I have been working at home since early 2014, when I decided to leave the city noise of Metro Manila in exchange for the cooler climate of Baguio City. That time, I was still under a special telecommuting arrangement with the non-profit that employed me, where I had an agreed set of outputs to submit within an agreed time frame.
By the end of the year however, I decided to leave the confines of employed life and venture into the unknown freelance world of work. If you are in the same boat at this point in your career, you may have some takeaways from my experience. Five reasons resonated as to why the work at home arrangement became a much better option for me.
More Time For The Family and For Myself
When I moved to Baguio, my daughter who was eight years old then, also needed to move to a new school. She transferred to a public elementary school near our new home and since she came from a private school, her adjustment in a bigger school setting was what worried me. Since I worked from home, I had more time to ask her about her school day and help with her school work. I would usually do this when I take a break from work. If I worked at a 9-to-5 office job, I will likely be too tired to attend to her needs at the end of every workday.
Working at home also gave me the flexibility to have some time for myself. Since I do not need to rush to the office in the morning, I have time for a brisk walk after sending off my daughter to school.
No Traffic, Lesser Time Spent On Travel
Metro Manila traffic has gone from bad to worse since I left two years ago. And commuting in Metro Manila is not something I miss. While Baguio City has its share of traffic jams, it is not as bad. One good thing about working at home is you do not waste your precious time waiting for a ride and getting to the office.
Flexibility In The Work You Do
When I started to work from home, I noticed a huge jump in my productivity. I got more work done because I was able to prioritize what needed to be done more effectively. I would regularly set weekly and daily task lists to keep track of my progress, while leaving some room for adjustments depending on my schedule.
No Office Politics, Less Stress And Distraction
Another reason I was more productive is the lack of distraction that would usually upset my momentum in handling a task or a series of tasks. Meetings, especially ones that drag on longer than an hour, is one such distraction. Office politics can also have the same effect, so when you are working at home, you do not need to worry about what your colleagues are saying about you around the water cooler.
No Dress Code Needed
I have saved a lot on wardrobe because working at home allows you to work in whatever you are comfortable in – in t-shirt and shorts or casual wear, or even your pajamas.