Working From Home: Pros and Cons of Working From Home

Remote work, colloquially referred to as working from home (WFH), involves executing your professional responsibilities from your own home (or private/public workspace) rather than a company office. Working from home is also referred to as remote working or telecommuting. Some companies offer full-time or part-time work-from-home opportunities in addition to traditional office work, while others are fully at-home work arrangements.

Fields with remote job opportunities include graphic design, real estate, healthcare, freelance writing, customer service, and recruitment.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to find remote work opportunities that suit your professional skills. Whether you’re entry-level or executive level, here are common flex jobs that you can do from home:

1. 1. Customer service: Customer service representatives—who provide user support for a product—can often work from home (in specific markets). If you are a people person who likes solving problems, customer service might be a good field to pursue.
2. 2. Freelance writing: Freelance writing is a popular remote work profession. Many copywriters, content creators, and SEO specialists take on a series of freelance remote gigs to earn a living.
3. 3. Graphic design: Graphic designers often work a series of freelance jobs to make a living, much like freelance writers. An at-home workplace allows a graphic designer to create the most supportive and creative environment with technology that streamlines their tasks.
4. 4. Marketing: Telemarketers, digital marketers, and online marketing coordinators are all positions with work-from-home opportunities. If advertising is your field of choice, many online marketing roles are geared towards remote work.
   
5. 5. Podcasting: Hosting a podcast is an endeavor many aspiring media personalities start from home. Podcasters host (and often produce) downloadable audio shows using their own recording equipment in an at-home, quiet environment that they can control. Learn about starting a podcast.
6. 6. Small businesses: Small businesses (and startups) often begin from the business owner’s home, cutting out the various overhead costs of renting commercial space. If you have a lucrative business idea or simply want to pursue a dream, use your home as a dedicated workspace to start your own small business.
7. 7. Transcriptionist: Transcriptionists listen to recorded audio and then create a typed copy of the recording. They are often remote workers who operate independently.
8. 8. Tutoring: Some educational tutors can teach from the comfort of their homes. Whether their specialty is math, history, or even piano, tutors can host clients physically at home or via video call.
   
9. 9. Virtual assistant: A virtual assistant is an independent worker who provides administrative services to different companies or people. A virtual assistant is often self-employed and can fill several roles such as receptionist, bookkeeper, or website editor.

Depending on the industry, working from home can have a range of benefits for telecommuters:

1. 1. Lessened commute: On-site employees can spend up to two hours a day traveling to and from the workplace, lengthening their workday without getting paid for their time on the road. Working from home shrinks your commute to the amount of time it takes you to step into your home office or get to the café down the street. This no-commute commute gives you more control over your time.
2. 2. Controlling your environment: Working from home gives you complete control of your workspace: All you need is a Wi-Fi connection and the equipment necessary to perform the job. Set up your space to incorporate comfortable furniture (like ergonomic chairs) along with plenty of light and an ambiance that sparks creativity.
3. 3. Saving money: Working from home allows you to save money on transportation (gas, bus fare, and train tickets), and you can often live anywhere you like, rather than closer to work, where rent may be higher. In addition, your employer saves money, too, by not having to pay for an office space or cubicles to house employees, leaving more money for bonuses, company events, and benefits.
4. 4. Mitigates the risk of illness: Not going to traditional job sites means less exposure to the elements and germs. Working from home can minimize your risk of getting sick since you are not working alongside many others.

Whether your job is permanently remote or you have recently started working your office job at home, here are some ways to craft the perfect WFH rhythm:

1. 1. Designate a workspace. It may be tempting to work from your bed if you’re telecommuting, but it won’t increase your productivity or improve your work-life balance. Instead, make yourself a dedicated workspace, whether it’s a home office or your living room. Sitting down at this desk will signal to your brain that it’s time to work.
2. 2. Minimize distractions. If home-life distractions surround you, try using headphones to play music or white noise to keep yourself on task. If your home has too many distractions, try working at a coffee shop, library, or other coworking space. That way, you’ll experience a change of scenery and be able to concentrate better. Make it harder to access social media or games on your phone or computer by using apps that restrict your daily usage.
3. 3. Keep a consistent work schedule. Designate clear start and end times for your working hours to avoid blurring the lines between your job and personal life. Try to keep a consistent routine for a better work-life balance and prevent one world from bleeding into the other. Taking dedicated meal breaks (and regular breaks) is another way to avoid burnout.
4. 4. Communicate regularly with your team. Stay in close contact with your coworkers and keep an open line of communication to avoid isolation. Routine check-ins via video chat or chap apps help ensure all of your team members are on the same page and that there are no missed (or mixed) messages.
5. 5. Manage your time. If you’re struggling to focus at home or in a workspace, use your work calendar to create a schedule of tasks for yourself. You can even try a time management tactic like the Pomodoro Technique—which breaks tasks into reasonable segments and rewards you with regular breaks—to help you stay free from distraction and stick to your own schedule.

All you need is a MasterClass Annual Membership and our exclusive video lessons from the likes of Elaine Welteroth (the former editor in chief of Teen Vogue and host of CBS’ The Talk), Issa Rae (the powerhouse multihyphenate behind HBO’s Insecure), Robin Arzón (the lawyer-turned-head instructor of Peloton), and other luminaries who have have embraced the twists and turns on the path to professional success. With their guidance, you’ll learn how to lean into your strengths, follow your heart, and build the career of your dreams.