Top Myths About Working from Home

Many people on their daily commute to the office will dream of a better life where they can work from home and avoid having to take the packed-out train to the office. However, few realise the reality of working from home and what it truly takes to make a success of it. Here will look at the top myths around the idea of working from home and what it takes to make it really work.

Working from Home is like a Long Holiday

Some people view the idea of working from home as almost akin to taking a break from work altogether. They imagine people who work from home spend the whole working day in their pajamas, lying in bed with the television blaring in the background. The truth is that if you did spend your time working from home like this, you’d rarely get anything done. In order to stay productive when working from home, it’s important to stay organised, keep a routine – which includes dressing for work in some form or another, and to have a set place of work in your home.

You Are Free to do Whatever You Want

One of the biggest attractions to the idea of working from home is the belief that it means you will be free to do whatever you want. However, due to the fact many other people and businesses work between 9-5, you will most likely need to work these same hours. You may also have meetings scheduled in, calls to take at specific times and family/flatmates who will be home at a certain hour, meaning you are unlikely to be as free to pick the hours you work as you would like.

You Will Be Able to Manage Your Work/Life Balance Easily

Working from home and the belief you have a lot of flexibility with your time, leaves people thinking that they will be able to have a really good work/life balance. The problem when working from home is that it can be hard to separate work from the rest of your life as there are no clear boundaries. When people first begin working from home they find themselves working late into the night to finish projects, leaving their social life in the backseat.

You Will No Longer Need Childcare

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that now you will be at home for most of the day, you will no longer need childcare. However, the problem is that when you are working, making calls and trying to concentrate on projects, you will have no time to entertain and look after your children; inevitably your work will suffer if you have your children around who need full-time care.

You Will Really Enjoy the Peace and Quiet

If you are making the move from a busy commute and noisy office, you might initially love the thought of being at home all day in the peace and quiet. The problem with working from home for long periods of time is that it can become very isolating, where you no longer get to experience the social aspects that working in an office brings. It’s for this reason that it’s even more important that you create a healthy work/life balance for yourself, making sure you meet with friends and family regularly and take proper breaks from your work.

Working from Home is Low Stress

A lot of people believe because they are away from the office and their daily commute, that working from home will be low stress. However, with so many distractions at home and with all the same deadlines, you can find yourself working into the small hours of the night to finish projects on time. On top of this, there is the worry that your colleagues believe you aren’t working hard because you’re at home, making it easier to miss out on promotional opportunities.