Pros and Cons of Working From Home

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you click on the link or make a purchase using the link at no cost to you. Review the full disclaimer here.

Whether you’re just entering the workforce, returning to a hybrid workplace post-pandemic, or even if you are currently living the remote lifestyle, this is for you.

The pandemic has reshaped everyone’s views on remote work, making companies and employees think about the pros and cons of working from home. Many companies are now navigating a hybrid approach to encourage in-person team interaction, while others have returned to the office full-time.

Being fully remote for the majority of my career, I can recognize both the advantages and disadvantages of working from home. Not everyone thrives in the remote lifestyle, especially if self-discipline and communication aren’t your strong suit.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer picture of what working from home entails, including its benefits and potential pitfalls, helping you to decide if it’s the right path for you.

This is an image of a laptop showing a zoom call happening in a remote work setting.

Table of Contents

The Pros of Working From Home

No more commuting

An obvious advantage to working from home is the amount of time and money you will save not commuting to and from work.

Raise your hand if you miss sitting in traffic. No one? I didn’t think so!

There’s less wear and tear on your vehicle and you can spend your mornings and evenings more productively.

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There’s also a chance you’ll qualify for a lower auto insurance premium because you aren’t driving as much, sometimes all you’ll need to do is ask your provider.

More free time in your day

Because you aren’t commuting, you’ll probably have an extra 1-2 hours in your day that you can reallocate to anything else.

Whether this added time is now spent with your kids, your partner, or your side hustle, the time is yours.

The best part? It’s time that isn’t being claimed by your employer.

Flexible schedule

A work from home job will inevitably give you more control over your day and flexibility in your time. One of the biggest benefits of home working.

You can choose to work out for 30 min during the day or make your own food that’s fresh instead of taking last night’s leftovers you took to the office.

Your time is more tailored around your personal preferences of how you want to go about your day.

While having a more flexible schedule is a big perk, this is where self-discipline comes in which we talk more about later on in this post. Be mindful that your employer still expects you to maintain the same level of productivity at home that you would in the office.

Relocation is easier

If your spouse got a new job in another state or maybe you want to move close to family, relocating has just become significantly less stressful if you have a work from home job.

You won’t need to worry about having to job hunt. Moving is already stressful enough.

If you own a home, juggling trying to sell around your job search is not ideal – it adds in too many unknowns. Now you can just up and leave.

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Make sure you inform your location change with your employer. Relocation typically has to be approved for tax purposes.

Work from anywhere

Have you dreamt of the digital nomad life and always wanted to work anywhere!?

If you are looking for true location independence, make sure to consider that in your job search to travel overseas this could be tough. You will need to factor in the time change.

You will still be tied to your computer at odd times because you’ll need to be online when everyone else in the States is online.

So for example, if you live in Florida and work a 9-5 and are traveling to Spain and plan to work, you’ll have to work from 2 pm-11 pm Spain time.

This may sound doable – you explore in the morning and work in the evening. It can be done, depending on where you go if you are okay with traveling like that – It’s just not ideal everywhere.

If you were to travel to Thailand, for instance, then you would be working from 9 pm-5 am, leaving you wanting to sleep all day and missing out on your vacation.

Reduced stress

When I’m at home vs. in the office, I’m significantly less stressed. Could just be me but being in the comfort of my own home brings me peace.

If I’m having a rough day I can take a quick walk around my neighborhood, light some candles, read a chapter of my book, etc.

With a work from home job, you are also not feeding off of other people’s negative or stressful energy. I’m the type of person who, if you’re stressed… I’m stressed.

If you’re frustrated… I’m frustrated. I think being at home mitigates the level of gossip and negativity that goes around making it better for your mental health in general.

Reduced distraction

This one can be a pro or a con depending on what environment you work the best in.

For some folks, having a work from home job could mitigate the amount you get distracted by your co-workers and all the things that come with working in a traditional workplace setting.

Working from home can give you a relaxed environment that allows you to stay focused. We’ll go into how this can also be a con in the next section.

Healthier Eating At Home

When I worked in the office, I found myself eating more than I do now that I work at home.

They always had snacks, lunch provided on Fridays, it’s always someone’s birthday, etc.

You also inevitably end up going to lunch with a co-worker or grabbing drinks after work.

Working from home gives you more control over what you eat and the groceries you buy.

It’s easier not to be tempted by all the unhealthy snacks if you aren’t buying any!

It also encourages you to cook at home more often rather than going out all the time.

Cons of a Work From Home Job

Loneliness

Working from home can be lonely. There’s no sugarcoating it especially if you live alone. If you work a 9-5, that’s where the majority of your time throughout the week goes.

Human interaction is so important for our mental health and for building community; if that’s been removed it can be a difficult transition to manage.

