Most people have seen plenty of changes lately thanks to the pandemic. In the case of many workers, remote working has become a new reality. However, working from home seems to have turned out just fine for many businesses like SEO and OKR consultants. Many workers remain productive, active, and content while working from home, which can give them an edge as they adjust to the new changes COVID has wrought. Part of the reason it’s been effective is the benefits that come with remote working.
Whether you’re hunting for a work-from-home job or already working at one, read on for some of the convenient advantages that can make the daily grind more fulfilling for you.
- Your productivity goes up
At first, it may sound like there are too many distractions at home to maintain the same level of productivity you normally enjoy at work. However, working from home eliminates a commute, office politics, and interruptions from colleagues that you may normally have to deal with. Consequently, you have more freedom to focus on the work that matters.
When done correctly, remote working allows you to focus on your performance. An office environment often creates false positives that distract from your performance (like arriving early and leaving late). With remote working, you and your colleagues can focus on performance and gauge it more accurately, giving you a clearer idea of how much work you’re actually doing. - Your work-life balance is better
One clear advantage of working from home is that it’s better for your work-life balance. Most remote workers enjoy more flexible schedules, which gives you a little more freedom to start and end your day (as long as your work is done to an acceptable standard). Having a more flexible schedule is great for employee satisfaction; it’s easier to see yourself as a valued employee when the company makes it easier to juggle work and other priorities. Whether it’s taking care of your kids, running errands, or learning a new hobby while you’re at home, a flexible schedule gives you plenty of leeways. - You eliminate commute stress
Aside from the regular 8 hours, much of a regular employee’s life is spent commuting. In the U.S., employees may spend up to 100 hours a year commuting to work. In contrast, remote working removes any need to actually go to work. When you work from home, commuting can be as simple as heading to your work nook and turning on your computer. Ditching the commute can go a long way toward saving time (and eliminating the stress from worrying about getting to work on time).
However, for many people, the commute does work as a way to get in and out of work mode. One thing you can do to ease yourself is creating a mini-commute. Take 15 minutes before and after work to take a short walk. Not only is it great exercise, but it also lets your brain know when it’s time to switch between home and work modes. - You achieve location independence
Thanks to remote working, employees aren’t tied to working at a specific location. If you’re looking at a well-paying job based somewhere far from you, working from home is a good way to do your work even if you aren’t physically capable of travelling there. This feature is particularly useful to workers in rural communities or small towns where there may not be many local positions. Instead, you can turn to working online to earn a living rather than compete for jobs in a smaller neighbourhood.
Remote working also works well for people whose lifestyles require them to move frequently (like military spouses). Rather than start over at a new company with each new move, you can stick with the same company as all your work is done from home anyway. Remote work is also a great way to avoid high-rent and high-mortgage areas, particularly for positions that require living in a city with high costs of living (think IT support services in Toronto). Thanks to remote work, you can have a fulfilling career without needing to live near a major metropolitan area. - You get to customize your workspace
One more benefit of working at home is having the chance to customize your office space. You do have the chance to tweak your workspace to suit your tastes at the office, but when you’re working at home you have far more freedom to adjust your space to create an environment more conducive to getting in the zone. Use your imagination to fit your office wherever you feel most comfortable in the house. One good example is using a kitchen bar as a standing desk. You get to burn more calories while you work, and all for no additional investment!
The pandemic has forced many of us to adjust how we work and live, but there have been a few silver linings. Remote work comes with plenty of benefits that can make your day job a little more fulfilling and productive. Keep these insights in mind if you’re still on the fence about getting a remote job yourself; it may just be a good idea, in more ways than one.
