Are You Ready to Work From Home and For Yourself?
Working from home or remote working can be an attractive proposition, but as with anything, there are plenty of pros and cons. Whether you’re planning on starting your own business full time or doing some freelancing on the side, here are a few things to think about before you take the plunge into working for yourself from home.
The Pros
Flexibility
Work when and where it suits you, you have total control and can find a work/life balance that suits you. You’re not held back by business hours if you’re most productive first thing in the morning or late into the evening that’s when you can work. You don’t even have to work from home, with a laptop you can take your work to a park or the beach, a coffee shop, a local coworking space or anywhere you like.
Save Time and Money
No more long commutes. When the farthest you have to go is down the hall, you don’t have to worry about petrol costs or leaving extra early just to sit in traffic. When you don’t have to get all dressed up for the office you don’t need to waste time getting ready and save on business attire. With your fridge so close, you can save and enjoy a much nicer homemade lunch. Take back that time for yourself to enjoy or get more work done. Plus at tax time you can claim on a range of home office supplies.
Stress Less
With control of your environment, you can remove a lot of the stresses of the office. No noisy coworkers, constantly ringing phones, or bosses checking up on you every minute of the day. Simply not having to commute is proven to lower stress. You can work in a way that suits you; dress comfortably, play your music, sit, stand, recline on the couch if you like, the autonomy can boost your confidence and keep stress levels down.
The Cons
Working Alone
It might seem like a dream at first to be free from other people but in the long run, it can be difficult. Networking can stall because it’s harder to build organic relationships if you’re not spending time working together in the same space. There’s a lot of ad hoc learning you can miss out on too because you don’t have coworkers to pick up new skills and tricks from. It can also be lonely without simple things like idle chat on coffee breaks. Just being in the same room as other people is more important to your mental health than you might realise.
Unclear Boundaries
While you can greatly improve your work/life balance by working from home it requires discipline and clear boundaries. You work at home but you also live there and these lines can blur. If you can work anywhere and anytime, when does the workday end? You may find yourself taking your work with you everywhere you go and not switching off, which can lead you to burn out.
Uncertainty
Starting a business or freelancing can be uncertain and an unstable, particularly at first. A lot of work goes into establishing yourself and your brand, finding clients, and creating a positive reputation. It’s hard to break through and define yourself from everyone else. It can take a while to get a steady income comparable to working for someone else.
Are you up for the challenge?
It takes a certain kind of person to thrive working remotely. With some organisational skills, persistence, forward-thinking and a lot of self-control, you can find success working for yourself from home. So if you’re ready, it’s time to dive in. Qualified Resume Writers is here to support career service professionals and connect them with clients looking to enhance their careers. We can connect resume, cover letter and selection criteria writers as well as career coaches and LinkedIn profile consultants with each other and new clients.
With a listing on Qualified Resume Writers, you can increase your reach and credibility. Whether you’re freelancing or have your own business a Qualified Resume Writers profile is free, so set up an account today.