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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
For many people, working at home is something of a dream come true. After all, what about the lifestyle doesn’t sound incredibly appealing? No longer will you have to deal with the stresses, or expenses, involved in commuting to and from work. And, the big selling point for many people, you have much more control over your personal and professional life! There is no doubt that working from home totally rocks, as long as you are suited to it.
Some people mistakenly assume that a work at home job will automatically be easier than other jobs. Even more commonly, there are still many people who think that working from home means choosing your own hours. Jobs like this exist, but they are rare. Most businesses who are paying people to work for them remotely from their homes will still need them to do their work during normal operating hours.
This is one of the reasons that you should think carefully before setting your sights on working from home. If you are someone who struggles to keep themselves organized and motivated, working from home might not be the best move to make. If you aren’t able to keep your own morale up and make sure that you complete all your work, there’s not going to be someone to give you a push.
Working at home can be a wonderful and life-changing arrangement for many people, but make sure that you consider the proposition clearly before you commit to it.
In This Post:
Why do You Want to Work From Home?
This might seem like a really obvious question, but it is one that many people don’t bother to ask themselves. As we mentioned earlier, some people are under the impression that a work from home job is automatically better than the average office job. However, this simply is not the case. If you want to work from home just for the sake of it, without really knowing what you are hoping to get out of it, generally, it’s relatively simple to find a suitable job. However, if this is your only reason for pursuing this path, are you really going to be able to keep yourself motivated and interested in the work?
What Do You Want to Do?
When you are looking for any type of employment, you should always be mindful of what it is that you want to get out of the job that you are applying for. There’s nothing wrong with taking a job as a stopgap, to tide you over until you can find something more permanent and relevant to your interests. However, it is important that you know going in whether you are planning on staying in this job for the long term, and whether you are hoping that this job will be one step further on a career path.
How Many Hours Do You Want To Work Each Day/Week?
The number of hours that a work at home job requires can vary wildly. Most jobs that are undertaken on a business’ premises are performed at more or less the same hours for everyone. Of course, there is some variation, but the phrase “9 to 5” exists for a reason. With a work at home job, neither you nor the business you work for is restricted by the availability of a physical location. This means that employees who are working from home might be expected to work more unusual hours.
Some work at home jobs will let you choose your hours, but if that is the case, your pay will almost certainly be tied to the amount of work you do. This means that, even though you might have complete control over when you work, you will still need to set aside a good chunk of your time to make sure you get everything done.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Once you are certain that you will be able to perform a work at home job, that you are suited for the environment and able to keep yourself motivated, you then need to address the practicalities. For example, many self-employed, work from home jobs are not salaried. This means that you make money for the work you do, which is paid when you send in an invoice. Check out these free online estimate templates for an idea of what these invoices look like.
For those who are well suited to it, working from home can be a hugely positive, even life-changing, experience. Although it might seem like a dream come true, not everyone is suited to working from home. Make sure that you carefully consider your options before committing.
