Working from home. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Think of the pressures that get relieved. No commuting, no having to put up with people you would rather not spend time with at a workplace, dress however you like, the convenience and comfort of having all your stuff around you. What is not to like?
Working at home is the fantasy of many and the reality for some. I am a year into being one of the “at-home” workers. To be clear, I work at home part time, but it is a whole lot more than had ever been the case throughout most of my working years. The experience has given me some perspective on the relative productivity and satisfaction that can come from this arrangement.
Also, with much of the workforce either proactively structuring their careers for an at-home work setting or because they are being driven into staying at home due to layoffs or furloughs, the home-as-office scene needs some examination.
When I retired from my primary career a year ago, I knew that I would be working out of a home office, at least some of the time. I put some money and sweat equity into making a home office that I love. It is designed and decorated the way I want, and it has the gadgets I want, including a custom-built computer. The view out of my two windows is New Hampshire country. I feel lucky to have it.
But to be honest, in the months leading up to “working” in this space I was afraid that I would not be very productive. I expected to be distracted by all the things that typically need doing around the house and I thought that I would miss being around people. In my career as a teacher, I was surrounded by students and co-workers throughout most of my day. Could I be disciplined enough to get something done working alone in a home office?
I have to say, it has been good. I can remain focused and when it comes to my one-man career development business, I am able to work at a pace that usually feels relaxed and is surprisingly constructive. Of course, a big advantage that I have is that my kids are grown. I do not know how a home office worker could get anything done with young kids in the house!
I also have a part time job that is separate from my business. It is based in Manchester, about 18 miles away. Much of that job could be done quite effectively in my home office. But this employer has given me a beautiful office in which to work that is housed in an extremely attractive building. I do find for this job I travel to the Manchester office to be most productive. There is something psychological going on there which I have not yet figured out.
But what is clear to me is that there is some nuance between work tasks and work settings that should be considered if you find yourself employed at home. Whatever that relationship is, it would be wrapped up in the type of personality traits you have. To oversimplify, the extraverts may have a need for web conferencing and multiple data lines to interact with people more, while the introverts may be satisfied with a less people-oriented environment.
Making your work profitable and worthwhile at home requires assessing yourself openly and determining what type of work will satisfy you in that setting. Peel back the layers of the work-at-home fantasy and see if this is practical. Some parts undoubtedly will be. Intentionally consider what your balance of assets and liabilities is. Working from home has become an option for a greater number of us. But like every major life decision it requires some clear-headedness.
