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The number of people working remotely is increasing day by day and there is no doubt that more workers are getting attracted to this option. Even if you have not been telecommuting, you are obviously aware of the benefits. You can have a flexible schedule, you can save time and money spent on the commute to work.
However, like everything else, this is not a one-size-fits-all approach. All these benefits come at a price and in some cases, it may not be worthwhile.
Consider these factors before you throw away your set work routine for working from home:
In This Post:
No Dedicated Workspace
You may find it bit odd to find this at the number one factor. What is the big deal about a dedicated workspace? Isn’t working from home all about being comfortable anywhere?
As it turns out, no it isn’t. If you wish to be more productive, a dedicated space is a must. It is that little corner where all the brilliant ideas strike you. It is like a sanctuary from where you can focus on your work, although the rest of the space reminds you of home.
Since you will spend a lot of time in this corner or space, it should be ergonomic friendly. Incorrect practices and computer posture mistakes can lead to lead to musculoskeletal disorders.
Brainstorming & Collaboration with team members
If your work involves brainstorming with different teams, working from home may not be the most productive way. Agreed, that there are numerous collaboration tool, which help you connect and communicate, but they are not as effective when it comes to brainstorming.
The whole exercise of brainstorming is about being spontaneous and using a tool forces some kind of order to it. Don’t get me wrong, this order is effective when we have to conduct review meetings or other discussions, but while brainstorming it doesn’t work. A brainstorming meeting needs everyone to come together as a group in the end, which is a bit difficult in these tools.
Especially, if your work involves devising innovative solutions for your clients or employer. One can write hundreds of worth of content sitting alone, but one cannot define brand positioning for a company by oneself.
Before you design the home office, do calculate the amount of time it may remain empty because of such meetings and would it be advisable to work remotely in this case?
Training and Personal Development
According to World Economic Forum, up to 65% of the jobs, Generation Z will perform don’t even exist yet and up to 45% of the activities people are paid to perform today could be automated using current technology.
This means acquiring new skills for your job is pertinent to your career growth. The more often you up-skill yourself, more are chances of you bagging the next project or next promotion as well.
As an employee of a company, you have access to various workshops and training that your company organizes but as a remote worker this access may be restricted. A lot of companies with remote only working policies have frequent retreats for employees to meet each other.
However, the onus of training in these companies usually lies on the employee herself. You have to be on a constant vigil to find the best course and put concentrated efforts to upskill yourself. You will have to identify e-learning courses or events relevant to your profile, evaluate their merit and then propose these to your company.
If you work as a freelancer then there is an additional cost of paying for these yourself. So, you will have to plan both your income and expenses to factor the and the time it will take. Because the time away from work will mean a loss of income in that period.
If you are one of those who cannot handle this additional chore you may want to reconsider your decision of going remote.
Limited Social Life
Some of us find more stimulants when we interact with other people. These interactions can be about the latest T.V series or software. They keep our mind occupied productively. If you are one of this kind, you may have a tough time adjusting to the practice of working remotely.
When you are working from home, you can take productive breaks by tending your garden, reading an interesting article, but you may miss having an impromptu conversation with your colleague about Apple’s trillion dollar valuation. These thoughts may never find an outlet.
Although it may seem like a little adjustment in lieu of the benefits of working remotely, it actually is not. Therefore, think wisely because this adjustment warrants a personality change.
Self-Discipline
You can manage all the factors mentioned above. Find a comfortable corner in your house, be proactive about your training program, manage social interactions but if you don’t have the discipline, none of the above would work.
Like with everything else in life, discipline is the most important ingredient to succeed here. Unless you maintain a routine and follow it without fail, you won’t be able to enjoy the benefits of a flexible schedule. You may end up spending most of the ample time at your hand in finishing the tasks you were supposed to complete two weeks ago. This would have a ripple effect on other activities that you may be hoping to pursue while working remotely.
Some of us need that trigger of being in office at the certain time or attending events or meetings to be effective at the work we do. This is not to say these people not disciplined, it just means that their motivators are different and they may not thrive while working remotely.
Working from home is a change in lifestyle and attitude. Some of us are built to adjust to these changes rapidly while others are not. Before you make a decision to go remote, just assess if you are built for it or not.
