The Ups And Downs Of Remote Work
Look, I love loading my dishwasher at 2:30 in the afternoon, but WFH isn’t completely glamorous, and like anything, takes some adjustment!
As far as my corporate career goes, I have only worked in fully remote roles. As much as I love this setting I am in, there are ups and downs to being home all day!
Let's start with the good. I LOVE CLEANING DURING THE DAY!
I can throw in a load of laundry, unload the dishwasher, sweep my living room, windex the mirrors, and so much more. Being able to do small chores while taking a mental break is an absolute game changer. I find it so easy to stay on top of cleaning this way. Plus, I can’t get trapped in the cleaning abyss because I know I have to get back to work in five minutes - so it gets done and I move on - It’s a WIN!
Next, I am very ADHD so I find myself to be super productive in a remote setting. (Yes, it sounds counter-intuitive - but hear me out.) I was a menace in college to any of my friends studying. When there are people around, I want to engage. Working at home, independently, allows me to truly focus on the tasks at hand. By reducing distractions, it has allowed me to become much more productive and task-oriented. Sure, being alone for most of the day sometimes results in me feeling restless; but, I engage all day long with people online so this is a manageable issue.
Another benefit- You can make lunch from home! As someone who loves leftovers and cooking, this is AMAZING! You have YOUR kitchen at your fingertips, all day long. I don’t have to buy a $6 iced coffee, or a $12 salad, both of which aren't even as healthy as when I make them myself. It's also super easy to throw in a personal pan pizza on days when I don’t have anything left over (stinking up the office from my lunch has always been an irrational fear of mine I’ve dodged by being remote - and I don’t have to breathe in the noxious fumes of a colleague’s marinated brussel sprouts either, yet another WIN!)
All of the above combined with the fact that you save time and money on a commute (not to mention the struggles of traffic); you can run to the store in the middle of the day when it is not crowded; and you can work from a different state every week if you choose. This all goes to show how working remotely has been such a positive experience in so many ways.
My final pro of working from home is being with my cat all day long! I recently adopted a 4 month of kitten, and It is so nice to be able to give her attention throughout the day. She LOVES working with me, and gets super jealous when the voices coming from my computer aren’t here to give her all the love!
Now with the pros - there are bound to be some pitfalls. There are times when remote work it's not all it's cracked up to be.
As an extrovert, there are times when I find myself longing for in-person social interaction, and at times this can decrease my energy throughout the day. There is no workplace banter, grabbing a drink after closing a huge deal, or venting over lunch about how rough of a day it is. It can be hard to find a community when you are hundreds of miles from everyone logged on. I have found a solution to this dilemma by finding fellow remote workers in the area who are willing to participate in “coworking”. This can be SUPER helpful to recharge and energize the batteries. I’m more motivated to be productive when I have someone also being productive right next to me, and it gives me a chance to take quick breaks to chat and be engaged.
Another drawback is that remote working can make the learning curve feel more like a landslide. When you are in an office with 30 people who can answer your questions as you ask, you can acclimate smoothly. When you start a remote job, you are constantly waiting to see the “green dot” on teams to see who can answer your question. AND when you’re brand new, oftentimes you can't move forward until that question is answered. This can be frustrating and discouraging. Try to create a solid network of people who you know are willing to help - and don’t forget that someday a new hire will be looking to you for help; so, pay it forward when you get the chance.
Working from home can also be a challenge because you begin to associate your safe spaces with your work. I am very fortunate to have my office set up in a completely different room than my living or sleeping area. I understand this is not an option for everyone. If you are not able to set up outside of your “safe spaces”, I recommend taking some time to get out of the house and work from a coffee shop, or cafe for a part of the day. When I had to work from my bedroom for several months, this change of scenery was necessary whenever I felt antsy or restless.
In my opinion, nothing beats working from your couch with a load of laundry softly strumming in the background. However, if you are considering a remote job, think about the issues mentioned above and try to adjust to meet your needs. It will take some tweaking on your part (as does any job) but the benefits are incredible! Happy working!!