The Pros and Cons of Remote Working You Should Know

Remote working quickly became the talk of the town when the pandemic hit. Businesses were forced to send their employees home, and meetings were now being carried out through zoom.

While most people were skeptical at first, remote working has proven beneficial for both employers and employees. From reducing stress to becoming more productive, there are many benefits of moving your workplace to your home. 

More people just realized about these benefits recently. If you are planning to start working from home, here are some pros and cons you should be aware of:

Advantages of Remote Working

1. Improved Work-Life Balance

Most people working 9-5 don’t have much time for their personal life and hobbies. When was the last time you went out for a movie, shopping, or just spent a weekend with friends and family? If you feel like you’re missing out on having a life, then working from home can help change that.

According to FlexJobs Annual Survey, 86% of people feel that working from home reduces stress. If you are less stressed about work, you can spare more time for activities and hobbies that make you happy.

Remote working helps you control your work schedule and ensures you cater to your personal and professional needs. It is much easier to balance chores, grocery shopping, time for hobbies, and running errands when working from home.

2. Increased Productivity

Do you easily get distracted by your coworkers or find it hard to be productive in the same dull office space at work? Sitting at the same desk with the same view can significantly affect your motivation at work.

A change of environment can do wonders for your productivity levels. Maybe you need more aeration, or to work from a more comfortable environment free of office politics or noise. You can also use these tips to improve productivity at home.

We all need different things to psych us up for a whole day of replying to emails and zoom meetings. You can try working at home for a day and compare.

3. Less Commuting Stress

A lot of things happen from the moment you leave your home to getting to the office when commuting. From traffic delays to road rage drama, many issues can make you late for work or ruin your whole day.

Most working individuals commute to work. Commuting takes up a considerable chunk of your day, whether it’s using the train, bus, or walking to work. Imagine how much more focused you would be if you didn’t have to spend hours in traffic every day.

While working remotely, you don’t have to worry about driving to work. Just finish your morning routine and log into your workspace online. You also get to enjoy your breakfast in peace.

4. No Dress Code

Are you tired of wearing suits and khakis all week? As professional as they might look, sometimes we would be more productive working in sweatpants. Well, Working from home gives you the chance to wear what you want when answering calls and replying to emails.

You might want to wear something close to the official dress code during zoom calls with coworkers. As long as you are comfortable and can work in what you’re wearing, you are good to go.

5. Money Saver

One thing you’ll save on when working from home is money. You won’t have to pay for commuting or buy lunch at the office or at a restaurant every day. You can eat leftovers or cook up a 5-minute meal at home, then get back to work.

It’s also healthier than eating processed foods from the nearest store near work. How much would you save if you weren’t paying gas? Bus fare? Or buying snacks to take you through a long workday?

Disadvantages of Remote Working

1. Miscommunication

Many issues in your home office can lead to miscommunication. It might be a weak internet, Wi-Fi disconnecting, or distractions from kids playing outside that causes miscommunication while working from home.

From body language to non-verbal cues, you can get a lot more from face-to-face communication than zoom calls. Although you can use texts and messages to convey what’s missing, nothing compares to in-person meetings. Miscommunication is dangerous because it can disrupt workflow.

2. Loneliness

Have you ever seen something funny related to your work life, but your coworkers aren’t there to laugh about it with you? If so, you know how lonely it can get when working away from everyone else.

Being with colleagues at work from Monday to Friday builds a sort of community among employees. If you constantly spend time interacting with coworkers, adjusting to working remotely can be lonely. To keep off this feeling, you can schedule outings and spend more time with friends. Some companies still offer team buildings for remote workers.

3. Burnout

Working and living in the same space can quickly lead to burnout. With no clear boundaries of when to spend time on yourself and when to work, it’s easy to get your work and personal life mixed up.

According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2021, one of the major problems remote workers face is unplugging after work and using their spending their free time on themselves.  In this case, burnout isn’t only getting tired from all your work. It also affects you mentally and can ruin the little motivation you had left to finish your tasks.

To minimize this feeling when working from home, you need clear boundaries. Having a schedule and frequent breaks can make remote working more bearable and healthy.

Conclusion

We know not all working environments are toxic or filled with distractions, but working from home can be the change you need. If you’re low on motivation or craving more personal time, switching locations is an excellent way to get you back on the right track.

Are you planning to work from home soon? These are only some of the benefits you can look forward to.

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