It is estimated that approximately 56% of the jobs in the US are compatible with remote work. Global Workplace Analytics project that 25-30% of the workforce will be working remotely, most of the week, by the end of 2021. The question is, will working remotely work for you? What things should you consider?

Is your home environment suitable for work?

While it’s great to save that extra travel time to and from work, is your home working environment conducive to productivity? Who is at home during the day? Where in your home do you work? We all love spending time with our family (well, maybe not all the time) but how much are you going to be interrupted at home?  As we know, it’s impossible to plan for all interruptions from Wi-Fi to plumbing issues to your elderly neighbor needing to borrow an egg for the cake they are baking. What you need to consider is, are you going to be more productive in the office, even if it is more convenient working from home. It has been reported that the pandemic has put an extra burden on working parents, especially those with more than one child. Many schools have reopened and yet most children have continued their learning online or virtually. This means that many parents have now had to balance their workload with playing teacher (creating a renewed respect for teachers that they rightfully deserve). Being physically in an office means that there are fewer opportunities for you to be interrupted, and, if you can increase your productivity, then you may be able to clock off early and better manage your responsibilities at home.

Are you starting a business?

The majority of businesses have been adversely affected by Covid-19, many closing down, but some new businesses have been innovative and thrived. If you are hoping to be one of those, then working from home may not be the best option. Are you going to be happy with people coming into your home, is it even going to be possible? Renting a new space is going to be cheaper than usual, given the oversupply of space. It can be quick and painless to register your new gig with many companies now providing this service. The pros at Fatstacksblog have screened the best companies for this, check out their review. Most new businesses involve a lot of meetings, hiring staff, receiving goods from suppliers, and pitching to investors or clients. Consider a co-working space or renting office space monthly to cater to some of the dynamics that may come with starting a new business.

Being social is important for physical and mental health

Much higher rates of anxiety and depression have been reported this year and many clinical psychologists have attributed this to isolation and the lack of human-to-human interaction. Other negative effects of isolation have been lethargy and the so-called “zoom- fatigue”. When you are considering working from home, it’s important to think about how much less you are going to socialize with others because of this. Even on your commute to work, whether it’s by bicycle, car, bus, or train, you are likely to be having much social interaction. Then think about all the meetings, coffee breaks, and small talk you have when you are in the office. All of these tiny interactions and adverse health effects add up. Taking this into consideration, healthier and happier workers are going to be more effective, confident, and creative in their job. It may be worth working in an office and being a better working version of yourself.

The whole world is going remote and initially, this seemed like a no-brainer. Technology allows us to work from wherever we are, so surely this is a good idea? Well, this is not always the case as we have discussed in the article. For some people, it may be their personal circumstances, such as being a parent, the number of children they may have, and if they are starting a new business. In general, there can be negative health consequences from working remotely, like the increased risks of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. For people considering working from home or thinking about going back to the office, assess your home environment to conclude if it is conducive to productivity and if it is going to allow you to be the healthiest version of yourself.