There are many advantages to working remote, and as our knowledge of these benefits develops, so does the popularity of remote work. After all, it’s logical for businesses to want to maximize any advantages that working from home might offer over traditional office life.
While working from home has been an option for years, the start of the Covid pandemic sky-rocketed its popularity. At the peak of the pandemic, a whopping 69% of U.S. employees were working remote. It’s even more shocking a number if you compare it to how many employees were telecommuting before the pandemic- just 4.1%.
Due to how recent the surge in remote work has been, many people who work from home and their employers are still getting used to the main benefits and drawbacks of this type of work.
In this article, we’ll go over five of the most important benefits in more detail, as well as how to get the most out of them.
1. Increased Productivity
Pre-Covid, few jobs were performed entirely from a remote environment. Now that almost 3/4 of the U.S. has experienced remote work, a lot of our preconceptions about working from home have shifted.
As companies shifted their employees online, management was worried about a net decrease in worker productivity. And yet- the opposite was actually the case. This Stanford study followed a group of 16,000 workers for nine months as they switched to working from home. Productivity grew by 13% during that time, and attrition rates plummeted 50% due to increased employee satisfaction.
Working from home allows us to take breaks or go for a walk without any prying eyes, meaning we don’t feel the need to look like we’re working for appearance’s sake. The ability to refresh ourselves and not worry about appearances helps us recharge throughout the day instead of crashing after work. And the more energy we have at the end of the day, the more of our personal time becomes available for hobbies and social activities instead of recharging our batteries.
2. Save on Time and Money Without a Commute
For those with a 30 minute or longer commute, this benefit could feel the sweetest. According to the American Community Survey, the average American’s commute to the office is 27.6 minutes one-way. But that’s only if you happen to own a car- commuters who took the bus reported an average commute time of 46.6 minutes each way. That’s a good chunk of your day that could be better spent on other, more important tasks (like sleeping in an extra hour).
Not only do you save time, but you save a pretty penny too. Gas prices are an unwelcome expense that comes with commuting, and working from home can drastically reduce it. Instead of spending up to an hour of driving back and forth each day, you can save up to $444 in gas per year by ditching the commute.
3. More Job Opportunities
If your job-search is no longer bound by driving distance and commute times, then you can search for jobs in any corner of the world. You’re not only saving on commute-time, but also opening up opportunities in different geographical areas. Those who live in less-densely populated areas will especially see a dramatic increase in available positions if they don’t restrict themselves to local-only jobs.
But geographical location isn’t the only factor; widening the net of jobs available to you means you can search for jobs that better fit your needs. For example, if you cannot travel or work long hours, you have a better chance at finding a position that accommodates you.
4. Work From Almost Anywhere
Tired of coworkers taking obnoxiously loud calls within earshot? Working from home allows you to curate your office space just the way you want it. You can set up a space to work in silence, take your laptop to a cafe if you want to hear background noise, or even rent a desk at a co-working space- you can even do all three!
And don’t forget that your local area isn’t the only place to do work from- depending on what kind of work you do, you may be able to live abroad. There’s even a term for people who choose to abandon their permanent homes and permanently work while traveling- digital nomads.
The following countries even offer digital nomad visas for you to live and work for extended periods of time:
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Germany
- Iceland
- Mexico
- Norway
- Portugal
- Spain
- And more!
5. Your Office is What You Make It
Not only can you choose where to work from each day, but your space is fully customizable too. That means a comfy chair, desk of your choosing, a private fridge nearby, and best of all- a bed and couch. Not that I recommend either of those last two options, especially the bed. Definitely not from personal experience.
The lighting, ergonomics, number of monitors, and the company you keep is all up to you. Close the shades, or keep them open. Work with a cat on your lap. Invest in a standing desk. The only limit is your creativity.
6. More Flexibility in Scheduling
Working from home, even if your schedule is still 9 to 5, gives you greater control over your time. For example, I had a manager who would leave to drive his kids to school and then later go pick them up. He didn’t need to worry about clocking out and he wasn’t abusing his position either- in fact, he encouraged everyone on our team to do the same. Leverage the flexibility that remote work allows to schedule in personal needs without needing to waste precious PTO.
Your lunch is no longer confined to a break room either, so you gain 30 minutes to an hour of time you can spend on errands, a walk, or time with loved ones. If your job allows it, you can also vary the time when you take your lunch break or even your start and end time. I’ve had coworkers starting at 7 to leave work at 3pm and another who started closer to noon but worked into the evening.
7. Reduced Number of Leaves
Tying into number six, having a more flexible schedule means you can work around personal life events to avoid wasting PTO. Varying your start and end time, strategically-timed lunch breaks, and the ability to easily make-up time are all ways you can leverage remote work to live life while working.
Personally, I use my lunch to walk and get some exercise in. It boosts my productivity and refreshes me after having been sitting for too long (check out my article on how to stay healthy when working from home). On rare occasions I use lunch time for doctor’s appointments or quick errands to the post office or grocery store. You can also use the time for personal projects if you don’t mind eating at your desk. And if you do want to focus on enjoying your lunch, you have the time to whip-up a fresh meal in the kitchen instead of being forced to rely on microwaved leftovers.
With all the PTO you save by being smart with your time, you can plan longer vacations. Even if you can’t afford to fly out and book a hotel, a week to recuperate and make headway on hobbies or side-projects can do wonders for your mental health. Check your local venues for events such as museum free admission days or outdoor concerts for low-cost getaways nearby.
Conclusion
Working from home has many advantages over being stuck in the office, and like everything else, it’s what you make of it. From having more time for yourself to saving money on gas, wfh culture has a lot to offer to those who choose to make their home their workplace.