The New Norm - Working From Home

As COVID-19 lockdowns affected the globe, more and more Americans found themselves wanting (or needing) to work from home.

In fact, for many people, working from home is a dream come true. You can set your own hours and work when it’s convenient for you. You don’t have to commute, spend time in traffic, or wear a suit and tie.

Although there are some disadvantages to working from home (hello, Netflix productivity sucks!) There are also some very clear benefits. In this post, we’ll tell you all about why most people love working from home - and tips on how you can make this unique lifestyle work for you.

Better Work-Life Balance

The last year and a half or so has been traumatizing and stressful for just about everyone, and for most people, in more ways than one.

However, one benefit that many of us saw was the ability to work from home.

Working remotely might not have been the ideal situation for everyone, but for many of us, being able to wear pajamas, skip tedious meetings and unnecessary commutes, and avoid the monotony of office small talk was a major benefit.

Even as more people are being vaccinated and life is returning to a state of quasi- normalcy, the fact remains that many of us are happy to maintain the status quo. Recent surveys have shown that more than half of Americans who adopted a work-from-home schedule in 2020 would like to continue working from home after the pandemic has ended.

The most common reason for this desire, as cited in these survey responses, was a better work-life balance.

When you are able to work remotely, your life instantly becomes more flexible. That means that you can start and end your day as you choose, as long as your work is completed to a satisfactory level.

Whether it’s dropping your kids off at school, attending fitness classes, or being home when a contractor comes to handle a project, the flexibility granted by a remote work schedule is something that most of us find invaluable. It’s easier to stay on top of both work and personal commitments when you work from home.

Less Commute Stress

The good news is that the average one-way commuting time for most Americans is less than half an hour.

Working From Home Helps Eliminate Commute Stress

The bad news is that this still adds up. Even if you’re only commuting an hour a day, that’s still an hour each day that could be better spent doing something else.

Plus, that commute time isn’t factoring in traffic. You’ll spend hundreds of hours sitting in your car each year - hours that again, would best be spent on something else. Plus, if you’re what’s dubbed an “extreme commuter,” you might be spending more than an hour and a half commuting one way - every single day!

If that thought leaves you feeling frustrated, you’re not alone. More than half an hour a day of commute time has been linked to increased levels of anxiety and stress, along with the increased likelihood of developing health issues like cholesterol, high blood sugar, and depression.

Spend that time on something else - like eating a healthy breakfast, getting in a workout, or simply spending time with your family - and you’ll likely notice the benefits right away.

Location Independence

As the pandemic took its toll on companies all over the globe, many business owners realized that it was possible for their workers to do their jobs from home.

This had multiple benefits.

One was that remote work made it possible for companies to reduce maintenance and utility costs to keep offices open. Shuttering those facilities and allowing employees to work from home dramatically reduced their overhead.

Another benefit was that having no set job location made it easier to hire for new positions. No longer were companies forced to hire workers within a certain geographical range - they could hire from all around the world.

Benefits Working From Home: Location Independence

Having no set job location also meant that remote workers could become digital nomads, traveling while they continued to earn a respectable paycheck. Of course, traveling hasn’t been on the table for most of the pandemic, but as the world begins to open back up, this is an option that more and more workers will have available to them.

It’s a huge benefit for another subset of the population, too - military families. Military spouses have often been forced to either become stay-at-home partners or frequently start over at the bottom of new companies for each and every move. Remote work has made this avoidable.

Last but not least, the location independence afforded to remote workers means that they can be more financially free. You no longer have to live in a city with a high cost of living - in fact, you don’t have to live near a major metropolitan area at all in order to pursue your dream job.

Improved Inclusivity

Similar to the last point, remote work makes it possible for companies to be more inclusive in their hiring. When you’re recruiting workers from a specific locale, it can be challenging to embrace inclusion and diversity.

However, when you can expand your pool of candidates to those from all over the world, it's easier to find people from different geographical, cultural, and socio-economic perspectives. Your hirees can continue to work from home in the communities where they feel supported and comfortable - and the business owner has access to a larger pool of talent.

It also makes it easier for people with disabilities - or for caregivers who are tending to family members or loved ones with specific needs - to access the flexible work schedules they need. When you work from home, you can attend healthcare appointments when you need to without having to worry about driving back and forth to a 9 to 5.

Money Savings

This is a less obvious benefit of working from home that is important to mention. When you work from home, you can save thousands of dollars per year.

