answer someone on the phone.
Of course, if you have children or a pet, this might be less straightforward. But even then, it’s easier to ask your child to step outside for a moment than to send everyone in the office away to hear it.
7. You organize yourself better
If you’re the type of person who likes to work alone and with a specific method, working from home gives you the opportunity to have your own space without the clutter that others leave behind.
Plus, you can follow any method you want and not be bound by meaningless rules that sometimes only duplicate steps and effort, nor are you beholden to bureaucracy or anyone else’s time.
Disadvantages of working from home
Of course, as utopian as the benefits of working from home may sound, not everything in life is perfect.
That’s right. Not working for a specific company and working from home not only has advantages, but also disadvantages to consider. In fact, some of the advantages mentioned above can be a double-edged sword, as you’ll see below.
1. Lack of self-discipline
If you’re not good at keeping track of your workload and don’t have the discipline to stick to your set schedule, even if you know you’re tired (and desperately want to go waste time grabbing a snack in the kitchen), without guidance from a superior, it can be difficult to maintain the level of productivity and discipline to accomplish what you’ve been assigned.
Self-discipline is an essential skill. If you don’t have it, you need to work on it.
The solution: Establish a routine with specific times, eliminate distractions , and focus with all your might on getting the work done each day, without leaving any pending tasks.
2. Difficulty separating work life from personal life
Of course, part of the idea of working from home is to have more time for yourself and your loved ones. But some people struggle to find the balance or the limit to say “no, I don’t have time anymore” when it comes to taking care of household chores, thus neglecting work.
On the other hand, others struggle to reach the end of the afternoon, say “that’s enough for today” and shut down their computer for good. Some even forget that it’s time to eat at the right time. This can happen often, especially if you live alone.
Either case is a problem, since you must have an effective work time and a rest time as well.
One solution: If you find it difficult to close your tasks or complete your day, you can set one alarm to go off at your usual lunchtime and another at the time most offices close. 5:00 or 5:30 PM is a reasonable time. After that, close up, get up, and go do something else.
3. Domestic distractions
Now you might be thinking, “But they said a while ago that I would have fewer distractions.”
Of course, working from home offers you fewer distractions from colleagues and bosses. But if you don’t have a dedicated workspace at home, you might simply get distracted by something else.
Maybe you’re tempted to binge-watch Netflix. Maybe you stay up playing with your pet… Or maybe noisy neighbors are distracting you.
On the other hand, you might be tempted to take a nap or go get a coffee in the kitchen and stay home doing something else that demands your attention.
The ideal way to prevent this from happening: Try to set up your workspace in a room away from outside noise (preferably one facing the garden rather than the main street). If you can invest a little in features that insulate or minimize noise, even better.
Also, don’t bring snacks while you’re working. Keep water handy, if you want, but don’t keep getting up. This way, you’ll also avoid having to go get whatever you need and having someone at home cut in and start chatting.
4. Expenses and inconveniences of setting up a home office
Of course, we’re not talking about a massive expense, but remember that you should have a piece of furniture where you can work quietly and in a comfortable position. You might also need something like a printer, a scanner, or a small filing cabinet.
Being at home means you’ll also be using electricity that you weren’t previously using while away from home, so you may notice a small increase in your energy bill. Not to mention water (you’ll be surprised how much more it runs out faster since you no longer have the oasis of the office and the ability to drink water at home) or coffee and other expenses.
It’s also possible that if you didn’t have certain software or tools that a company provided, you’ll now need to purchase a license.
It’s true that the expense isn’t that big, but keep in mind: you’ll need more than just a computer and a couch.
Plus, if you’re tempted to cook at home, for example, and end up ordering delivery anyway, the savings on food and transportation will be gone anyway.
On the other hand, if you have a small home, keep in mind that having a home office will affect everyone’s space.
5. Fewer training opportunities
One of the benefits of working for a company is that many invest in training for their employees.
When you’re self-employed, you lose that benefit, and if you want to study or pursue further training, you’ll have to pay for it. If your income isn’t very high, you may be missing out on a training opportunity.
However, if the companies you’ve worked for don’t help employees in this regard, you’re not really missing out on anything.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to settle. Try to save a little for sign up for courses by having a certain amount saved to invest in your self-training and certification.
Also remember that there are many free or very low-cost courses that you can take advantage of. Additionally, if you have a college degree and are looking to optimize your time to continue studying, this is a great time to look for online master’s degrees and boost your career as a freelancer .
6. Promotion opportunities
Of course, when working freelance, the sky’s the limit. But in a company, you have the opportunity to be promoted to higher positions and gain exposure to a higher level of professionals in your field.
This may sound discouraging, but it’s solvable if you focus some of your time on finding ways to get more clients and job opportunities.
7. You will have no companions
Again, another double-edged sword: Many people might say they prefer working alone. But eventually, you’ll feel like you haven’t met anyone new in a long time. On the other hand, being gregarious beings, humans tend to need the friendship of others, and you may feel a little lonely.
Maybe you suddenly miss the stories of your colleague’s nephews. Or your colleague, the one who played pranks on everyone.
The solution: You can go to a café, restaurant, or bookstore to work. It should have a relaxed, adult-oriented atmosphere (avoid fast-food restaurants with a play area).
If you live in a building with common areas, you can go out to work in the lobby or on the terraces. Another alternative is to rent a coworking space .
This way, you’ll be able to connect with other professionals, meet new people, make friends, and find inspiration to do your job better.
In summary
The advantages of working from home can work against you if you don’t know how to manage your time. On the other hand, when you return to full-time work, you may realize it’s not for you and prefer to continue working from home.
After all, there’s no place like home.
In any case, you don’t have to work for a company to make friends and get promoted. As you can see, there’s always the option of going to work wherever you prefer or meeting people through coworking spaces.
You don’t need to be tied to one employer to grow as a professional. You can expand your network with other professionals like you at events related to your field.
As you’ve seen, the aforementioned disadvantages have solutions you can implement to combat them. It’s all a matter of discipline and willpower.
Good luck and much success!
Author: Patricia Gutiérrez, content writer for Soyfreelancer.com
