The Positive and Negative Aspects to Working From Home
People often talk about the positive side to working at home. The flexibility, the freedom...
There are , however, some negatives as well.
We've put together a list of both the positive and negative attributes for you to think about before you take the plunge.
Pro’s
- You can work around your commitments, including children, those you provide care for, another job
- You can set your own hours
- You can determine what you want to get from your work- is it a lot of money; is it to expand a much-loved hobby and make some money as a bonus; is it mainly to exercise your brain?
- You are in charge- you set the agenda. You stick to it, or change it
- If you see a good opportunity you can take advantage of it without asking permission
- What YOU put in is what YOU get out- this is not about working yourself into the ground for someone else’s benefit
Cons
- It can be lonely.
- You have got to make the effort to develop your business. If you don't do it- it doesn't get done.
- It can be hard to switch off. You may end up spending less time with your family because you end up glued to your computer, or locked in your workshop.
- You have to plan for holidays and time off.
- It can be hard to keep motivated. We all know this feeling. Sometimes it’s too hard to get going in the morning.
- It can be hard to get a clear picture of what you really want to achieve.
Solutions
Using the resources here at athomeworking.co.uk can help counter some of those negative points about working from home, and make sure you take advantage of the positive points.
The key to successfully working at home, as with any business, is to have a clear idea about what you want to get out of it, and a plan of how to achieve this. 'Plan' is a scary word for some, but it needn't be. A plan is just a list of things to do in order to get to your end goal. Have a look at our Plan for Success section for a few pointers, and a sample plan.
You may choose to work from home to give you more time- making sure that you plan your working day can ensure that you have this time.
Being organised, being clear about your goals, planning, being a part of a group that gives each other pep talks- these all help us when we get down- and let’s face it, we all do at times
Being an active member of an online community can help to stop any feeling of loneliness before it starts. Our new Forum will be launched soon. Joining in our Forum discussions- perhaps when you have your tea break- will give you access to like-minded people who can relate to the high's and the low's that you go through when you work from home.