Working from home has some obvious benefits:
No commute.
More control over your day.
More time before and after work.
And, depending on the type of work you do, more flexibility in how work fits into your life. But some parts of working remotely don’t always make it into the conversation.
You might miss certain things about the office.
You may need more structure than you expected. Some days will be great, and others won’t. None of that means working from home isn’t working for you. It just means remote work comes with its own set of tradeoffs.
TL;DR
Working from home can give you more flexibility and control over your day, but it doesn't automatically make every workday better.
You may need to create new routines, be more intentional about staying connected, and take greater responsibility for managing your workday.
The goal isn't a perfect workday.
It's finding a way of working that fits your life.
You Might Miss Some Things About the Office
The commute probably won’t be one of them.
But you might miss talking to someone while getting coffee. Having lunch with coworkers. Asking a quick question without scheduling a call. Or simply having other people around during the day.
Offices create a lot of casual interaction without much effort.
When you work from home, staying connected can require a little more intention.
That might mean participating in an online community, keeping in touch with people you work with, making plans outside of work, or simply recognizing that your social life and your work life don’t have to happen in the same place.
Missing parts of office life doesn’t mean remote work was the wrong choice.
It just means there were parts of it you enjoyed.
You’ll Probably Build a New Routine
Without a commute or an office setting creating structure around your workday, you may find yourself creating that structure instead.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Starting at a consistent time, having a dedicated workspace, taking a real lunch break, or shutting down your computer when you’re finished can all help create a clearer separation between working and being at home.
The routine that works for you may look completely different from the one you had in an office.
That’s one of the advantages.
You have more opportunity to figure out what helps you stay productive while making the rest of your day work too.
You’ll Still Have Bad Workdays
Working from home can remove some common sources of stress.
Traffic isn’t going to make you late. You don’t have to find parking. And when you’re finished working, there’s no commute waiting for you. But technology can still be frustrating. A conversation can still be difficult. You can still feel tired, distracted, or ready for the day to be over.
Remote work doesn’t eliminate the occasional difficult workday.
And it doesn’t need to. A better remote-work experience isn’t one where every day is perfect. It’s one where the overall way you’re working makes sense for you.
Flexibility Comes With Responsibility
More control over your schedule is one reason many people explore independent contractor work.
That control also means taking responsibility for how you manage it.
As an independent contractor, you’re responsible for understanding the requirements of your contract, managing your availability, maintaining an appropriate workspace, and being ready to work during the time you’ve committed.
For some people, that independence is exactly what they’re looking for.
Others may prefer the structure that comes with traditional employment.
Neither is automatically better. What matters is understanding the difference and choosing the arrangement that fits what you need.
Others may prefer the structure that comes with traditional employment.
Neither is automatically better. What matters is understanding the difference and choosing the arrangement that fits what you need.
Eventually, Working From Home Becomes Normal
At first, skipping the commute or working from your own space can feel like a major change.
Then you develop a routine.
You learn what helps you focus.
You figure out when to take breaks.
You find ways to stay connected.
Your workspace becomes familiar. Eventually, working from home may stops feeling like a special benefit and simply becomes the way you work.
You learn what helps you focus.
You figure out when to take breaks.
You find ways to stay connected.
Your workspace becomes familiar. Eventually, working from home may stops feeling like a special benefit and simply becomes the way you work.
And that’s not a bad thing. The value of remote work isn’t that you’re constantly thinking about how great it is to work remotely. It’s that your workday can fit more naturally alongside everything else in your life.
Working From Home Isn't Better Every Day. It Can Be Better for Your Life.
Remote work doesn't promise perfect workdays. It gives you a different set of tradeoffs—and the opportunity to decide whether those tradeoffs fit the life you want. Want to hear what it's like from people actually doing it?
See what Omni contractors have to say →
