Question: Is Working At Home Better or Worse for You? |

Question: Is Working At Home Better or Worse for You?

We all know too well what it feels like to struggle at work- to become complacent and fall into a mundane routine that makes us question our own sanity at times. Most of us long for the opportunity to be our own boss, make our own hours and just work from the comfort and convenience of our homes. However, while it may sound fantastic, is it really all it’s cracked up to be?

Trimming Down the Fat

The other week, I interviewed Alina Popescu and in one of the questions, I asked her about the advantages and disadvantages of working from home versus working in an office to which she responded:

When working from home, your creativity is never interrupted by people approaching you, you have your own tools and everything you could ever need, you’re working on your own terms. On the other hand, you have other types of interruptions, like friends thinking you’re free, neighbors or dog begging for attention Besides, it can get pretty lonely at times…. When it comes to an office, if it’s an open office, it can get noisy, annoying and distracting. On the other hand, you have a team to brainstorm with, you’re around people so you don’t feel alienated.

Less is Best

Working from home is not as easy as most of us would think. It actually takes a great deal of discipline, and can even challenge those who consider themselves to already be pretty disciplined! That is why it is always a good idea to practice good habits:

Stay Organized- Label things if you have to. Make sure that every thing has its place.
Remove clutter (both from your computer screen as well as your work area)
Minimize distractions- Kick your spouse out for a while if you have to so that you can get work done or take your work to someplace like a library, etc.
Change the Scenery- You don’t have to be a prisoner in your own home! Get out and bring your work with you!
Find Your Rhythm -Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, keep your work routine consistent, otherwise your entire day, week or month can get thrown off (which is never a good thing)!