It won’t work for everyone, (pun intended), but for a large number of employees who have had to scramble to make working from home work during the Covid19 pandemic, home has, in many ways, been a revealing experience.

Some benefits

Fewer cars on the road, less traffic congestion overall, costs reduced by not having to purchase transit passes, pay for gas, or buy lunch…for many the “no commute” has meant more money in hand and more time to spend doing some of those things a long work day and commute prohibits.

The downsides

There are, of course, some downsides: less time to listen to podcasts, (I have noticed my listener numbers drop during lock-down), and lack of social interaction that happens spontaneously in office settings to name a couple. I also feel for parents who are trying to manage the multiple hats. Being parent, teacher, tech support, and productive employee all at once is not easy, and an escape to the office might be more than welcome.

But for those who can do it, and who have employers willing to offer incentives, such as funds for equipment and hardware and software that allow for a great home-working experience, the benefits are big. (By being at home, you are less likely to be mowed down by a distracted driver when crossing from your office to your lunch spot if you lunch spot happens to be your kitchen, for example). You may also find yourself being more productive during your “on” hours, and more relaxed during your off hours…all of which can lead to a happier, more enjoyable, more balanced life.

You might just thrive.

My hope is that more employers will realize what a benefit working from home could be to organizations. Fewer sick days, healthier workers and more cost-efficient virtual meetings, (especially if such meetings used to involve travel and all the associated expenses), might help to build a case.

Of course some of us are social creatures and miss the hustle and interaction of a busy office environment, and there is definitely a case to made for isolation having a profound effect on mental wellness in the workplace.

Remote working does not suit everyone; however, if you DO thrive in the peace and comfort of your own space, and find you are being even more productive than usual and have quite nicely settled in to this working from home environment, then why not make a pitch to your boss to see if you are able to continue to work from home, even some of the time? You might be pleasantly surprised by the response.

Stay well,

Jenn

PS. If you would like to explore career ideas, purpose or why you are feeling stuck, I have some coaching spaces open: click here.