One of the biggest desires for employees, that tops even salary or medical benefits, is finding that work-life balance. Today, that often includes telecommuting or some other version of working from home. It seems almost ideal: You don’t have to deal with finding your wrinkle-free work clothes, early morning traffic or that one challenging co-worker. However, you must take it with a grain of salt before committing to avoiding the usual 9-to-5 grind.
- Consider all the home snags. When working from home, you may find yourself distracted by everything from laundry to your pet distracting you to realizing you haven’t spoken to another person face-to-face in days. There’s also the concern of self-motivation because, honestly, most of us need someone else close by to be accountable to, not just a manager who is a phone call or email away. There’s also the consideration you may not get as readily promoted when you’re out of sight/off-site.
- Advantages to the office. As related above, creating connections works best when we get to see each other in person; so much of communication comes from nonverbal cues that emails can’t touch. Additionally, working in the office allows you to react quickly to any problem that might come up, especially when it involves working as a team to figure out a solution. And if you have a question, from technical problems to dealing with a difficult client, you have people within the same walls you can ask to help you. Plus, you immediate feedback from managers and co-workers on your own performance.
- Make it work. If you do choose to work from home, do what you can to make it successful for yourself and those you work with. To start, carefully carve out a place that you designate as “your work space” and let everyone in your house know that during working hours, they need to respect and treat you as such. Make your working hours clear with your boss as well so you don’t feel constantly “on call.” Come in to the office a few times a month to check in, get some valuable face time with colleagues and superiors, and demonstrate your commitment to the company and its goals.
Working from home can have its advantages — just make sure you consider all sides and have a specific plan set up both for yourself and with your company before diving in. For advice on health that will improve both work and home life, visit the experts at Medical Professionals.
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