In case you never got the memo, everyone that can work from home is now working from home. Healthcare workers are using telehealth services to care for patients. Businesses are investing in platforms like Zoom and Skype to hold meetings. And media and entertainment professionals are all appearing from their homes. Without question, the coronavirus pandemic has created enormous amounts of chaos and concern. But that doesnât mean that you might not enjoy some important benefits of a home office. In fact, many people are realizing that working from home isnât really that bad.
When it comes to working from home, there are a number of opportunities of which you should take advantage. The benefits of a home office extend well past convenience and finances. In fact, working from home can improve your health and even your productivity. And the added flexibility that remote work offers may change your entire life for the better. Understanding this, it is important to make the most of this time and enjoy the many benefits of a home office. Doing so now might just change your perspective on your work environment in the future.
Financial Benefits of a Home Office
Given the economic impact that the global pandemic has had throughout the world, many are concerned about financial disaster. Fortunately, one of the benefits of a home office involves the amount of money you could potentially save. Depending on your employment situation, you might be able to write-off portions of your rent or mortgage when filing taxes. The space allotted to a dedicated home office can sometimes be deducted as a work expenses for independent contractors. And this fails to consider any additional office supply expenses you might have along the way.
If you are not a freelancer or independent business owner, you may still enjoy some financial benefits of a home office. By working from home, you are naturally saving money on car and fuel costs. Likewise, even as a wage-earner, your employer may be willing to reimburse you for some home office expenses. By making your case that working from home is adding to your household costs, this is a reasonable consideration. These are just a few ways that your home office could provide you with a better bottom line.
Working from Home Health Benefits
When working from home, you have an opportunity to pursue a healthier lifestyle. This not only includes better physical health but better mental and emotional wellness also. In recent surveys, over 80 percent of those who worked from home described having less stress. In addition, over half reported having fewer missed days of work due to illness. Also, one of the benefits of a home office is the ability to eat better. By making sure you have nutritious foods in the house, you will likely improve your diet. All of these changes will contribute to better overall health.
In order to make the most of working from home, several best health practices should be considered. For one, you should take frequent breaks every hour to stretch, briefly meditate, or change positions. In addition, stand-up desks may be something you consider or even devices to help maintain good posture. These benefits of a home office are things that are often challenging to incorporate into a normal work setting. Thus, if done well, you may likely find working from home is much healthier for you over the long run.
Working from Home Productivity Perks
For most people working at an office, a pretty set schedule is provided. This includes start times, end times, meetings, and more. While schedules are important when working from home, you donât have to keep the exact same one. Instead, many people find that one of the benefits of a home office is finding the right schedule for maximum productivity. By finding the right schedule to fit your preferences, you can significantly improve your productivity and work efficiency.
Some of us are early birds while others are night owls. Some people can be most productive only after they have immersed themselves in a project for several hours. Others need frequent breaks to enhance their creative innovation. Understanding we are each unique in this way, you should design your home work schedule to best meet your needs. If you can find that perfect schedule and mix of activities, your work productivity will increase. And that means spending less time actually working and more time enjoying other activities.
Making Flexibility Work for You
In a recent poll, 90 percent of employees said they enjoyed flexibility in their work schedule and environment. When working from home, it is important to stick to a routine and to keep a schedule. But at the same time, enjoying some of the flexibility benefits of a home office is also worthwhile. Flexibility in when to exercise, run errands, and conduct interviews offers some variety to a routine. And this can help keep you motivated and engaged as you proceed through your work day.
Not everyone has the same degree of flexibility when working from home. In many cases, the constraints an employer has imposed on you when working remotely may limit your choices. But even with some flexibility, you can enjoy some advantages that you likely didnât have when working in the office. In all likelihood, working from home will offer some flexibility in working around other life responsibilities. This might range from kidsâ school lessons, to doctorsâ appointments, to other activities. If done well, you will likely find you can accomplish much more simply by embracing greater flexibility.
A Trend That Is Here to Stay
For many of us, working from home is something that has been forced on us by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, itâs not surprising we have yet to fully realize all the benefits of a home office. But working remotely has been a rising trend for more than a decade. In fact, the number of people working from home has increased over 90 percent in the last 10 years. There are many reasons for this, including the ones mentioned here. But in all likelihood, these trends will accelerate even further once life returns to normal. By appreciating the benefits that working from home has to offer now, youâll be well prepared if so. And you might just find you prefer working remotely when it is all said and done.