Where exactly is that money coming from?

It’s a combination of factors.

The first (and most obvious) is in the commute. You don’t have to worry about paying for a car payment, fuel, maintenance and repairs, parking fees, or anything else related to your drive in to work.

You can also cross a professional wardrobe, lunch out at restaurants, and more from your list of expenses. These savings all add up, especially if you have a lengthy commute or a job that requires an expensive wardrobe.

As we mentioned earlier, the savings related to working from home aren’t limited just to employees, either. Global Workplace Analytics estimates that the average company can save up to $11,000 per year for every employee who works from home - even if that employee isn’t working from home full-time!

COmpanies save money in a variety of ways, including overhead, transit subsidies, continuity of operations, and real estate costs.

As you can see, working from home is an arrangement that benefits everyone.

Positive Environmental Impact

When people work from home, they aren’t driving to work - that’s obvious. However, what many people don’t realize is how many miles are saved, how many cars are taken off the road, and how many greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by such an act.

Plus, when you work from home, you’re less likely to rely as heavily on paper, since most of your communications will be done digitally. That’s another way you can help save the environment!

Impact On Sustainability

Working from home is sustainable in more ways than just environmental sustainability, too.

From improving sustainability initiatives related to economic and social growth to those involving responsible consumption of resources, the remote work movement has had a major impact on sustainability.

Customizable Office

Here’s a fun benefit of working from home - you can finally showcase that fun personality of yours!

Creating a comfortable home office is another reason why many people love working from home. Whether you want to be able to finally hang that Britney Spears poster in your office sans judgment or you just want to be able to set up a standing desk, working from home will allow you to “be you” in whatever way makes you the happiest.

Increased Productivity and Performance

When you work from home, you’ll be much more productive - for the most part.

Usually, working from home means fewer interruptions, no office politics, a quieter noise level, and or efficient meetings (or few meetings at all). When there’s no commute, that only adds to your productivity levels.

When done correctly, remote work will allow you to focus on what matters most - performance. Office Politics often create situations like favoritism and bias. Coming in early and leaving late looks like productivity and more work, but in reality, it’s not a great indicator of performance.

While there are certainly distractions that can impact your productivity while you’re working from home - especially if you’re trying to work remotely while supervising children or juggling other tasks - most people report that they are more productive (and perform better at their jobs) when they can work from the comfort of their own homes.

Happier, Healthier Work Life

Last but not least, the biggest benefit of working from home is that it just tends to make people happier.

You’ve probably already gathered that after reading the points we’ve highlighted above.

However, it is important to realize that working from home can lower your stress levels, improve your personal relationships, allow you more time to pursue your hobbies and interests, and much more.

You’ll find that, in addition to boosting your own personal health and wellness, it will also allow you to pursue more positive relationships with your managers and coworkers. Again, no more politics!

You will be able to better care for yourself and your loved ones - you’ll have more time for healthy eating and physical activity and you can continue working while recovering from an illness or surgery at home. Of course, you’ll also be exposed to fewer illnesses, too - the importance of which was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, not everyone who works from home will love it (or love it full-stop). Some younger workers may have more difficulty doing remote work, finding it more challenging to stay on task without a manager prompting them to keep going. Again, parents will often find it more challenging to work from home, especially if their children are young and climbing the walls!

There are some people who may find the work-from-home lifestyle isolating, too. Many people stay at their jobs because they have close work friends there - the face time with their coworkers is what makes the job so enjoyable. Some people even enjoy the commute, viewing it as a break from the many demands of life.

So while working from home tends to make most people happier, don’t feel down on yourself if you don’t count yourself among that jolly group! There’s a work environment for everyone - you just have to figure out the best fit for your needs.

Working From Home Is A Popular Choice In The Post Pandemic Era

Working from home is a popular choice for many people, but it isn’t the right fit for everyone.

There are lots of benefits to remote work or work from home, from the ability to set your own schedule to being able to wear pajamas (or at least more comfortable clothes) all day long.

That said, working from home can also be isolating, and it can be challenging if you have kids that demand your attention all day long.

Weigh out the pros and cons before deciding if working from home is right for you! Regardless of which option you decide is right for your personality, one thing is clear - COVID-19 has proven that many jobs can not only be done from home, but are better done when employees are able to work from home.

Moving forward, it is highly likely that companies will offer some version of this flexibility to both attract and retain top employee talent in the future. Remote work is the office environment of the future!