Surprise Benefits of Working From Home

by Ms. Career Girl · Jun 6, 2016

So you’ve been considering working from home and you’ve put together a list of pros and cons. That’s great, but we only know what we know. Sometimes, the insights of those who have been-there and done-that are enlightening and can help us make a better decision.

Tricia Sciortino, President of an all remote workforce, eaHELP, has many years of experience and knows the ins and outs of working at home as well as anyone. Recently, she shared some thoughts on the benefits of working from home you probably never thought of. Here’s her take:

Surprise Benefits of Working From Home

Adios, road rage – spending little to no time in traffic or commuting cuts down stress levels, meaning stress no longer manifests itself in our bodies in the form of various health ailments.
Healthier families — working from home, with a more flexible work arrangement than in a traditional office, means more flexibility to be there in important moments for our families. The guilt of not being able to attend (even occasionally) school parties or field trips is a killer. You can drop in for lunch at school or keep sick kids home when they’re not feeling well and still get your work done.
Healthier food choices — your vending machine is now your fridge, and the “break room” is your kitchen. Your wallet and your waistline are no longer subject to the urge to hit the drive-thru on your way to or from the office.
Better balance across all areas of life — since you’re not spending hours of your week commuting, you’ve got more time to spend doing things you love outside your work (hobbies, exercise, creative pursuits, etc.).
True rest on the weekends — nobody looks forward to spending their weekends doing all the errands and household chores that pile up during the week. Working from home allows you to hit the grocery store at 1 p.m. on your Tuesday lunch break, when it’s significantly less crowded, and spend your weekends with your family and friends truly re-charging for the week ahead.
More focused work — when you work from home, you can truly be more focused on your work, since you’re not worried about what’s happening at home (because you’re at home!). You’re not thinking about the delivery you’re missing, the kid you sent to school not feeling so hot, the repair person who may or may not show up when they’re supposed to, etc. Your mind isn’t trying to be in two places at once, so it can be more productive and peaceful throughout your days.