How to Decide If Working From Home Is Right For You

How to Decide If Working From Home Is Right For You pexels.com 1. Do you have a home office? While it seems like an obvious question, it’s an important one to consider. When you go to work in an office setting, you don’t realize how many items are available to you that you may not have in your home setting. For one, do you have a quiet space to work? While you don’t necessarily think of this, working from your bedroom can be difficult, as it makes it harder to separate work from home. Most remote employees have a fully functioning office, but if you don’t have the space, this may not be a feasible option. Also, you’ll want to ensure you have all the necessary supplies (i.e. printer, copier, fax, phone, strong internet connection, desktop, etc.). Depending on the position, these items may be provided to you or reimbursed, but working from home can be a cost that you’ll need to be prepared to take on. 2. Can you work individually? In an office setting, even when your work is individual, there is constantly someone to reach out to with questions or to speak with during down time. When you’re working remotely, those options are lesser, as the only way to speak with someone directly is through email or on the phone, which means that the personal connection is not there. If you aren’t the type of person that can work fully on their own, working remotely may not be for you, as there is certainly a sense of isolation that isn’t present when you’re working in an office setting. So long as this is something you’re comfortable with, you’ll be fine. However, if you aren’t, you’ll want to consider this prior to making any decisions. 3. Are you organized? Again, this may not seem like a big deal, but when you’re working remotely, staying organized is essential to your success. If you aren’t someone that can easily stay on top of deadlines and keep files in the right places, working remotely may not be for you. When you’re working from home, this all falls to you, as there’s no one to hold your hand and tell you what is and isn’t important. While you do have to be organized in an office setting as well, remote workers typically require extensive organizational skills in order to be successful, so be sure that this is something you are capable of doing. 4. Can you stay on track? While there are plenty of distractions in an office setting, like co-workers visiting your desk, meetings, and other office events, working from home has its fair share of distractions as well. If you live with other people, it may be difficult to separate yourself when you’re working. In addition, you typically have a TV or other distractions within reach, and no one around to supervise you and ensure you’re working. If you need to have the supervision component or aren’t sure whether or not you would be able to stay on task when at home, working remotely may not be for you, as there’s a lot of responsibility that falls on your shoulders in that environment. Sure, there’s a lot of freedom, but you also need to be sure you’re completing your assignments. 5. Are you motivated? What it essentially boils down to is whether or not you have the motivational drive to work from home. Your work is entirely self-driven, and remote employees tend to be some of the most ambitious, as they typically rely on themselves alone to complete tasks and drive themselves to be better. If you aren’t the ambitious type or enjoy having team/supervisory support, you’ll definitely want to reconsider whether or not a remote position is right for you. Working from home is a privilege, certainly, but one that not all individuals may want. Sometimes, you simply have to do what’s best for you in terms of your job, and if you don’t believe that working from home is the right fit, speak with your manager to ensure you are in an office setting. Working from home is not for everyone, and remote work can be more challenging and lonely. Take these five items into consideration prior to taking on a remote role and ensure that you are not only capable but also comfortable working in such an environment.