The modern workplace has undergone numerous changes over the years. In an effort to champion work-life balance, remote work has become the norm in several industries, as an alternative approach to the 9-to-5 regimen.
This new model of work not only gives working professionals the desired flexibility to juggle their careers and personal lives, but it also makes way for improved productivity, efficiency and job satisfaction. Arguably, there’s plenty of perks that can benefit both the company and its employees.
If you’re new to this style of work or you aren’t entirely sold on it just yet, read on! These are the 10 best benefits of working from home.
1. You’re More Productive
Having the chance to work from home can do wonders for your productivity levels. In fact, in its eighth annual Super Survey, FlexJobs found that 65% of respondents were more productive in a home office than a traditional one.
This comes as no surprise, since being able to customise your surroundings, avoid workplace distractions and remove yourself from a hectic environment can help you focus better on tasks at hand.
Plus, not having your boss breathing down your neck also impacts your productivity for the better, as you have a greater sense of autonomy and flexibility at home.
2. It Improves Your Health
When the seasonal flu starts making its rounds at the office, you can spare yourself from this dreaded bug by working remotely. That way, you can stay on top of your tasks while looking after your health.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling under the weather, you can keep your colleagues healthy by working from the comfort of your home. This way, you can also decrease your sick leave – based on findings from Indeed’s Remote Work Survey, 50% of remote employees agreed that working from home allowed them to use up less sick days overall.
3. You Have a Lot More Flexibility
Remote work allows for a lot more flexibility when it comes to your work and personal life.
While you should ensure that you’re clocking in your required hours, you can still fit in tasks and chores that would have otherwise been postponed until after work, such as grocery shopping, laundry and cooking. You can even fit in a quick workout by doing some exercises at your desk, with the added benefit of not having to tolerate strange looks from your cubicle neighbour.
But beyond the usual house tasks, you have the luxury to prioritise and multitask, something which helps you establish a better work-life balance altogether.
You also have the flexibility to choose the location you’ll be working from. If, for example, your home office isn’t your work environment of choice, you can work from anywhere you want, be it the local coffee shop, a library or even the beach.
4. You Get to Work in Your Pyjamas
The ultimate perk with remote work is that you can skip your usual office attire. Instead, you can work comfortably in your clothing of choice – aka your pyjamas. Not only will you be more comfortable, but you can also save yourself lots of time by avoiding the daily struggle of putting together a semi-fashionable ensemble.
Sure, if you have a video conference with your team, it might be a good idea to brush your hair and make yourself presentable, but at least you can sit comfortably in your pyjama bottoms without anyone ever knowing. However, dressing up a little could help you establish a better routine at home and keep you motivated – so, you might want to ditch the dressing gown.
5. You Can Customise Your Workspace
Your surroundings can have a significant impact on your workflow and productivity. Working from the comfort of your home gives you creative freedom over your working environment, which you can customise according to your own tastes. After all, being able to choose the perfect office chair for your back, play your favourite music or work in total silence are luxuries you don’t usually get at work.
You can also spruce up your workspace and equip it with all the essentials for a hard day’s work, like indoor plants, your pet(s) and some healthy snacks.
6. You Dodge the Daily Commute
Commuting to work is rarely an enjoyable experience, especially during morning traffic jams when you’re already running late. This is a nightmare scenario you can save yourself from with remote work.
Instead, you can take your time sipping your morning coffee without having to dash out the door and take a brisk walk from your kitchen to your designated workspace.
An additional benefit to this is that you will also be reducing your environmental footprint. Indeed, staying grounded can slash greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in less office waste and minimise energy usage. It’s a win-win-win.
7. You Save Money
Working from home also has certain financial benefits. Indeed, being homebound means that you can easily cut down on your daily costs. For starters, you can slash your daily commute or weekly gas costs significantly and save up a pretty penny.
Plus, you can avoid the temptation of ordering out (and ignoring your pre-made lunch that’s sitting in the communal fridge) and enjoy a warm, homemade meal, instead.
As for your designated office wardrobe, you will no longer have to spend a significant part of your income in formal attire (which isn’t even comfortable to wear). So, staying home can be greatly beneficial both for your bank account and your weekly budget!
8. You Get to Spend More Time with Family
Spending most of your waking hours at the office can leave you with a narrow timeframe to see your loved ones. Between busy commutes, working overtime and having to do daily chores, work-life balance can become somewhat of a distant dream. This is especially true when you have children, as your busy work schedule toppled with your childcare responsibilities can leave you scrambling for time.
Remote work once again offers a solution to this conundrum, as you have the opportunity to spend more time with your family while keeping up with your work responsibilities.
9. You Avoid Workplace Distractions
Working from home means that you can eliminate the distractions that are usually prevalent at the office. Indeed, without ongoing office politics, watercooler gossip and buzzing cubicle chatter, you may find yourself in deeper concentration, especially if you get easily distracted by the commotion.
You can also avoid other small annoyances, be they lunch thieves, your dysfunctional office chair or your colleague’s obsession with daily horoscopes. This, in turn, helps you maximise your efficiency and get through your tasks faster, without getting distracted by the office hubbub.
10. You Tend to Your Mental Wellbeing
Some days, getting to the office can feel like a mammoth task. Arguably, it’s during these days that working from home proves to be extremely beneficial, especially for your mental health.
Having the chance to work from home when you’re feeling mentally drained allows you to stay on top of your ongoing tasks and projects while having the opportunity to recharge and take a break from your usual routine.
This sort of flexibility can also boost your job satisfaction and take away considerable pressure off your shoulders. In fact, according to FlexJobs, 80% of remote workers said that they experienced less work related-stress when they worked from home.
However, if you don’t maintain a decent work-life balance, working remotely can also take its toll on your mental health; isolation and burnout can be immediate results of working from home, too. The best way to avoid this is by checking in with your colleagues and friends, taking short breaks and not working overtime.
Even though working from home can be extremely beneficial for both your career and your personal life, it can take some getting used to. As you adapt to this new mode of work, however, the benefits and added flexibility that it will give you will most definitely win you over.
From being more productive to gaining creative freedom over your workspace and skipping out on much-dreaded office politics, working from home could end up being your favourite work perk!
Do you also work from home? What other benefits can you think of? Join the conversation in the comments section below and let us know your thoughts!