Video calls will not be a replacement for social interaction.

If you’re out of college, you know how hard it can be to make friends as an adult.

Make sure you are prioritizing your social life and your relationships. Be an initiator! Don’t wait for people to reach out to you.

Communication

A work from home job can make communication with your team difficult. In the office, you can just walk over to that person and ask them a question.

Now you have a digital alternative (I.e Slack, Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, etc). For me it’s Slack. Slack is a love-hate relationship.

You ask a question and it could be hours or even days before you get a response.

Things move slower when you aren’t in person to work through projects and questions that will inevitably arise.

It’s also a two-way street. You also need to make sure you are doing a good job of communicating with your team, looping in the correct people, and making sure everyone is clear on what you are doing and their own tasks.

Communication is a skill to be developed. Try not to be the person people are waiting days on for a response.

Tech difficulty

When you have an entire company working from home, tech difficulties are inevitable.

I imagine there’s no shortage of IT jobs in this new work from home world. Laptop updates, zoom links won’t work, audio on your meetings isn’t clear, your home internet isn’t strong enough – the list goes on.

This can be extremely frustrating and slows down you, your team, and your personal efficiency.

Distraction

If you find yourself struggling with procrastination or lack of self-discipline, a work from home job may be more distracting for you than working in the office.

The never-ending list of household chores or wanting to talk to your spouse or roommates can quickly pull your attention away from your work.

Working from home requires a lot of self-motivation. Because your boss and co-workers aren’t around, there are often fewer external pressures to keep you focused.

Working from an office environment typically provides a structured routine and a clear separation between work and personal life.

If that’s what you need then that’s ok! It’s good to know that about yourself.

Without clear boundaries, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

If you struggle to stay focused and motivated, then a work from home job may not be the best fit for you, and may need to explore other options that better suit your work style and personality.

✨ 5 Work From Home Best Practices and Boundaries ✨

Taking work home (because you’re already home)

I’ll be the first to say that it’s sometimes very difficult to log off at 5 p.m.

It’s easy to be like – oh just another 30 minutes and that turns into another 2 hours.

It’s so important to set clear boundaries between work and personal life because working from home can easily blur those lines.

If you aren’t getting paid overtime, your employer does not expect you to work past your allotted hours. If they do….. you should probably have a chat with HR about that.

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Best Work From Home Remote Working Habits

Now, this website is about living a remote lifestyle.

So even after all of these cons, I am still 100% pro working from home.

Despite the cons, the future is remote work and we need to restructure our mindset and build the skill set necessary to adapt.

self-disciplined and a self-starter

This one should go without saying! You should not need someone looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re getting work done.

If this is something you struggle with, think about what you can start implementing throughout your day to mitigate distraction and keep yourself focused.

Here are a few ways to keep your focus during the workday:

Think about setting aside time outside of work to clean and declutter so that home tasks won’t distract you during work hours.
Set clear boundaries with other people in your home so that your time to work is protected.
Keep to a schedule or to-do list and can prioritize your meetings/work tasks appropriately so you are getting everything done and working efficiently. Maybe that’s using the notes and calendar on your computer, using something like Monday.com or Asana.com, or physically writing it down in a planner – whatever works for you! Get yourself into a healthy daily routine.

✨ Find tips here if you struggle with routine ✨

Communication skills

Make sure you’re a strong communicator. If you are responsible for assigning tasks, make sure your team is equipped with everything they need and understands the tasks they need to complete.

Make sure any necessary meetings are held. Information can get lost in translation when you aren’t physically with your team.

You know texting tone can be taken out of context – it’s the same for Slack and email! Get on a call so communication and deliverables are clear.

Ask lots of questions and overcommunicate! It’s better to have a paper trail of over-communication than for your ability to communicate or lack thereof to come into question.

So much of how we traditionally socialize happens in the office with the people we sit next to, in meetings, in passing, going out to lunch or happy hour.

Not having that level of social interaction anymore day in and day out can take a toll on your mental health.

You need people!

Make sure you’re spending more time with your family, and friends, church community, or setting dates to see co-workers if any are local.

✨ Get your home office ready with the remote work essentials! ✨

Ready to Take the Leap Into Remote Work?

Only you can decide whether a work from home job is right for you. It depends on your circumstances, preferences, and personality.

While the flexibility and convenience of working from home can be appealing, it may not be for you and that’s okay.

It requires a certain level of discipline, self-motivation, and the ability to work independently.

If you’re considering a work from home job, continue to do your research.

Talk to others in your industry who currently work from home.

Ultimately, making an informed decision can help ensure that you’re able to enjoy the benefits of working from home while also being successful in your career.

Pros and Cons of Working From Home