The Pros and Cons of Working from Home

Working as a freelancer is both liberating and frustrating. You get to work from the comfort of home – but also with only yourself for company.

While this doesn’t bother me, it definitely doesn’t work for everyone. Some people simply need to be surrounded by other people in order to work productively – and that’s absolutely understandable.

If you’re wondering what it’s really like to work from home and aren’t sure whether it’s right for you, read on for the pros and cons:

Pros:

Fewer Distractions

For me, one of the biggest benefits of working from home is that there are fewer distractions.

Yes, I am guilty of putting the washing machine or the dishwasher on, which can be incredibly annoying, but generally speaking, the house is so calm and quiet, and the only noises I can hear are passing traffic or, if I’m in the mood for it, the music I’m playing in the background.

While I do find I concentrate best in complete silence, sometimes when I’m working on something a little less demanding (like an upload or some admin), I do enjoy a chill out mix.

Set Your own Hours

Need to run to the post office or go to the bank? Working from home makes it so much easier to carve out time for errands or appointments which you don’t always want to schedule around your working hours.

The beauty of working from home is that you carve out your hours around your schedule.

As a working mother, there have been plenty of occasions where I’ve had to pick up my daughter from nursery at a moment’s notice, or stop what I’m doing to show the builder how to open the latch to the roof (the husband seems to love arranging for builders to come round while I’m home and he’s at work!)

But being at home reduces your frustrations around these unforeseen events, and I always feel so grateful that I can be home when I’m truly needed.

Increased Flexibility

Having the ability to set your own hours automatically equates to increased flexibility. If something non-work-related comes up in the morning, I simply pick up where I left off later in the day, or carve out time in the evening when the day just didn’t work out. I don’t have anyone looking over my shoulder pressuring me to work during specified hours – I simply make up for lost time when my day hasn’t worked out as planned.

Cons:

You Feel Out of the Loop

I have a long-term client who I’ve been writing for since 2013 and have gotten to know him and his team pretty well. They have head offices in Switzerland and I really love their work culture, ethic and philosophy.

It’s an amazing company and they’ve worked on some incredible projects, but sometimes, you can feel a bit out of the loop and it would be amazing to sit in on a meeting (physically) instead of being heard through a speaker!

The same goes for other clients. Yes, I’ve spoken via email, Skype or phone with countless clients, but there are so many of them that I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting in person.

 Sometimes, you can’t beat that physical interaction and the chance to get to know them and all their quirks! I’m really interested in body language and tone of voice, but if I’m not meeting them in person, I definitely miss out on these factors.

Where do you Draw the Line?

As I mentioned above (in the pros no less), working from home offers immense flexibility, but you have to be able to draw the line and switch off mentally from your workload.

When your work desk is right there in your face 24/7, it can be difficult to draw the line between work and home life.

But if you’re disciplined and focused, this isn’t as difficult as it sounds. As long as you are strict with yourself and learn to switch off when it’s time to switch off, working from home is definitely a dream come true.

What are your Thoughts on Working from Home?

Does the idea of working from home put you off or fill you with joy?

We’re all different, and that’s what makes the world go round. I for one love working from home. It suits my personality down to a T and fits in with my routine and schedule. It affords me amazing flexibility, and as a mum of two, this is a huge plus.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!