Over the last several years the world of telecommuting has exploded. More and more businesses are offering their employees the chance to work from home (at least part of the time). Additionally, some companies are simply looking to the growing pool of home based virtual assistants to outsource tasks to. If you have been offered the chance to telecommute, or are considering becoming a virtual employee you do have to be aware of the pros and cons before you take the plunge:
On the Upside
Freedom – No boss looking over your shoulder, no one criticizing your choice of outfit today, no one is monitoring your coffee breaks.
Saving time – Gone is that 45 minute commute in heavy traffic and all the stress that comes along with it.
Saving Money – Working from home you make your own coffee in the morning instead of grabbing a $4 Starbucks latte every day and you are more likely to make yourself a sandwich for lunch than grab a fast food fix. Because there is no dress code in your home office your clothing budget is likely to decrease as well.
Flexibility – Have to take an afternoon off to attend your kids play? No problem if you work at home the missed time can be made up whenever you feel like it.
On the Downside
Self Discipline – It takes an awful lot of self discipline to work from home. If you do not have to be at your desk by 8 a.m. anymore it is easy to become lazy and distracted
Loneliness – No more 10 am coffee klatches and no more coworker camaraderie.
No Escape – You cannot escape all the pressures of the office by going home and forgetting about them, you are already there.
Working from home is certainly not for everyone but for some it is the perfect setup. You can do so quite successfully as long as you treat your time as time at the office. Do not work in your PJs, get properly dressed, you will feel more businesslike. The same holds true for the hours you work. Set them just like you used to when you worked in the “real world” and you will avoid not only lack of productivity but burn out as well.
If you are interested in telecommuting opportunities check out www.savvyvirtualjobs.com
